Case Analysis & Practical Application Flashcards

A group discovers a buried victim 45 minutes after burial. Their beacon search located the signal but probe strikes have not confirmed the body. What is the next correct action?

Answer: Continue probing in a systematic spiral pattern until the body is confirmed

Probing must confirm the exact burial location before shoveling begins to avoid injuring the victim and to shovel efficiently.

During a rescue, the first shoveler reaches the victim at 1.5 m depth. The victim is unresponsive and not breathing. What takes priority?

Answer: Enlarge the hole to allow access, then assess airway and begin resuscitation

The burial hole must be enlarged to allow proper airway management and CPR; resuscitation cannot be performed effectively in a confined hole.

A party of three is descending a 35° north-facing slope after three days of clear weather following a significant snowfall. What is the primary concern?

Answer: Persistent weak layer buried beneath new snow

North-facing slopes preserve buried weak layers longer because they receive less solar radiation, making persistent slab problems the primary hazard days after snowfall.

You witness a skier trigger an avalanche on an adjacent slope. The slide debris is still settling. What is the immediate first action?

Answer: Note the last-seen point and watch the debris until it stops moving

Marking the last-seen point while observing the settling debris helps establish a search start point and ensures rescuers do not enter an unstable slide path prematurely.

A team leader proposes crossing a convex roll on a 38° slope rated Considerable (3) danger. One member objects, citing the convexity. Who is correct and why?

Answer: The objecting member, because convex rolls concentrate stress and are high-frequency trigger zones

Convex rolls are stress concentrators where slabs are most likely to fracture, making them dangerous regardless of whether the overall danger rating is moderate.

After a victim is extricated, they are breathing but unconscious with a suspected spinal injury from the avalanche impact. What packaging approach is correct?

Answer: Immobilize the spine, insulate aggressively, and arrange for evacuation prioritizing spinal precautions

Avalanche trauma victims require spinal immobilization combined with aggressive insulation to prevent secondary hypothermia during evacuation.

A rescue team finds two beacon signals 8 meters apart in the debris. What is the recommended search strategy?

Answer: Search for the stronger signal first, then switch off that beacon and search for the second

The standard multiple-burial protocol is to locate and mark the first victim, switch that beacon to transmit, then search for subsequent victims to avoid signal interference.