Every avalanche accident represents a great challenge for all the participants in the rescue operation. All decisions require that the advantages of rapid extrication be balanced against the risks to the rescue team. The danger of a second avalanche, snow and weather conditions, daylight and topographic factors must all be carefully evaluated. Equipping the rescue team with airbags should be considered.

In all decisions, one should try to think ahead.

At the accident scene, metal laryngoscopes and medications must be protected from cold (worn on the body or in insulated packaging in the medical kit). Having fully charged batteries in monitoring equipment is especially important when the outside temperature is low.

There are two different strategies for managing avalanche victims depending on the duration of burial.

With a short duration of burial (up to 35 minutes) every minute counts! Rapid extrication and resuscitation have absolute priority in order to avoid acute asphyxiation.

After a prolonged duration of burial (over 35 minutes), on the other hand, the emphasis is on gentle extrication with minimal movement of the victim and on adequate treatment of hypothermia..

Because of this basic difference, the two strategies are presented separately.