Avalanche Beacon Reception Under Water: A Pilot Study Applying Avalanche Beacon Technology to Improve Scuba Diver Situational Awareness

摘要

Lost, disoriented, or entangled scuba divers are at risk ofnasphyxiation due to low air supply: time-sensitive situationsnthat depend on timely “buddy rescue.” Similarly, avalanchenvictims die most frequently from asphyxiation if not rescued byna nearby buddy, with survival probability decreasing quickly,nfrom 91% at 18 minutes after burial to 34% at 35 minutes. Innthese situations where elapsed time until rescue is one of thenmost critical variables of survival, using an avalanche beaconnhas resulted in a lower median duration of burial (5 minutes vsn125 minutes; P u0001.001) and rate of mortality (55.2% vs 70.6%;nP u0001.001, odds ratio 0.26) when compared to avalanche victimsnnot using a beacon. This knowledge and technology have madenavalanche beacons part of standard backcountry travel gear andnare now helping firefighters locate lost comrades and build exitsnwhen visual communication is impaired.