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Item: Burial duration, depth and air pocket explain avalanche survival patterns in the Alps

    • Title: Burial duration, depth and air pocket explain avalanche survival patterns in the Alps

      Proceedings: International Snow Science Workshop Proceedings 2018, Innsbruck, Austria

      Authors:

      • Giacomo Strapazzon  [ EURAC Institute of Mountain Emergency Medicine, Bozen/Bolzano, Italy ]
      • Emily Procter  [ EURAC Institute of Mountain Emergency Medicine, Bozen/Bolzano, Italy ]
      • Tomas Dal Cappello  [ EURAC Institute of Mountain Emergency Medicine, Bozen/Bolzano, Italy ]
      • Benjamin Zweifel  [ WSL Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research SLF, Davos, Switzerland ]
      • Andreas Renner  [ EURAC Institute of Mountain Emergency Medicine, Bozen/Bolzano, Italy ]
      • Andreas Würtele  [ Austrian Board of Alpine Safety, Innsbruck, Austria ]
      • Markus Falk  [ EURAC Institute of Mountain Emergency Medicine, Bozen/Bolzano, Italy ]
      • Hermann Brugger  [ EURAC Institute of Mountain Emergency Medicine, Bozen/Bolzano, Italy ]

      Date: 2018-10-07

      Abstract: An avalanche survival curve is graphical illustration of survival probability of complete avalanche burial as a function of time. The purpose of the study was to calculate the first Austrian avalanche survival curve and update a Swiss curve to explore survival patterns in the Alps and to understand which local factors affect survival patterns in other regions or how they contribute to understanding survival patterns in similar regions. Avalanche accidents occurring between 2005/06 and 2012/13 in Austria and Switzerland were collected. Extrication and survival curves were calculated using the Turnbull algorithm. 633 of the 796 completely buried victims were included (Austria n=333, Switzerland n=300). Overall survival was 56% (Austria 59%; Switzerland 52%; p=0.065). The survival curves were similar and showed a rapid initial drop in survival probability and a second drop to 25-28% at ca. 35 min burial, where an inflection point exists and the curve levels off. Both duration of burial and burial depth had an independent effect on survival. Victims with an airpocket were more likely to survive, especially if buried >15 min. Survival curves resembled those previously published and support the idea that underlying survival patterns are reproducible.

      Language of Article: English

      Presenters:

      Keywords: survival probability, survival curve, extrication curve, Turnbull estimation

      Page Number(s): 1402-1403

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