Utilizing avalanche safety equipment to prevent snow immersion asphyxiation revisited

摘要

The final week of 2010 was bittersweet for snowriders. Massive storms pummeled the western mountains in North America with big fat flakes. Skiers and snow-boarders flocked to the deep powder snow on holiday break. Unfortunately, in a 2-week span between December 2010 and January 2011, 6 died of snow immersion asphyxiation (SIA), also called nonavalanche-related snow immersion death, in deep snow and tree wells. Fortunately, a seventh skier was able to extricate himself from a tree well, but just barely.