Wilderness Medical Society Practice Guidelines for Prevention and Management of Avalanche and Nonavalanche Snow Burial Accidents

Abstract

To provide guidance to clinicians and avalanche professionals about best practices, the Wilderness Medical Society convened an expert panel to develop evidence-based guidelines for the prevention, rescue, and medical management of avalanche and nonavalanche snow burial victims. Recommendations are graded on the basis of quality of supporting evidence according to the classification scheme of the American College of Chest Physicians.

An Automated Method for Surface Ice/Snow Mapping Based on Objects and Pixels from Landsat Imagery in a Mountainous Region

“…Surface ice/snow is among the most vital earth resources undergoing temporal and spatial changes as a consequence of climate change and other forms of environmental change in many parts of the world [2][3][4]. The economic, ecological and social effects of surface snow changes have been the subject of academic study for many years [5][6][7]. Furthermore, surface snow is one of the most important water resources of most rivers in high-mountain regions.…”

Risk management in Norwegian avalanche rescue operations: Managing uncertainty, complexity, overcommitment and the long-term monitoring of accident risk

“…Paper V's findings indicate that the police, as a structurally visible and hierarchically important controller in the safety control structure of the rescue service, do not meet the expectations of instructions (Regjeringen, 1995, Nr. 16, 2005, guidelines (NRR, 2012) and recommendations Van Tilburg et al, 2017). This may contribute to a deficient control of rescue operations in the critical first hour.…”

“…This finds support in already existing regulations: "The Joint Rescue Coordination Centre shall regularly monitor the Local Rescue Coordination Centres and ensure that these work in accordance with the instructions and recommendations given for the rescue service" (Regjeringen, 2015. At all levels, the set of indicators should be considered natural elements of both basic and advanced avalanche safety training programmes Van Tilburg et al, 2017). After all, "It is as much about what people do with what they notice as it is about the activity of noticing itself" (Weick et al, 2008, p. 37).…”

“…The assumption rests on two main pillars: 1: Compliance with recommendations presented in avalanche bulletins, snow safety literature and training are expected to reduce avalanche accidents (Van Tilburg et al, 2017). 2: Organizational factors are important as direct or indirect causes of unwanted incidents and accidents .…”

Accidental hypothermia in recreational activities in the mountains: A narrative review

“…Hypothermia is the primary illness in 10% of victims of crevasse accidents and 66% of victims of other accidents during recreational activities on glaciers . In comparison, hypothermia is the primary cause of death in <1% of buried avalanches victims, since it is more likely that a person is rescued or dies of another cause within the time required until body temperature drops below 35°C (the most common cause of death from avalanches is asphyxiation) . However, it is known from case reports of hypothermic avalanche victims that hypothermia may develop more rapidly than expected in buried victims and that survival with a good outcome is possible even after moderate to severe hypothermia …”