The time between the extrication of an avalanche victim from the snow and the admission at a hospital (rescue phase) poses an increased risk for the patient (6,7,8,9).

If the victim of the avalanche has not yet been dug out or if there are multiple buried victims, the rescue team erects a temporary shelter and triage station, protected from wind and located away from the avalanche debris.

If the rescue team succeeds in locating one or more buried victims, the emergency doctor is immediately notified, to determine, at the time of extrication, the three factors - air pocket, airway, and vital signs - which will determine treatment and triage.

As soon as the buried victim is located electronically, by an avalanche dog, or by probing, the precise point must be marked and the probe must be left in the snow as a marker.

While digging out the buried victim, it is important to be careful not to destroy a possible air pocket and to keep the airways free. For this reason dig from the lower side towards buried victim rather than vertically downwards.

Because hypothermia must be considered, the victim must be dug out as carefully as possible rather than as quickly as possible. The whole body should be dug out until the victim can be extricated without excessive movement. If movements of the trunk and limbs are necessary to extrication and positioning, make them as slowly as possible. Improper extrication with excessive movement of the body may cause sudden cardiac arrest caused due to the return of cold blood from the periphery to the heart. Numerous cases of so-called "rescue death” can be attributed to this mechanism.

After an avalanche victim has been freed from the snow, the danger of further heat loss plays an important role, especially in cold temperatures and in windy conditions.