International Snow Science Workshop Proceedings - Montana State University Library

Item: Avalanche Incident Countermeasures by the Japan AvSAR Council

• • Title: Avalanche Incident Countermeasures by the Japan AvSAR Council

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

    Authors:

    • Azusa Degawa  [ Japan Avalanche Network, Yokohama, JAPAN ]
    • Makoto Kuroda  [ Japan Mountain Guides Association, Tokyo, JAPAN ]
    • Tatsunori Fukumaki  [ Japan Mountaineering and Sport Climbing Association, Tokyo, JAPAN, ]
    • Ikuo Imataki  [ Nagano Prefecture Comprehensive Mountaineering Center, Ohmachi, JAPAN ]
    • Hidenori Higashi  [ The Japanese Alpine Club, Tokyo, JAPAN ]
    • Takashi Kawashima  [ Japan Workers' Alpine Federation, Tokyo, JAPAN ]

    Date: 2018-10-07

    Abstract: Against a background of the diversification of winter recreation and increasing numbers of backcountry skiers and snowboarders, mountain fields in popular areas have become extremely congested in Japan over recent years. Because of this, large-scale accidents in which multiple groups are involved and many people are affected by avalanches could occur. Once an avalanche has occurred, it goes without saying that prompt action by people in the vicinity—rather than waiting for governmental rescue teams—is the most important element in saving lives. There are multiple mountain-related organizations in Japan, each of which have conducted education on avalanches in their own manner up to now. However, the content of this education has not been standardized among the various groups involved, and there have been differences in both terminology and methods in relation to Search and Rescue. Against this backdrop, the Japan AvSAR Council has been established, bringing together six major mountain-related groups, and operating under the theme of how the people in the vicinity of an accident—including the people caught up in it—can "cooperate to save the lives of those in need of rescue." Up to now in Japan, while there have been cases of groups involved in mountain Search and Rescue coming together to meet for joint conferences, no standardized, consistent program has ever yet been put into effect. We thus report a new initiative which has started in Japan.

    Object ID: ISSW2018_P16.15.pdf

    Language of Article: English

    Presenter(s):

    Keywords: avalanche search & rescue, avalanche education, avalanche incidents

    Page Number(s): 1454-1457

  • Get Full Article

Back to Home page