How to Treat an Avalanche Victim

Avalanche victims often suffer traumatic injuries from being hit by snow and ice, from striking large obstacles, or from being deprived of oxygen. Use the following guidelines to maximize your chances of helping avalanche victims survive.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately challenging

Things You’ll Need:

• Advanced First Aid Certification
• Evacuation Plan
• First Aid Books
• Wilderness First Aid Classes
• First Aid Kits
• Evacuation Insurance
• First Aid Classes
• Sleep Pads
• Sleeping Bags

1. Check the safety of the area before attempting a rescue, to avoid further victims.
2. Quickly assess which victims have suffered injuries that are obviously lethal. Time is essential, and you will need to give your full attention toward those still alive.
3. Maintain an open airway and begin rescue breathing if the victim is not breathing. Assume the person has a broken neck, and minimize movement of the neck.
4. Treat the person for shock by placing her onto an insulated sleep pad, keeping her warm and elevating her feet.
5. Immobilize any unconscious victims by holding the head and applying a neck splint. Take full spinal precautions until the victim is conscious and can be cleared of spinal injuries.
6. Cover any chest wounds.
7. Treat all injuries quickly so that the person can be moved out of the path of the avalanche and kept warm.
8. Evacuate immediately.
9. Delay evacuating bodies until there is no danger of additional avalanches.

Tips & Warnings

• This information is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice or treatment.