How Do You Rescue An Avalanche Victim?
• Watch the victim. As soon as someone gets caught in an avalanche, try to track their path. Don’t take your eyes off them. If the person disappears beneath the snow, note where you last saw them, and continue to watch downhill to see if they resurface. • Avalanche in progress Make sure the danger has passed before entering the avalanche slope. If you’re following proper avalanche safety techniques, only one person should be in the danger zone at a time. Make sure the avalanche has completely stopped before others enter the slope. • 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. • Use avalanche beacons if available. If the victim is wearing an emergency beacon, you may be able to quickly locate him or her. • Switch emergency beacons into receive mode. All members of the party should switch their beacons to “receive” mode to atte
