1 June 2010 1DOC Twizel
Avalanche Search and RescueOverview for Avalanche Workshop
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Avalanche Quiz1. What is the largest number of people to die in an
avalanche accident in NZ?2. What is the longest burial survival time in NZ?3. What is the deepest burial survival in NZ?4. Name four roads (excluding ski area) that have
avalanche risk in NZ?5. How long will 12 probers take to search 0.5 ha using
3hps 50 x 50?6. How long will an avalanche search dog take to search 0.5
ha?7. How many operational avalanche search dogs are there
in NZ?8. Which recreational group in NZ has the most avalanche
incidents?9. Which group of workers in NZ has the most avalanche
incidents?10. What % of buried victims are likely to be alive at 90
minutes?
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1. What is the largest number of people to die in an avalanche accident? 41
2. What is the longest burial survival time? Noeline Glacier 11 hours
3. What is the deepest burial survival? Broken River 3 m
4. Name four roads (excluding ski area) that have avalanche risk? Milford rd, Wilmot Pass rd, Borland rd, Arthurs Pass, Hanmer –Tophouse rd, Tasman valley Rd.
5. How long will 12 probers take to search 0.5 ha? About 3 hours
6. How long will an avalanche search dog take to search 0.5 ha? About 15 min
7. How many operational avalanche search dogs are there? 12 dogs (www.nzlsar-dogs.org.nz)
8. Which recreational group has the most avalanche incidents? Climbers
9. Which group of workers has the most avalanche incidents? Ski Patrollers
10. What % of buried victims are likely to be alive at 90 minutes? 34%
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Avalanche TransceiverWork well. But victims need to be wearing them.
D Bogie
Always do a transceiver search
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DogsThe best method for finding people without transceivers
D Bogie
D Bogie
Dogs should always be called
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ReccoReflector – on clothes or boots
Detector – Handheld
can be used out of a helicopter
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Probability of Live Find – POLF
POS x POL = POLFNeed to work out POL
Time since avo + Search time + digging time = Total time POL
Search time = Size of Area / (Search speed of method per m2 x number of resources)
POLF is cumulative
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
0 10 18 25 35 45 55 65 75 85 95 105115125135145155165175
Time in Minutes
% S
urvi
val
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Red is > 1000 m
Orange is > 1800 m
+ Fatal accident site
Ski Area
Heliski Operation
Other main risk sites
Nelson/Marlborough – St James
Arthurs Pass NP – Cragieburn
Mid Canterbury (Rakaia – Rangitata)
Aoraki – MacKenzie
Central Otago
Fiordland - Milford
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Red is > 1200 m
Orange is > 1800 m
+ Fatal accident site
Ski Area
Heliski Operation
Other main risk sites
Taranaki
Tongariro National Park
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Probability of Survival When Buried in an Avalanche in the Open
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
0 10 18 25 35 45 55 65 75 85 95 105
115
125
135
145
155
165
175
Time in Minutes
% S
urvi
val
Ref; Ref; BruggerBrugger H, H, DurrerDurrer B, AdlerB, Adler--KastnerKastner L, Falk M, L, Falk M, TschirkyTschirky F (2001) F (2001) ElsevierElsevier
91 % @ 18 min
34 % @
35 min
7 % @
130 m
in
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
0 10 18 25 35 45 55 65 75 85 95 105
115
125
135
145
155
165
175
Time in Minutes
% S
urvi
val
Ref; Ref; BruggerBrugger H, H, DurrerDurrer B, AdlerB, Adler--KastnerKastner L, Falk M, L, Falk M, TschirkyTschirky F (2001) F (2001) ElsevierElsevier
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
0 10 18 25 35 45 55 65 75 85 95 105
115
125
135
145
155
165
175
Time in Minutes
% S
urvi
val
Ref; Ref; BruggerBrugger H, H, DurrerDurrer B, AdlerB, Adler--KastnerKastner L, Falk M, L, Falk M, TschirkyTschirky F (2001) F (2001) ElsevierElsevier
91 % @ 18 min
34 % @
35 min
7 % @
130 m
in
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Buried in Vehicles or Buildings
0
1 0
2 0
3 0
4 0
5 0
6 0
7 0
8 0
9 0
1 0 0
0 15 25 40 55 70 85 100
115
130
145
160
175
190
205
220
235
30 % @
90 min
21 %
beyo
nd 19
0 min
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0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
0 10 18 25 35 45 55 65 75 85 95 105 115 125 135 145 155 165 175
T ime in M in u tes
% Surv
ival
Three Distinct Periods
1st Critical Period
2nd Critical Period
Extended Period
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90 Minutes is our target time
• Pre-planning• Dogs• Skilled rescuers• Advanced medical help on site• Rapid transport
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Type of response needed
•Expert medical help•More diggers•Probers•RECCO
•ASC•Dogs•Diggers
Older event
•Probers•More diggers•More medical•RECCO
•ASC•Dogs•Diggers•Expert medical help
Within last 2 hoursNo or unknown transceivers
•More diggers•More medical•Dogs•RECCO
•ASC•Expert medical help•Extra diggers
Within last 2 hoursKnown to have transceivers
Additional requirements
Immediate requirements
Situation
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Key SAR Avalanche Issues• Need for a fast response• Interagency co-ordination• Risks from avalanches to rescuers• Standards for key roles at avalanche incidents• Standards for SAR personnel working in
avalanche terrain• Communications• Pre planning• CIMS• Organised Avalanche Rescue skills• Medical
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Scenarios that we need to be prepared for
• Annually we can expect– 20 to 30 incidents per annum– 4 to 10 responses+ nationally for 1 to 4
• climbers • out of bounds boarders/skiers• heliskiers• ski patrollers• ski tourers• ski area users • hunters / trampers
+ = means needed help from outside of the involved group
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Every 3 to 5 years one or more of the following
• Entire heliski party• Major ski area incident• Outdoor education/training group, large
group of climbers, trampers or skiers• Large group of walkers on a track near a
road end• Milford road bus
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