Avalanche Rescue
Dogs -- WHAT they do, HOW they do
it, WHY they are VALUABLE
Recreation has some
elements of risk and danger (maybe that’s part of why we do these things). In the snow world there are ever increasing
types of fun –skiing, backcountry touring, climbing, snowboarding,
snowmobiling, snow shoeing and others.
One of the potential risks common to all of these activities is the snow
itself. Piled up on the mountainside,
the snow can fall down –AVALANCHE.
Most avalanche
accidents involving people, are caused by people. A person unfortunate enough to be caught and buried in this, now
unfriendly stuff is “encased” and unable to get out.
They need HELP
and need it quickly –NOW!
The Survival
Probability of someone located and extricated within 15 minutes is 92%.
And this survival
rate plummets to 30% at 35 minutes.
(SEE %Survival vs. Burial Time & http://www.avalanche.org/~moonstone/rescue/avalanche%20survival%20chances.htm
To RESCUE them,
you have to FIND them.
Any rescue plan will include a variety of rescue
tools, a resource list of search methods that can be implemented, (transceivers
and other electronic location devices, probe lines, shovelers and avalanche
dogs are examples). Each method has its
value, and depending on the situation the Search Manager will deploy them. Many ski areas maintain a cadre of
specialized Search and Rescue Dogs as part of their rescue response
capability. In addition, other Search
and Rescue groups train their dogs for this type of search skill.
The need for specifically
trained Dog Teams is because someone’s life may depend on their performance.
Even buried under the
snow a person produces a cloud of scent that
percolates through the snow to the surface.
An avalanche dog can detect this scent and follow it to the victim.
And they can do it with speed and efficiency. These dogs are one of the fastest methods used to locate victims.
(See –Contents –search methods-times)
They can do the same amount of work as 400 people.
And it is easier, quicker and safer to deploy an Avalanche Rescue Dog
Team than large groups of people.
In the real world of Snow
Safety there are instances of unobserved avalanches that need to be checked
out. In addition to people searching
for tracks-in and tracks-out and beacon searches, Avalanche Dogs are used to
tell us that there is no one in the avalanche.
They are one of the valuable tools Search Managers can use to clear the
area while exposing fewer search personnel to hazards.
There can be significant real $ costs associated with both investigation and rescue operations. We are still about saving lives. But anything you have in your arsenal of search tools that can make the operation more efficient, that can; 1)-help save lives, 2)-reduce the exposure of searchers to additional hazards and 3)-reduce potential $ costs and the impact on normal operations benefits everyone.
SOME
$ COST COMPARISONS FROM ACTUAL AVALANCHE INCIDENTS