Knowing how to survive an avalanche is crucial for winter sports enthusiasts. Walking away is the best chance of survival, but if caught, try to stay in one place and hold onto something. If buried, start ascending as soon as the snow slows down. It’s easier to survive with a group or a distress signal.
If you’re a winter sports enthusiast, learning how to survive an avalanche should be high on your priority list. Even if the chances of being involved in an accident are slim, knowing how to protect yourself can mean the difference between life and death if you are ever caught in an avalanche. To survive an avalanche, you need to keep a few things in mind.
Your best chance of surviving an avalanche comes from walking away. Sometimes avalanches start right under your feet, which gives you little chance to jump uphill; or you could try jumping sideways, off the avalanche slope. The center of the avalanche is often the deadliest place to be caught. While you may not be able to completely escape the falling snow, even a few feet can make all the difference.
You’ll have a better chance of surviving an avalanche if you can stay in one place rather than letting the snow carry you downhill. Hold on to something like tree stumps or rocks if you get the chance, and get rid of anything that might be weighing you down, like backpacks, ski poles or snowboards.
If you get buried under the snow, you have to move fast to survive. The snow acquires density when it begins to settle and can become so confined that it does not even allow the chest to expand for correct breathing. To survive an avalanche, start ascending as soon as you feel the snow slow down. Try to get up before the snow settles; once it does, it can become too difficult for you to climb your way out.
Finally, it’s easier to survive an avalanche if you’re not alone. People traveling in groups should spread out slightly on the mountainside, so there’s a better chance that at least one person could escape the avalanche. Those outside can call for help and pinpoint the location of missing climbers. If you are alone in the mountains, carry a distress signal with you and use it as soon as you realize that an avalanche is approaching. Even if you are buried, the signal will show others your location and increase the chances of a successful rescue.
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