Dale Atkins

1
Lessons Learned
Mistakes in avalanche rescue, the US experience.

• Dale Atkins

Colorado AvalancheInformation Center / Alpine
Rescue Team
German translation from Chris Utzinger.
2
Objectives

• Identify common mistakes made in avalanche
  rescues by rescue teams.
• (Reviewed avalanche rescues from 1950 to 2003.)

Mistakes in Avalanche Rescue
3
Mistake Categories

• Poor organization

Mishandling the witness
Inadequate hasty (quick) search
Mismanaged search
Personnel
Mistakes in Avalanche Rescue
4
Poor Organization

• No rescue plan (or unpracticed plan)
• Flawed leadership
• Lack of proper equipment
• Failure to utilize available personnel

Mistakes in Avalanche Rescue
5
Mishandling the Witness

• Inaccurate information regarding

• Last seen area (LSA)
• Number of victims
• Location of the accident site

• Failure to hold and question the witness
• Failure to return witness to original vantage
  point
• Failure to keep track of witness at accident site

Mistakes in Avalanche Rescue
6
Inadequate Hasty Search

• No hasty search
• Inadequate searching missing visual clues
• Silence not listening for victim
• Not finding the accident site

Mistakes in Avalanche Rescue
7
Mismanaged Search

• Poor control over access to accident site
• LZ / Staging area on debris
• Not probing the entire debris field
• Not probing the toe of the debris
• Not probing/digging where dogs alert
• Contamination of avalanche debris by rescuers

Mistakes in Avalanche Rescue
8
Personnel

• Improperly trained
• Improperly equipped
• Poor physical condition

Mistakes in Avalanche Rescue
9
Solution

• Develop and practice a written rescue plan.
• The plan describes

• procedures
• personnel
• leadership
• communications
• equipment
• resources

Mistakes in Avalanche Rescue
10
Make the Plan Work

• Brainstorming, simulations, and practice are
  necessary to create the most effective rescue
  plan.

Mistakes in Avalanche Rescue