Item: Avalanche Awareness Raising in Finland - Development of Avalanche Education Curricula
-
-
Title: Avalanche Awareness Raising in Finland - Development of Avalanche Education Curricula
Proceedings: International Snow Science Workshop 2016 Proceedings, Breckenridge, CO, USA
Authors:
- Eeva Mäkelä [ Humak University of Applied Sciences, Nurmijärvi Campus, Kiljava, Finland ]
- Jussi Muittari [ Humak University of Applied Sciences, Nurmijärvi Campus, Kiljava, Finland ]
- Kai Lehtonen [ Humak University of Applied Sciences, Nurmijärvi Campus, Kiljava, Finland ]
Date: 2016-10-02
Abstract: Finland is a country of 5.4 million inhabitants in Northern Europe. Backcountry skiing and free skiing have gained popularity over the past 10 years amongst Finns. Sales of free-skiing skis, touring bindings and avalanche rescue equipment have grown rapidly over the last years. There is also a growing demand for avalanche education and avalanche safety training courses. So far there have been only a few organizations or individuals providing avalanche training for recreationists and professionals. The content, goals and quality of these courses have varied, and no standard education curriculum has been available. The rounded mountains and hills of Northern Finland provide great introductory backcountry skiing. Fortunately, Finland has had only a few avalanche fatalities inside its national borders, but several close calls have occurred each year. Most avalanche accidents including those that incur fatalities which involve Finns occur outside Finland: for example, in Norway, the Alps or North America. It subsequently became obvious that Finns would greatly benefit from an avalanche education curriculum developed specifically for Finnish needs in the Finnish language. HUMAK University of Applied Sciences received three-year European Social Fund funding in 2015 from the Centre for Economic Development, Transport and Environment for raising avalanche awareness and the development of avalanche education in Finland. Right from the start, this project received a warm welcome from professionals as well as recreationists.
Object ID: ISSW16_P3.38.pdf
Language of Article: English
Presenter(s):
Keywords: Avalanche education, avalanche awareness, Finland
Page Number(s): 1099-1102
Subjects: safe backcountry skiing avalanche awareness avalanche education
-