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

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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

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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

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20

30

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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

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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