The Risks of Skiing and Snowboarding
A snowboarding or skiing trip is a fantastic getaway trip whether you go with your friends, partners, or family.
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Yet various dangers await all who decide to venture into the snowy mountains. Injuries from falls, the cold, and, of course, avalanches are all too common.
The Power of Avalanches
Avalanches are extremely dangerous and can hit at any time. However, some practices aim to minimize the risk of being caught in one.
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Unfortunately, according to guidelines published in Wilderness & Environmental Medicine, anywhere from 300 to 500 people still die in avalanches annually.
Horrible Conditions Under the Snow
In the guidelines, a team of experts states that around 75% of those who die during an avalanche are asphyxiated.
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The other quarter dies after sustaining traumatic injuries. Hypothermia is typically ruled out as most people trapped in avalanches don’t last long enough to succumb to the cold.
The Chances of Being Rescued
According to their report, if a victim is rescued or freed within 15 minutes, the chance of survival is 90%. However, after 30 minutes, that number drops to 30%.
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However, in 2000, one snowboarder survived after being buried under the snow for an astonishing 20 hours before being rescued.
Three Friends Caught in Avalanche
At the beginning of 2000, three friends decided to go snowboarding in the Austrian Alps.
Source: Wikimedia
As they hit the slopes, two of the friends ventured off track into deep power around 6,500 feet above sea level. After the third friend had not heard from them for over three hours, he reported them missing.
Rescuers Realize Slab Avalanche Had Swept Through the Mountain
Rescue teams on the mountain quickly realized a slab avalanche had hit the region where the friends had been snowboarding.
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After an extensive search, the team was forced to pull back just before midnight due to poor visibility and the risk of further avalanches.
The First of the Friends Is Discovered
The search resumed the following morning around 7:30 a.m. A few hours later, a rescue dog found the first friend.
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Unfortunately, when he was initially buried, his airway had been blocked by snow, and he most likely died within 30 minutes.
Second Friend Discovered Alive
Ten minutes later, the second friend was discovered. He was miraculously still alive and responsive after 20 hours in the snow.
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The 24-year-old was buried under nearly 8 feet of snow. However, when he was buried, his goggles slipped down and covered his mouth, creating a small air pocket that kept him from asphyxiating.
Helicoptered to Hospital
After being pulled from the snow, the young man was flown to the hospital, where he was treated, and doctors worked at raising his internal temperature.
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They also worked to fight against other issues such as dehydration, heart rhythm disturbances, and low blood pressure.
No Sign of Frostbite
The doctors said the patient had several “nonfreezing cold injuries,” which is used to define trench foot (via Wilderness & Environmental Medicine).
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This resolved after four days, and remarkably, after nearly a full day in the snow, he had no signs of frostbite.
Released from the Hospital After Four Days
As there was no sign of brain damage or prolonged injuries, after spending four days in the ICU, the snowboarder was released.
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According to the experts, this case study helped create better guidelines for minimizing risk during avalanches. However, they finished by encouraging search and rescue teams to keep digging as the chances of finding a buried person are never zero.