Comparison of avalanche survival patterns in Canada and Switzerland.

23 Jun 2011

cdpej

Lots of food for thought in this article. 

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3080528/?tool=pubmed

Phil Jardine

24 Jun 2011

StephenGoulden

An interesting article, but does it say anything new?

Unless I don't understand some of the detail, it seems clear that people caught in avalanches far from centres of population, where distance from medical care are great, would have a lower survival if injured by the avalanche.

Also, wet, heavy snow is likley to be more rapidly lethal than light power snow; I suspect its greater density, closer to melting point, would cool trapped bodies faster than loose powder.

 

If I am missing something of greater importance, please get a discussion going.

 

Steve Goulden