Recently, with the growing popularity of sports such as alpine skiing and snowboarding, avalanches in the mountains have become a threat not only to climbers, but also to other athletes who are fond of these extreme sports. Knowing the safety rules during an avalanche can save your life and help you avoid danger.
You should know that you cannot flaunt and neglect the danger in the mountains, such an attitude borders on stupidity. The loss of caution here can cost your life not only for you, but also for those who will be with you on the slope. Going to the mountains, find out the forecast of the Ministry of Emergency Situations: is there a danger of avalanches or a storm warning. A snowy surface that is about to break off, getting wet and heavy under the influence of sunlight, has characteristic features that should be paid attention to.
So, an avalanche can come down at any minute, if you are skiing, and cracks form under them or snow “floats”, your legs fall through, and you feel emptiness under them. At this moment, a dull rumble can be heard, the snow crust settles with a characteristic "hooting" sound, it can emit a hiss underfoot, which means that the snow is compacted and begins to settle. Notice when lumps of snow the size of a tennis ball begin to roll down the sunny slope - the snow began to get wet and shrink, gaining critical mass. Traces of recent avalanches, the absence of vegetation on the slope and its presence only in its lower part are also signs of danger. The presence of at least one of these signs is a reason to postpone skiing or continue in a safer place.
When crossing an avalanche slope, observe the following rules:
- cross a dangerous place in the morning or in the evening, when the snow is still frozen, keep to the upper part of the slope, where there are rock outcrops;
- take off your skis or snowboard, move at a fast, wide step, trail to trail, one at a time, in order to disturb the integrity of the snow cover as little as possible;
- no need to shout or sing, so as not to provoke a sound wave, which can cause an avalanche, and there is no need to talk so as not to be distracted;
- clothes and helmets must be worn and fastened;
- a first-aid kit must be at the group member who closes the passage.
When going into the mountains, also take care to maximize your safety in the event that you do get hit by an avalanche. Check that all members of your group have radio beacons and that their sensors are compatible with each other. Each member of the group should have an avalanche cord of a bright red color, clearly visible on the snow. One end of the cord is wrapped around the body and tied with a strong knot. In case of falling under an avalanche, the second, free end of the cord, as a rule, brings it to the surface.
