ASC Safety Equipment Usage & Risk Management 3

Question 1

Which shovel blade material offers the best combination of strength and light weight for avalanche rescue?

Accepted Answer

Aluminum alloy

Answer

Aluminum alloy shovels provide the optimal balance of light weight, durability, and strength needed for the rigorous digging required in avalanche rescue.

Question 2

The V-conveyor shoveling method is used in rescue because it:

Accepted Answer

Uses a chain of rescuers to move snow efficiently, significantly reducing excavation time

Answer

The V-conveyor (or assembly line) method positions multiple rescuers in a chain so snow is passed back rapidly, cutting excavation time compared to single-rescuer digging.

Question 3

In multi-burial scenarios, what is the recommended triage approach when using transceivers?

Accepted Answer

Use the transceiver to mark and systematically work through all signals, prioritizing the shallowest burial

Answer

In multi-burial, rescuers should mark each signal and prioritize the shallowest burial because it is fastest to excavate, maximizing overall survival rates.

Question 4

What is the purpose of the 'strategic retreat' concept in avalanche risk management?

Accepted Answer

Identifying and moving to a safe zone before, during, or after an avalanche releases

Answer

Strategic retreat means proactively identifying safe zones and moving to them when avalanche risk is identified, preventing exposure before a slide occurs.

Question 5

What happens to avalanche survival probability after approximately 15 minutes of burial?

Accepted Answer

It drops sharply due to asphyxiation as the air pocket CO2 increases

Answer

Survival probability drops sharply after about 15 minutes because the air pocket fills with exhaled CO2, leading to asphyxiation—the primary cause of avalanche fatality.

(ASC) Avalanche Safety Certification Practice Test

(ASC) Avalanche Safety Certification Practice Test

ASC Safety Equipment Usage & Risk Management 3