Avalanche Check List
Check your batteries, put new batteries in your beacon if needed.
Make sure ever one in your group is carrying a beacon, prode and shovel? And know how to use them.
Seek out critical data before you leave. (i.e avalanche bulletins, weather reports, local authorities)
Wear your beacon under your outer layer and make sure to turn of your cell phone.
Before you leave the trail head make sure all group members beacons work.
Analog Vs Digital
Analog simply let you hear the audible deep when in receive mode. Almost every analog beacon display a visual indication of the signal strength. Digital beacons display a distance indicator to the victim's location in meters and also a directional indicator.Immediately After An Avalanche
Make sure the surrounding slopes are safe and you're not exposed to any additional avalanches from above.
Determine the number of buried victims, as this will influence how the search should be organized.
Pick out the most experienced group member to take the role of leader and organize the group, with the most experienced on the rescue team and the less experienced watching out for any additional avalanches from above.
Have the rescue group put there beacons on to receive mode and the other group switch there beacons off.
Look for visual clues on the debris (e.g gloves, skis, poles) If you see any item on the surface, make sure it's not connected to the victim.
Basic Search Technique
The basic search technique for a single person searching for a victim, is to do a zig-zag like pattern 15 meters from the edgeof the debris and 30 meters a part from each zig-zag. For several searchers organize the group into a line, 15 meters from the edge of the debris and 30 meters a part until a single is received. Follow the directional indicator to the victims location, them begins the secondary search. On the secondary search locate where the victim is buried. One searcher should conduct the beacon search and the others should assemble shovels and probes and visually search the debris. When your 10 feet from the victim start the pin-point search by holding the beacon at a 90 degree angles and slowly start sweeping it back and forth in a cross pattern directly above the surface. Once the searcher has pin-pointed the the victim, probe the location in a spiral motion until you strike the victim.
