You are enjoying the pure mountain air and fresh snow when suddenly, the ground begins to give way under your feet. If avalanches are frequent in your area, you should know how to act, and how to do it quickly, or you will be buried under many tons of snow in less than a minute. You can take many steps to avoid causing an avalanche, but if you still get caught up in a dangerous situation, here's what to do.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: React in the First Seconds
Step 1. Jump to the mountain
Most avalanche victims themselves cause it, and in some cases the avalanches will start directly under their feet. If this happens, try jumping uphill, over the fracture line. An avalanche is created so fast that it is almost impossible to react fast enough to succeed in this technique, but in some cases it has happened.
Step 2. Move to one side of the avalanche
Whether the avalanche starts above you or below you, you may be able to avoid it by moving sideways. Don't hesitate - move as fast as you can to the side of the avalanche. If the avalanche starts well above you, you may be able to avoid it before it reaches you. The snow will move faster in the center of the flow, the point where there will also be the largest volume of snow.
Step 3. Ditch the heavy equipment
You will need to be as light as possible, so get rid of your backpack, racquets and other heavy items you are carrying. This will increase the chances of staying on the snow surface.
- Don't naturally throw away your survival gear, such as snow shovels or transmitters and probes; you will need it if you are buried.
- Rescuers looking for you may be able to find you if they see pieces of equipment on the surface of the snow, so you may want to throw in a glove or something light to increase your chances of being rescued.
Step 4. Hold on to something
If you are unable to escape from an avalanche, try to grab a sturdy boulder or tree. If it is a small avalanche, or if you are near its edges, you may be able to hold on until the snow wave passes. Even if you are torn from the object you are holding, if you can delay the moment you are run over, you will have a better chance of not being buried or at least you will be buried less deeply.
Remember that a very powerful avalanche will also tear up large rocks and trees
Step 5. Start swimming
This is essential to be able to stay close to the snow surface. The human body is much denser than snow, so you will have a tendency to sink when dragged downstream. Try to stay afloat by moving your legs and rotating your hands as if you were swimming.
- Swim on your back. This way your face will be facing the surface, and you will have a better chance of breathing in oxygen quickly before being buried.
- Swim upstream. By swimming upwards you will be able to stay closer to the surface of the snow.
Part 2 of 3: Survive if You Get Buried in Snow
Step 1. Keep one arm straight above your head
It should be pointed in the direction of the snow surface. This will help you understand which direction the surface is in, as it is easy to lose orientation when you are buried. You may also be able to help rescuers find you. Alternatively, you can spit some saliva to orient yourself by observing which direction the liquid is dripping.
Step 2. Dig a pouch around the face
When the avalanche has stopped, the snow will become hard as concrete. If you are buried more than 30 cm, it will be impossible to get out on your own. You can only hope to avoid choking long enough for someone to dig you out.
- Use your free hand or a snow shovel to dig an air pocket near the nose and mouth. Do it when the avalanche slows down. By being able to breathe from a small air pocket, you should be able to survive at least 30 minutes.
- Take a deep breath before the snow settles. Inhale deeply and hold your breath for a few seconds. This will make your chest expand, and have room to breathe as the snow hardens around you. If you don't create this space, you may not even be able to breathe once it's buried.
Step 3. Save air and energy
Try to move when the snow stops, but don't put your air pocket at risk. If you are very close to the surface, you may be able to dig and exit, but otherwise you will not be able to. Don't waste precious oxygen trying to fight the snow. Keep calm and wait to be saved.
If you hear people near you, try to call them, but don't continue if they can't hear you. You can probably hear them better than they can, and screaming would waste your limited oxygen supply
Step 4. Wait for the rescuers to arrive
If you went skiing with a transceiver and a probe, and your companions did the same, someone will be able to find you and help you out. Keep calm and wait.
Part 3 of 3: Increase the Chances of Surviving
Step 1. Never go skiing without equipment to survive an avalanche
There are some tools that greatly reduce the risk of death due to avalanches. Invest in the following items:
- A transmitter and a probe. The transmitter emits a signal that can be located by the probes. Every person in your group should have both of these items.
- A small shovel. You will use it to dig an air pocket around the face.
- A helmet. Many avalanche fatalities occur due to the initial impact of the snow.
- Airbags for skiers have become more popular in recent years. They help you keep the body close to the snow surface, reducing the chances of being buried.
Step 2. Take a training course
Avalanches are quite frequent, which is why many organizations offer intensive training courses to teach skiers and snowboarders how to avoid avalanches, save themselves and rescue others. If you are in an area where avalanches are the order of the day, it is worth taking a course.
Advice
- If you are buried in snow and feel the need to urinate, do so. While you may feel uncomfortable, rescue dogs rely heavily on their sense of smell to find victims buried in the snow, so urine can be a very useful tool in this type of situation.
- It is often not possible to get rid of skis before being buried in snow. Don't worry if you can't do it; in some cases it won't be a problem. In many cases the victims were found thanks to a tip of a ski sticking out of the surface.
- Pay attention to the weather forecast and ask the experts if the conditions are dangerous. Never assume that an area is safe - always do research.
- If you get buried in a remote area and no one can help you, your only chance of survival will be to dig an exit. It can be difficult to orient yourself, so try to dig into the light if you see it or in the direction your breath rises.
