Avalanche Rescue

Advanced signal searching for very large avalanches

Criteria when it is worth to appoint a coordinator.

Assigning location and organizational unit-specific leadership tasks may be necessary based on extent of the accident site, complexity of the rescue mission and workload.

Precise fine search technique for very deep burials, such as subjects in terrain traps, narrow creek beds, or crevasses.

Solving complex multiple burial scenarios during fine search when the digital multiple burial approach has failed.

How to achieve “Greatest Good for the Greatest Number” when you are short of rescue resources. Taking into account burial depth, terrain features, trees, and presence of vital data, when defining the sequence of actions, will lead to a higher overall success rate. Buried subjects with a higher chance of survival, who require fewer resources, will be prioritized.

Tasks for managing a rescue operation.

By determining the position of the buried subject with multiple probe hits of a probing spiral, it is possible to optimize the starting point and alignment of the Snow Conveyor Belt.  This reduces potential for mechanical injuries and head access times.

Spot probing technique.

Coarse probing techniques.

Fine probing techniques.

Initial coarse searching with Recco device.

Advanced Recco coarse search.

Recco device testing and battery charging procedures.

Fine searching with Recco device.

Recco search for multiple burials.

Recco searching with multiple searchers.

Advanced techniques for Recco search with multiple rescuers.

Pinpointing using spiral probing technique.

Recco Search for further burials.

Recco Search in a team of two.

Recco search close to a probe line.

Recco search close to other rescuers.

Overview of search phases with Recco device.

Steps to take prior to starting a Recco search.

Recco Signal Search procedure and important points concerning search strip width and searching inclined terrain.

Advanced techniques for Recco search.

To ensure the safety of the rescuers and the efficiency of the rescue operation, access to the accident site must be controlled.

Tasks for logistics, communication and equipment management.

The task or responsibility of “probe line search” in organized avalanche rescue includes search tactical aspects as well as protocolling the searched area, managing the resources and communicating with the accident site leader.

The task or responsibility of “Recco search” in organized avalanche rescue includes search tactical aspects as well as protocolling the searched area, managing the resources and communicating with the accident site leader.

The task or responsibility of “transceiver search” in organized avalanche rescue includes search tactical aspects as well as protocolling the searched area, managing the resources and communicating with the accident site leader.

When an avalanche destroys residential areas, or buries vehicles and trains, buried subjects are not equipped with a transceiver or Recco reflector. The search therefore has to focus on generic characteristics and is furthermore complicated by the interference of metal parts and debris.

Complexity of a search may be influenced by multiple factors such as the amount of buries subjects or interference. Based on the considerations of the generic search theory, narrowing the search strip width and increasing the search precision due to a reduction of search speed will ensure that the probability of detections remains a high as possible.

When an avalanche destroys residential areas, rescue includes challenges and complexities of avalanche and urban search and rescue. Thus, special considerations have to be taken into account for the efficiency of the rescue and the safety of the rescue mission. When an avalanche destroys residential areas, rescue includes challenges and complexities of avalanche and urban search and rescue. Thus, special considerations have to be taken into account for the efficiency of the rescue and the safety of the rescue mission.

Using analog sound with a modern approach, such as the “sound check” is easy to teach and allows for building up and updating the “mental map” of the rescue scenario based on reliable and instant, “real time” audio feedback.