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Show 2. METHODS OF LOCATING AVALANCHE VICTIMS The concept of probability is important to the design of search operations. The object is to optimize the victim's chance for survival. Decisions are required which increase the probability of finding the vict im alive. There is a double requirement for success: The victim must be found, the victim must be found alive. Clearly, a slow and thorough search could be organized which would almost guarantee finding the victim, but the chances of finding him still alive would be slim. The following sections will explore techniques which increase the probability of finding a victim alive. 2.1 General Procedures The precautions of Section 1.7 are assumed. These are the guidelines at the scene of the accident: 1. Either from witnesses or by examination of clues, establish where the victim was located just prior to the avalanche release. 2. Determine the point where the victim disappeared- the " last- seen" point. 3. Making use of the above and any other available information, establish a probable victim trajectory in the avalanche leading to search regions of high priority. 4. Make a rapid but systematic check of the avalanche debris surface. Mark al1 clues. 5. If justified, make initial coarse probes of high- priority regions. The justification for initial probes of certain high- priority regions will be given in Sections 2.2 and 2.4. The coarse probe is explained in Section 2.3. 6. Make a coarse probe of all likely areas of burial. 7. Repeat the coarse probe as long as a live rescue remains possible. 8. Resort to the fine probe only when the probability of a live rescue has become slight. The precise way these guidelines are applied will depend on the number of missing victims, size of the rescue party and nature of the search area. With enough rescuers, Steps 4, 5 and 6 can be conducted simultaneously. Steps 4 and 5 are the normal procedures of the hasty search. Decisions concerning the search procedures are in the hands of the accident site commander. He decides when and how to search a particular region. Confronted with a multitude of variables, he has to make proper decisions quickly. In addition he has the job of operating the rescue rigorously and efficiently without sacrificing morale of the volunteers. The site 31 |