Ring in the New Year with one of our great Wilderness Medicine courses and stay safe with our Avalanche quiz!

As always, be safe in the outdoors,

Among other things, high winds and freeze/thaw cycles throughout the Western United States have created considerable avalanche danger. The outdoor community has been shocked by incidents both in the backcountry as well as inbounds through December. Review these questions and help your patients to stay safe and avoid tragedy:

1. Which of the following should not be a precaution on an expedition in the backcountry?
   • A. Check with your local Avalanche Forecast Center before any expedition.
   • B. Always enter dangerous areas one at a time.
   • C. Carry and understand how to use avalanche beacons, shovels, and probes.
   • D. Travel on steep slopes where avalanches probably have already happened.

2. What is the most important factor in avalanche survival?
• A. How long a victim is buried.
• B. The type of avalanche a victim is involved in.
• C. The victim's alpine ability
• D. The victim's ability to remove skis and poles.
3. Rate the following terrains from safest to most dangerous in avalanche conditions:
• Gullies and narrow vallies
• Windward ridgelines
• Steep slopes (greater than 35 degrees)
• Low angle slopes (less than 35 degrees)

Answers

1. D - Steep slopes (those greater than 35 degrees) are in danger of sliding naturally or when triggered by people. In the backcountry you should always be aware of the conditions and be especially careful on steep slopes, entering them one at a time and only once the slope is determined to be stable.
2. A - After the first fifteen minutes of burial, an avalanche victim's chance of survival decreases rapidly. Because of this, it is vital that everyone in the backcountry use and be familiar with avalanche safety equipment including probes, shovels, and beacons. Especially this year, with dangerous conditions, accredited avalanche safety courses are strongly recommended before planning an excursion without a guide
3. From safest to most dangerous:
   1. Windward ridgelines
   2. Low angle slopes
   3. Steep slopes
   4. Gullies and narrow vallies
   Though the exact order is not of great consequence, anyone venturing in the outdoors should recognize that travel should be limited to ridgelines and low angle slopes whenever possible. Steep slopes should only be tested when conditions allow and even them with the highest caution, and one at a time. Avalanche runout areas, such as gullies or narrow valleys should be avoided. Runout areas may include low angle slopes that are safe on their own but may lie below avalanche prone areas.

Remember and remind your patients that in most locations, conditions are more dangerous than they have been in past years, and all precautions should be taken. Recommend safety classes, appropriate planning including observation of local avalanche forecast information, preparation and proper equipment, and good common sense. Let's keep the backcountry safe this winter!

Lake Guntersville State Park, Alabama - January 23 - 25, 2009

Canyons Resort, Utah - February 20 - 24, 2009

Aurora, Colorado - March 13 - 15, 2009

Moab, Utah - May 27 - 30, 2009

Mount Snow, Vermont - June 5 - 7, 2009

The Advanced Wilderness Life Support certification course was originally developed at the University of Utah School of Medicine and has grown significantly since its creation in 1997. The increasing demand for certification resulted in the creation of a new organization, AdventureMed, to promote the responsible growth of the AWLS program. AWLS certification is available to anyone with a medical degree or certification including: MD, DO, RN, DDS, DPM, PA, EMT and Paramedic.

The Wilderness Life Support Institute, a nonprofit organization, was founded by Paul S. Auerbach, MD and Richard Ingebretsen, MD to oversee the content and quality of the AWLS certification program.

The mission of AWLS is to create competence in medical professionals, enabling them to effectively manage emergency medical situations outside traditional medical facilities.