Banff, Yoho and Kootenay rescue specialists received a report of several people buried in an avalanche -- not all wearing beacons. The team moved quickly with several different pieces of equipment including a trained avalanche rescue dog, avalanche search beacons, Recco search beacon, SKED sled, Akia toboggan, ropes and hardware, vacuum mattresses and first-aid equipment including oxygen.

Although this could be a real situation, it's a practice scenario. Teams practice larger-scale scenarios like this every season and conduct on-going training year-round to make sure they're sharp in the event of a real situation. Here, Parks Mountain Safety team members, along with their Medical Director, the Banff/Yoho/Kootenay avalanche rescue call-out team, the Sunshine Snow Safety team and Banff EMS practice together at the Sunshine ski area.

The scenario: Three patients buried with transceivers, one with a Recco tag, and one without a transceiver. Two patients with critical injuries had to be lowered down a steep piece of terrain.

Although it's great to have trained professionals available as back-up in case of a large-scale situation, it's important to practice rescue skills yourself, because it's those first critical minutes that can be the difference between life and death in an avalanche. The best chance that you have of surviving any avalanche is to have well-practiced self-rescue skills with the people that you travel in the backcountry with.

Get the proper training by taking a course. But don't stop there: practice, practice, practice. And hope you never have to use your skills.

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Produced by: Ray Schmidt

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