subject: Avalanche Beacon - Successful Use [print this page] Avalanche Beacon - Successful Use Avalanche Beacon - Successful Use
An avalanche beacon can significantly increase your chances of being discovered if you are buried in an avalanche. It will not stop burial and it will not warn you of avalanche conditions, you need to have very good backcountry abilities for that, but it will make you possible to find in case you use it correctly.
What does that mean?
It means knowing the way to use it and treat it like a rescue tool, not a fashion accessory. I'm not going to discuss searching, as that's an article all of its very own. But listed here are methods to make powerful use your avalanche beacon. They may seem like common sense or no-brainers but I assure you, in my experience of avalanche rescue I've seen each one of these straightforward concepts ignored!
Are You Beeping? Prior to you head out check with your companion to be positive you're each beeping. Make certain your beacons are in working order, both sending and transmitting. In a ideal world do a drill just before you head out.
Batteries. When you verify to see if you are beeping do a battery test. All beacons have a battery test system built in to tell you if your batteries are strong. If in doubt, change the batteries. Take your batteries out in the event you don't plan to utilize your beacon for a time and at the end of the season.
Wear it on your body. Once you get dressed to go out for your tour make it a habit of putting your avalanche beacon on your body. Not in your pack, not inside the pocket of your jacket. Your pack and jacket can very easily be torn from you in an avalanche. It does not do you any good if your pack is beeping, but you are not. Beacons come with harnesses made to secure them to your body, use them.
Quick Draw. Wear your avalanche beacon so its accessible. You do not need to waste precious seconds fishing around to obtain to it to turn to search mode. The most effective method to put on one is securely strapped to your body over your outermost layer, but under your jacket. Wear it high enough in your body so you do not need to have to do loads of unzipping or unbuckling to get to it. Too frequently individuals get fixated on wearing a beacon to be discovered but never consider the fact that they may possibly be the searcher and need to have to have fast access to it.
It Takes Two. If you have a beacon and your buddy does not your beacon is useless except as an aid to rescuers for body recovery. Sounds harsh, but its reality. Your very best chance of rescue is a companion equipped with a beacon and who knows how to use it. Which brings us to.....
Practice! An avalanche beacon doesn't work on its very own. Sure, they've become much less complicated to implement, but you still need to practice frequently to keep your skills sharp. Time is a crucial factor in a rescue and seconds count.
