Item: New Trends of Avalanche Accidents in Backcountry Terrain in Switzerland
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Title: New Trends of Avalanche Accidents in Backcountry Terrain in Switzerland
Proceedings: Proceedings Whistler 2008 International Snow Science Workshop September 21-27, 2008
Authors:
- Stephan Harvey [ WSL Swiss Federal Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research SLF ]
- Benjamin Zweifel [ WSL Swiss Federal Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research SLF ]
Date: 2008-09-22
Abstract: In the last 10 years equipment and knowledge of recreationists and organised rescue teams in avalanche terrain has developed. More and more people are travelling in off-piste terrain or on skitours. Avalanche prevention and rescue training as well as avalanche warning and the possibilities to get good information have improved. Time to look back 30 years (1977 - 2006) to analyse trends of recreational avalanche accidents. Although more people recreate in avalanche prone terrain, the number of fatalities has decreased. Though the amount of complete burials has not changed, burial time and mortality rate of completely buried persons developed into a positive direction. Companion rescue and organised rescue teams recovered more often survivors in recent years. Further the development of fatalities in guided groups is decreasing and shows higher professionalism. Over the years avalanche warning has also changed. We compared avalanche accidents with predicted avalanche danger degrees to find out, if the proportion of accidents to danger levels has changed and found out, that people do not tend to take higher risk. Comparison of accidents with danger levels did not show particular differences for specific climatologic regions. The avalanche accident risk at a certain danger level is not influenced by a regional factor.
Language of Article: English
Presenters: Stephan Harvey
Keywords: avalanche accident, avalanche accident statistics, avalanche forecast, avalanche danger degree, avalanche rescue, backcountry
Page Number(s): 900
Subjects: avalanhce rescue avalanche accident avalanche forecasting
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