dog rescueing photo

How to rescue?

It can happen in an instant. One minute you're snowmobiling or skiing across a slope with a friend, enjoying the scenery and the crisp mountain air, when suddenly an avalanche tears the ground out from beneath you. You're okay, but your friend is nowhere to be found. If someone is buried in an avalanche, time is of the essence. You must attempt to rescue the victim immediately, because by the time rescuers arrive, it is usually too late.

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On Tuesday, officials confirmed two Alberta snowmobilers died Monday in an avalanche near an unnamed peak about 30 kilometres southwest of Blue River....

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11 steps rescue an Avalanche victim

  1. Watch the victim:As soon as someone gets caught in an avalanche, try to track their path. Don't take your eyes off them, and continue to watch downhill to see if they resurface.
  2. Make sure the danger has passed before entering the avalanche slope:Make sure the avalanche has completely stopped before others enter the slope, reduce the number of people in dangerous zone.
  3. Scan the surface of the snow:Quickly look for any sign of the victim. Sometimes a ski tip or article of clothing will be just above the surface. If the person was carrying an avalanche cord, look for that.
  4. Use avalanche beacons if available:All members of the party should switch their beacons to "receive" mode to attempt to locate the buried person. Follow the signal as long as it keeps getting stronger until you can pinpoint the victim's location.
  5. Listen for the person: If the person is conscious, he or she will probably try to cry out. Periodically stop for just a few seconds and silently listen for faint noises beneath the snow.
  6. Probe the area where the victim is likely to be:If the victim was wearing a beacon, use avalanche probes to probe the area where the signal is strongest. Otherwise begin probing where you last saw the victim and move downhill from there.
  7. Mark the victim's location:Once the victim is found with a probe, leave the probe in the snow as a guide. Note the depth of burial.
  8. Shovel strategically:If the victim is buried fairly deep in the snow, you'll need to dig a large hole to get at him. The hole need to be as large as the square of the depth of burial. Start digging downhill from the probe, and throw the snow downhill.
  9. Dig as quickly as possible:If you have multiple rescuers, don't get in each others' way by all digging at once. Whenever one person starts to tire, he should rest and another person should take his place.
  10. Uncover the victim's head first:As soon as you can see the victim, try to free his head. Asphyxiation is the primary cause of death in avalanches, begin CPR, if needed, immediately after uncovering the person's head and chest.
  11. Send someone for help immediately only after the victim's head is uncovered:If the victim cannot move on his own, do not attempt to move him unless absolutely necessary. He may have broken bones and internal injuries.

Stages of hypothermia rescuing

Hypothermia I - II (responsive)

  • Avoid moving the body excessively
  • Protection from wind
  • Insulation
  • Hot drinks without alcohol

Hypothermia III(unresponsive)

  • Avoid moving the victim excessively
  • Protection from wind
  • Insulation in a stable position on one side (if the victim is not intubated)
  • Close observation, cardiorespiratory monitoring
  • Core temperature measurement (epitympanic)
  • Supplemental oxygen
  • Transport by helicopter to hospital experienced in treatment of hypothermia

Hypothermia IV (cardiocirculatory arrest)

  • Cardiopulmonary resuscitation without interruption
  • Transport by helicopter to a hospital with cardiopulmonary bypass
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