Boulder, CO (November 1, 2008) – Backcountry Access has released a comprehensive study that identifies what the most important challenges are when performing an avalanche rescue. The study focuses on interviews with rescuers who have taken part in transceiver rescues involving more than one completely buried victim.
The report was written by BCA vice president Bruce Edgerly and is entitled “Digging Deeper: Uncovering the Real Issues in North American Multiple Burials.” Edgerly presented the paper at the 2008 International Snow Science Workshop in Whistler, BC and the Utah Snow and Avalanche Workshop on Nov. 1 in Salt Lake City. It can be downloaded at http://www.backcountryaccess.com/research.
The study is part two of a project that started last year, and was published in The Avalanche Review and several other publications. Edgerly co-authored part one with computer scientist Jon Mullen, who analyzed statistics from avalanche incidents reported since 1995 at www.avalanche.org. Part two “digs deeper” into the subject through interviews with rescuers, survivors, and coroners involved in the worst reported incidents. The study concludes that in both single and multiple burials, the biggest challenge is the excavation phase of the rescue. In most of the reported cases, the main contributing factor to fatalities was excavation time. This was cited more than twice as often as any other factor.
Other factors contributing to the fatalities included lack of transceivers, victim trauma, and no rescuers available on the scene. Only in one case was a confusing transceiver search cited as a contributing factor in the fatality. This is a significant departure from statements made in the past—including statements by BCA—that multiple burial incidents are quite common and can be problematic. In the one case cited, the confusing search was caused by the depth of burial rather than the presence of multiple signals.
The study makes several important conclusions about avalanche rescue education and training. First, only half of all avalanche victims in North America are using transceivers; wider adoption of this equipment would reduce the fatality rate. Second, excavation takes the vast majority of time, but is not emphasized enough in avalanche courses. Teaching “strategic shoveling,” systematic probing, and rescuer organization can help reduce rescue times more significantly than focusing on transceiver search techniques for complex and unlikely “special case” multiple burials. Finally, if caught in an avalanche, the best way to prevent fatality is to reduce the depth of burial. This can be accomplished through avalanche escape strategies and the use of releasable bindings and avalanche airbags.
In the oral presentations, Edgerly emphasized that the best way to avoid fatality is to stay out of avalanches in the first place. The best place to start is to take an avalanche course. For more information, on avalanche courses, “strategic shoveling,” and other educational resources, seehttp://www.backcountryaccess.com/education.
