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 skiing, 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 avalanches 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. 

Even buried under the snow, a person produces a cloud of scent that percolates through the snow to the surface. SEE Scent Cloud   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.  The ski areas of the Wasatch Mountains of Utah maintain a cadre of specialized Search and Rescue Dogs. 

These dogs are one of the fastest methods used to locate victims .  They can do the same work as 400 people.  And it is easier, quicker and safer to deploy an Avalanche Rescue Dog Team than large groups of people.

This is a graphic comparing the search coverage of a 20 person probe line [the hatched area] Vs. 1 Avalanche Dog Team in that critical first 30 minutes. See http://www.avalanche.org/~doghouse/avalanche_search_methods-times.htm          

   To RESCUE them, you have to FIND them

The need for specifically trained Dog Teams is because someone’s life may depend on their performance