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COMPANION RESCUE
6.4
Triage Criteria and Vital Data
6.4.1 Triage
With limited resources (few rescuers) it is not possi-
ble to locate and dig out all the buried subjects at
the same time. The question arises in which order
the buried subjects shall be rescued. Subjects with
higher chances of survival should be located and
dug out first. Besides simple terrain factors, e.g.
drop over a cliff, in seracs or crevasses, collision
with trees etc., the burial depth is an important
triage criteria.
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6.5
Pinpointing with
Transceiver and Probe Pole
Pinpointing the location of a buried subject is not
possible with a transceiver alone. The burial depth
and the orientation of the subject can be deter-
mined easily and quickly with a probe pole. Use the
shovel to mark the point with the lowest distance
reading or loudest tone as a visual reference for the
probing spiral. Always probe at a right angle to the
snow surface.
If the buried subject is hit with the probe pole, the
pole is left in the snow. It serves as a guide while
excavating the buried subject.
The burial depth is also a triage criterion. In situa-
tions with limited resources deep burials are locat-
ed later.
6.5.1 Multiple Rescuers in the
Fine- and Pinpoint Search
If several rescuers are present while you are in the
fine or pinpoint search phase, place a probe 1 meter
below the expected burial location. Now, you have
the required space to conclude the fine and pinpoint
search while the remaining rescuers already start
with the excavation of the buried subject. When you
have confirmed the find with a probe hit, remove
the pilot probe so that the V-shaped snow conveyor
belt can be extended.
6.5.2 No Probe Hit
If the buried subject cannot be found by the probe,
place the probe approx. 1 meter above the point
with the lowest distance indication. While digging,
enough space is now made available to allow a fur-
ther fine and pinpoint search within the excavation
site.
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