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Show Arrival. The avalanche mission group usually arrives at the avalanche hungry and tired. Once there, they are exposed to cold and storm, which can result in a crisis which must be met as follows: 1* Begin immediately with construction of a tent or bivouac for dogs and crews at a nearby location where there are favorable weather conditions and which is secure against avalanches. ( Work keeps you warm.) The avalanche dog has first claim for protection against the weather. He is then warmly covered and shown to his resting place, where he is usually placed on a leash. The resting place must never be located on an avalanche. Burial victims have repeatedly been located directly beneath the resting place or in its immediate vicinity, and their changes for detection were thereby jeopardized. If possible, the resting place should be located in a spot sheltered from the prevailing winds. This way, the dogs are not influenced by the distracting intense odors of the camp. 2* If necessary and possible, a warming fire should be started; the tent or bivouac should be heated and hot beverages should be prepared. Then one eats, drinks, smokes and prepares the mission equipment. 3* The mission leader and the dog leader ( after the latter has provided warm conditions for his dog) inspect the avalanche during this resting period and prepare the search plan* Available witnesses are taken along, as well as some of the experts in the mission crew* Thus, the resting period is by no means lost time. The presence of a search crew. If•, upon arrival at the avalanche, a search crew is already on duty, then the mission leader and the dog leader introduce themselves to the man in charge, question him as to the prevailing conditions, the mission plan, and the search work conducted up to that point* If they do not agree with the plan and the work performed, they have to discuss the plan further in order to arrive at a satisfactory solution. If the previous crew is a so- called amateur crew, who understand little or nothing about avalanche duty ( a group of tourists), then their " wild" search is terminated and a completely new mission is organized in which the layman - 55 - |
