8/3/2019 COE-CWO -Safe Routing and Companion Rescue During Winter Conditions

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Companion rescue card page 1 Companion rescue card page 2

The avalanche has stopped. Those unaffected by the avalanche must immediatelystart the partner rescue. TIME IS CRITICAL!

1) Organising the team Report the accident. 1 person takes the lead: short SITREP. Issue tasks. RA for further potential avalanches. Transceivers set to SEARCH. Establish a Control Point (CP) for access and egress. Mark with skis and poles.

Redundant equipment (skis, pulks and large bergans) placed at CP. Keep small rucksacks on your back and bring shovels and avalanche probes. Transceiver search and surface search start concurrently.

2) Surface search: rapid and thorough Mark the rst and last points where the victim was seen. Run through, scan surface. Thorough surface search: arm length apart, move snow blocks. Probe search of all nds. Items controlled and marked but not moved. Loud communication throughout is important: SEE, SHOUT, LISTEN!!

3) Transceiver search(concurrently with surface search)

All Transceivers on SEARCH.

Dedicated personnel for transceiver search. Probing conducted at 90 to the snow surface (shortest distance)

4) Digging: most eective method Leave the probe standing upon nding (marks nd, depth and digging direction) Dig a V-shaped horizontal hole towards the probe. Avoid standing on the snow surface above the victim.

5) Treatmentofpatient/evacuation(seenextpagefordetails)

Look for air pockets. Do not move the victims limbs unnecessarily. CPR conducted as soon as head and chest are freed. Prepare evacuation means prior to removal of the patients from the snow. Avoid further heat loss from the patient

Evacuation can be conducted by pulk, stretcher or improvised sledge.

Companion rescue in avalanches

Companion rescue Pertinent medical matters.

1) Dig the head out rst

Dig horizontally towards the victim.

Look for air pockets and check patients airways.

2) Check airways Remove snow from mouth and throat.

Loosen tight clothing around the neck.

3) If the avalanche victim cannot breathe

Clear airway Gain access to the chest region as soon as possible.

Start CPR immediately.

30 compressions - 2 mouth to mouth resuscitations (start with mouth to mouth)

Continue until medical personnel can takeover.

4) If the victim can breathe unassisted

Clear airway

Continue careful digging.

Stabilize in the coma position. Protect against further heat loss.

5) Extraction of patient

Gentle, horizontal extraction from snow.

Do not move the victims limbs unnecessarily.

6) Protect against further heat loss

Cover the patient whilst digging out (tent sheet etc)

Remove wet clothing

Wrap the patient in dry clothes, sleeping bag etc. Prepare evacuation means prior to removal of the patient from the snow.

7) Evacuation (see front page)

Prepare stretcher/sledge etc. Closely monitor the patient during evacuation.

Avalanche First-Aid

8/3/2019 COE-CWO -Safe Routing and Companion Rescue During Winter Conditions

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Terrain factors

Release zones Avalanches are most likely to occur in most cases in features that have a slopeof between 30- 60.

Follow ridges Ridges are often free of snow due to wind and not as steep as the slopes

on either side.

Ravines Do not exploit ravines that are snow covered and are higher than 5 meters.Cornices Be aware of cornices in ravines that may fracture.

Is itavalanche terrain?90 % of the avalanches involving humans have been triggered by their own actions.

In areas where the terrain is of 30 or steeper with snow cover, Norwegian military safety

regulations state it is forbidden for military units to operate in these areas.

Measure the steepness

The steepness of the terrain can be measured by the use of simple methods.

Maps When the distance between the contours is less than 0.7mm on a 1:50,000 map theaverage slope angle is 30 or steeper.

In the terrain Pole method (see gure). Pendulum method (see gure)

Slope angle instrument either separate or integrated within the compass.

It is important to practise assessing the steepness of the terrain and concurrently control measures.

This will give good assessment skills in attaining the steepness of terrain. These skills will increase

the chances of avoiding terrain with slopes of 30 or more.

Weath

er

Snowpack

Terra

in

Pre-march preparations

1) Obtain information about the following:

a) Terrain open and regulated waters, rivers etc.b) Weather conditions:

i) Wind Snow will gather on the leeside of features. For example, when the prevailing

wind direction is from the South snow will gather on North facing slopes.

ii) Temperature rising temperatures cause unstable snow conditions.iii) Precipitation: 20-30 cm or more per 24 hr period will cause an increased avalanche

hazard, especially on lee slopes

c) Recent avalanche signs in an area must be considered a serious avalanche hazard.

d) Avalanche hazard warning 1-5 (see Norwegian AF Avalanche Hazard Scale).

e) Personal assessment: choose a safe march route, rule out unsafe areas.

2) Conduct your map study and route plan.

a) Direction, distance and height dierential.

b) Land marks (Power lines, lakes, rivers etc.)

c) Assessment of the avalanche hazard (1-5) along your intended route.i) Release zones: 30 or steeper

ii) Run out-zone extent of the avalanche.

d) Assessment of open and regulated lakes/rivers.

Route planning (DDTIT)

Prior to conducting the march, the route must be planned.

A planning tool that can be used is the mnemonic DDTIT.D Distance and dierence of height between two points on the march.

D Direction, compass bearing between the two points

T Terrain. Description of the terrain.

I Interceptions. For example, roads, rivers and power line s etc.

T Time. The time calculation for the planned march.

On arrival at Start location

The 4 factors assessment: terrain, weather, snow pack (Snow conditions) and humans.

Information and assessments of the terrain, weather and snow conditions must be veried.

If necessary adjust the planned route as appropriate. The fourth factor humans they can be

inuenced to interpret the other 3 factors depending on their level of experience and the need/importance of the mission or task.

Pendulum method(Hit by the pole below is

steeper than 30 degrees, above isunder 30 deg)

Pole method