instructions for durability and easy of use, this guide has been designed to be printed (double...

INSTRUCTIONS• For durability and easy of use, this guide

has been designed to be printed (double sided) on 4x6 paper, laminated and bound as shown below. Binding margins are pre-formatted.

• Please note copyright and conditions of use and modifications on the inside back cover of guide.

Avalanche Rescue Field Guide

Developed bySeattle Mountain Rescue

This guide has been designed as a quick, field-oriented reference guide to be used by team leaders trained in organized avalanche rescue. It provides a high-level overview of organizational protocols, response process, search techniques, and basic medical treatments. It is not technically exhaustive.

"© 2012 Seattle Mountain Rescue. This guide was originally developed by Seattle Mountain Rescue, and may be used free of charge by other rescue organizations and may be adapted by other rescue organizations as long as this paragraph is retained and the guide is distributed free of charge. If you use it, please let us know and direct any feedback or questions to [email protected]."© 2012, Seattle Mountain Rescue Page 1

Incident Command System (ICS)Flexible prototype for Type 5 or Type 4 incidents

Incident Commander

Immediate Search Team

Leader

Medical Team

Leader

Evacuation Team

Leader

Safety Officer and/or

Avy Guard

Staging Manager

•Check-in/check out•Helispot

Strike Team Leaders•Electronic search teams•Probe crews•Rescue dog teams•Shovel crews

Operations Section Chief

(Base OL)

ScribeRescue Group

Supervisor (Field Leader)

© 2012, Seattle Mountain Rescue Page 2

Note: only field chain of command is shown

Interview RPoName, contact info – keep in base if possibleoIncident time, location, and geographical information oIn and out routes travelled; observationsoDescription of incident: trigger, drawings, PLSo# in party, buried, & injuredoBeacon, RECCO, Avalung equipped?oGender/age/clothingoOthers on-scene: condition, experience, communication→Can RP safely lead teams to site?→Informs Risk Assessment and Rescue Plan

MISSION INITIATIONGuide Color Codes:

Assign Leaders – balance need with resources & urgency1.Base Operations Leader – leaderships skills, familiarity with rescue protocols & base operations2.Hasty Team Leader – avy risk assessment skills & Search Techniques, fast & strong, terrain knowledge, familiarity with rescue protocols & leadership skills3.Team Leaders – familiarity with rescue protocols, strong leadership skills4.Field Leader – leadership skills, familiarity with rescue protocols; mastery of Search Techniques

See templates & aidsSee leader roles & responsibilities


Risk Assessment – On-going, as availableoAdverse reports from Leaders in the field trump alloNWAC and NOAA forecastsoAvalanche problem; increasing/decreasing riskoTerrain, route, and team competencyoUrgency – probability of live rescue vs. risk→Informs go/no-go decisions of Leaders→Informs mitigation strategies→Informs Rescue Plan

Rescue Plan – On-goingoMission objectivesoTeam leadership & gearoApproach route & escape routeoRisk mitigation strategy: resources exposed, terrain management, safe travel techniques, red flags, etc.oCommunications plan (frequencies, relays, etc.)oSustained operations plan→Informs Leader briefings and on-going communications

GOAL/RESPONSIBILITIESoDevelop & maintain avalanche Risk AssessmentoDevelop & maintain Rescue PlanoStage, brief, and deploy Team Leaders & team gear according to Rescue PlanoEnsure the integrity of SMR teamsoProvide Leaders with on-going weather, avy hazard, and other situational informationoProvide subject-matter expertise to IC & other Base OL’soMaintain communications with all Leaders and IC

Base Operations Leader (Base OL)


Before entering field, EVERY team member must:

oBe well-matched to their team:• Avalanche awareness & skill competency• Mode of travel (don’t mix skis and feet)• Fitness level

oHave beacon, shovel, probe – and know how to use themoHave individual communications: radio or cell phoneoBe self-sustaining for 24 hoursoCarry assigned team gear (as determined by Base Operations Leader)oBe briefed and comfortable with assignment & risk→Beacon check (send and receive)→Buddy check→Radio check

Safety Check(Team Leader is responsible)

GO!© 2012, Seattle Mountain Rescue Page 5

GOALSoSafe, rapid responseoMark routeoAssess hazards & risk of:• Route• Incident site

oPrimary search & careoAssign & brief Field Leader for on-going search (may be self)

TEAM GEARoRECCOoFlagging tape, GPS, camera, notebookoMarking flagsoLight medical, sleeping bags, hypo kits, heat packsoSpare transceivers

Hasty Team Leader (HTL)


GOALSoEnsure incident scene safetyoCommand all on-scene Team LeadersoOrganize efficient search & on-going search operationsoOrganize appropriate care & evacuation of subjectsoRequest appropriate resources from ICoMaintain communications with IC

Field Leader is HANDS OFF!

Field Leader (FL)(may be transitioned from Hasty Team Leader)

RESPONSIBILITIESArrival on-sceneoAssume on-site command; debrief from Hasty Team Leader

Immediate Deployment of ResourcesoAssign resources to urgent search priorities defined by HTLoAssign scribe – document scene and operationsoConsider avy guard, safety officer, and staging manageroAssess search plan; revise as needed (iterative)oCommunicate progress to IC.

On-Going OperationsoContinue to assess plan and progress; document (scribe)oAssign Team Leaders to search areas (see Search Techniques)oContinue to assess hazards, risks, and mitigation strategies (safety officer)oAssign Team Leaders to medical care and evacuationoRotate teams regularly; consider mental and physical well-being of rescuersoRequest additional resources as needed from ICoMaintain on-going communications with IC


GOALSoSafe, resource-rich responseoOn-going route hazard & risk assessmentoOn-scene: as assigned by Search Leader

Team Leaders (TL)

TEAM GEAR- As assigned by Base Operations Leader


Scene DocumentationoTake photos & sketch maps - search planning, preservationoKeep log of all activities, clues, and search results (scribe)

• Point last scene (crossed blue flags)• Perimeter (yellow flags)• Clues (blue flag), number each and record in log• Searched areas (red flags), record in log• Dog hits (green flags), record in log

Search Techniques – 1Employ techniques as appropriate to situation

Voice checkoDetect wandering subjects; may be viable for buried subjects

Visual searchoLook for gear and other clues– check if attached & spot probeoAnnounce and mark clues (blue flags); document on map

Surface/scuff search high probability areasoFingertip to fingertip, turning over surface snowoLook, voice check, listenoSpot probe as appropriateoAnnounce and mark clues (blue flags); document on mapoReport results to Field Leader

Perimeter search & markoWalk entire debris perimeter (possibly path as well)oLook, voice check, listen – look for clues expelled into trees and over cliffsoMark perimeter (yellow flags)oAnnounce and mark clues (blue flags) such as entering tracks; document on mapoReport results to Field Leader


Search Techniques - 2

RECCO searchoIsolate other electronics (radios!)oUse like flashlight, sweep side to side, orient to and follow signal until disappears (above subject)

• First pass: 20m corridors, aim 4m ahead• Second pass: 10m corridors, aim 2m ahead

oMark and document location (blue) where signal detectedoReduce volume as needed, point straight down to pinpointoSpot probe. On strike, do not remove probe – begin strategic shoveling

Beacon Search1.Assign team(s) = 1 beacon + 1 probe + I shovel (carry all)2.All beacons to receive – isolate other electronics (radios!)3.Confirm compliance (raise hands or beacon check)4.30m spacing (15m from flanks), 2m deep5.Move fast until detect – announce – then slow6.1m bracket to find center7.Probe spiral outward from center, 25cm pattern8.On strike, do not remove probe – begin strategic shoveling9.Subject beacon to receive. When no other signals, announce “beacon search complete - all beacons to transmit.”

Spot probeoProbe probable catchment areas:

• Below PLS; above/below clues, gear, and blood• Around rocks, trees, cornice chunks, terrain features• Deposition zones, ledges, waterfalls, curves in flow

o30 – 50 cm pattern, grid or spiral, full probe depth (3 m)oOn strike, do not remove probe – begin strategic shovelingoMark probed areas (red flags), record on map, take photosoAdvise Search Leader of results


Search Techniques - 3Probe Line

o10-Person Probe Team (expand as needed): 2 GuideOn holders (assign leader), 6 probers, 2 shovelers with extra probes

• Hints: work uphill, instruct before starting, start slowoGuideOn cord or arms out, palm to palm

• 50cm across, 50cm forward (POD=88%, offset 2nd pass)• Command: “center, left, right, advance”• Mark edges (red flags) every 50 cm

oOn strike, leave probe in place, continue advancing• Shovel team initiates strategic shoveling

oReport results to Field Leader

Strategic ShovelingoStart downhill from probe strike (burial depth + 50%)oKneel, chop and scoopup front; conveyor belt in the backo110% effort upfront, 2 x 2 or more, rotate frequentlyoGo to and protect air pocket, headoReport results to Field Leader


TraumaoConduct thorough examinationoManage airway and breathingoControl bleedingoSuspect head injuries; immobilize spine if indicatedoSuspect internal injuriesoTreat for shockoSplint fracturesoFrequently take and record vital signs

BASIC MEDICALWith the exception of mild trauma or mild hypothermia, all

conditions below are medical emergencies that require immediate evacuation, by helicopter if possible


ShockoManage airway and breathingoControl bleedingoTreat patient gently and minimize movementoMaintain (increase) core body temperatureoPosition patient to facilitate breathing and aid blood flow to core (raise feet 10-12 inches) if possibleoFrequently take and record vital signsoAdminister no food or fluids if patient will reach advanced care within two hours

AsphyxiaoExcavate head and chest first (check for presence of air pocket and clear airway – important information for advanced care)oClear airway and excavate enough room for chest expansion; immobilize spine if head or facial injuries suspected.oVentilate or CPR as indicated

HypothermiaSymptoms – Mild to Moderate HypothermiaoUncontrollable shiveringoSlurred speech, confusion, clumsiness, poor motor skillsoWithdraw, apathyoPale, cool skinoVital signs normaloCore temperature > 90° F (34° C)Symptoms – Severe HypothermiaoCessation of shivering; muscle and/or joint rigidityoDecreasing level of consciousness or unresponsiveoDecreasing, irregular, weak, or absent heart rate or respiration (check carotid or femarol artery for 3 minutes before initiating CPR)oIf no vitals, do not assume patient is dead. A patient is not dead until they are warm and dead.oMinimize movement/be very gentle with severely hypothermic patient, re-warm more slowlyTreatmentoPrevent further heat loss: insulate from ground, remove wet clothing (cut away for severe), shelteroHydrate mild/alert patient with warm, sweet liquids; mild exercise okoRe-warm from core out (applying warmth to neck, groin, chest wall) to prevent cold blood going to core. Sources of warmth include chemical heat packs, warmed water bottles, charcoal heaters.oPlace patient in pre-warmed sleeping bag; consider body-to-body warming

BASIC MEDICAL


NW Avalanche Center 206-526-6677backline

206-526-6164National Weather Service 206-526-6087

24 hour206-526-6083

Alpental Ski Area 425-434-7669BARK

x5551SPARTx5552

SPART OL206-289-0457(c)

Pro Patrol (8am-4pm)x5555

Pro Patrol (4pm-10pm)x5554

Stevens Pass Ski AreaPatrol Dispatch

360-973-2029BARK

509-393-4195Snoqualmie Fire & Rescue 911 or 425-434-6333

Fire Chief (Jay Weismann)425-761-0781(c)

Asst Chief (Matt Cowan) 206-396-6287(c)

Skykomish Fire & Rescue 911 or 425-210-7800(c)USFS District Rangers

Snoqualmie (Jim Franzel)425-922-1561(c)

Cle Elum (Judy Hallisey) 509-647-8128(c)

Skykomish (Joe Neal)307-360-7619(c)

SheriffKing

911 or 206-296-3311Snohomish (SAR coordinator)

425-754-6780(c)Kitittas

911 or 509-925-8534Chelan

911 or 509-663-9911

CONTACT INFORMATION


instructions for durability and easy of use, this guide has been designed to be printed (double...

Documents

rescue organizations

seattle mountain rescue

avalanche rescue field

seattle mountain rescue

o genderageclothing

organized avalanche

team leaders familiarity

o nwac