Avalanche ABC

Avalanche ABCs in the Sportano shopIn winter, the mountains are stunning in their beauty, but they also conceal dangers. One of them is avalanches, which kill many winter sports enthusiasts every year. Proper preparation and equipment is the key to safe exploration of snowy areas. The avalanche ABC is a basic knowledge for anyone who decides to go on trips in avalanche-prone areas. In the Sportano shop you will find products from the avalanche ABC category from renowned brands such as ORTOVOX, BCA, PIEPS, Salewa or Climbing Technology.Avalanche detector - the first step in locating avalanche victimsAvalanche detectors, also known as transceivers, are an indispensable piece of equipment for every winter hiker in the mountains, especially in avalanche-prone areas. They are electronic devices that can literally mean the difference between life and death in the event of an avalanche. They function in two main modes: transmit and receive. When you are hiking in the mountains, the detector should be set to transmit mode, which means that it sends continuous radio signals. If you are buried in an avalanche, the other team members who avoided being buried switch their detectors to search mode. These devices can then track the signal transmitted by the buried person's detector, indicating the direction and distance to the source of the signal. Today's avalanche detector models are increasingly sophisticated and precise. Many have functions that allow them to locate several buried persons at the same time. In addition, they are equipped with digital screens that visualise the location of victims and give information on the depth of burial, which is crucial for coordinating rescue efforts. Although avalanche detectors are an extremely effective tool in locating avalanche victims, their correct use requires practice and training. For this reason, regular attendance at detector courses and drills is essential for anyone intending to explore mountain areas during the winter season. When buying a detector, it is also worth paying attention to the quality of the batteries and the ease of use of the device when wearing gloves. In extreme conditions, when every second counts, there is no time to fumble around in menus or struggle with hard-to-reach buttons.Avalanche probe - pinpointing the exact location of the victim under the snowThe avalanche probe is another essential tool in the equipment of anyone traversing avalanche-prone areas. Once the signal from the avalanche detector has been identified, the probe allows the victim to be precisely located under the snow cover. Its operation is based on a simple, but extremely effective mechanism. In short, an avalanche probe is a light but sturdy telescopic tube, usually made of aluminium or carbon fibre. When folded, it fits easily into a rucksack and can be unfolded in an instant if required. Its length usually varies from 240 to 320 cm, allowing deep snow layers to be probed. Once the detector indicates where the avalanche victim is likely to be, the rescuer uses the probe to systematically search this zone. By driving the probe into the snow at even intervals, the rescuer tries to come across the body of the buried person. When the probe encounters something soft, not similar to the texture of the snow, there is a high probability that the victim is located in this way. Finding the person within a short period of time is crucial, as the chances of survival decrease rapidly after the first 15 minutes of being buried. An avalanche probe not only allows you to quickly identify the exact location of the victim, but also to assess the depth of the burial, which is essential for the correct use of an avalanche shovel. Modern avalanche probes are equipped with additional features, such as depth scales or reinforced tips for better penetration of hard snow. However, it is worth remembering that, like any tool, a probe is most effective when its user has the right training and experience in using it. Regular practice and practice are the key to effective use of the probe in an emergency situation.Avalanche shovel - the key to quick extraction of a victimThe avalanche shovel is an indispensable piece of equipment in avalanche-prone terrain, indispensable in situations where a buried person needs to be quickly extracted. Although its basic use seems obvious, not every shovel is the same and its effectiveness can depend on many factors. Made from strong, lightweight materials such as aluminium, an avalanche shovel is designed to dig effectively in the condensed snow that characterises avalanche areas. Unlike regular shovels, these avalanche shovels are more compact in size and are often foldable, making them easy to carry in a rucksack. The shape of the shovel is also optimised for use in difficult conditions. The sharp edge allows the shovel to cut through hard lumps of snow, and the wide blades allow for the rapid removal of large amounts of snow in a short period of time. Many avalanche shovel models are equipped with an adjustable handle to suit the size of the user and the specific job. Once the victim has been located using an avalanche detector and probe, the shovel is essential for physical access to the buried person. It is important that the digging process is deliberate and systematic. Very often the snow that has fallen during an avalanche is extremely compacted and hard, making excavation work difficult and demanding. Therefore, proper technique and a sturdy shovel are key to success. When buying an avalanche shovel, it is worth paying attention to its durability, functionality and ease of assembly and disassembly. In an emergency situation, every second is worth its weight in gold, so the reliability and functionality of the tool can be life-defining. Together with an avalanche detector and an avalanche probe, the shovel is the holy trinity of avalanche equipment, without which no winter mountain adventurer should set out into avalanche-prone terrain. As always, however, technique and equipment alone are only half the battle - the key is proper training and regular practice.Complete Complete avalanche kits - what components should be included and why are they so important? important?Complete avalanche kits are collective toolkits designed to increase the chances of survival and successful rescue in the event of being buried by an avalanche. The kit includes several key items that anyone intending to venture into avalanche-prone mountain areas should have. Below I outline what components they should include and why they are so important. An avalanche detector is one of the most important pieces of kit. This device sends out radio signals that can be detected by other detectors in the area. If the victim is buried in an avalanche, the victim's detector switches to signal sending mode, allowing other detectors to locate the person. The avalanche probe is another key piece of kit. This is a long, often telescopic tube that is used to locate a buried person under the snow. Once the victim has been located with the detector, the probe allows the location of the person to be pinpointed so that rescue efforts can be directed to the appropriate location. An avalanche shovel, as previously discussed, is essential for physical access to a buried person. Designed for digging in hard and compacted snow, it is important for both rescuers and the potential victim, who may need the shovel to dig themselves or a companion out. Additional items that may also be included in an avalanche kit include avalanche airbags, which fill with air at the push of a button, increasing the chances of avoiding being buried by the 'Brazilian Nut effect', which is the lifting of larger objects upwards as the snow mass moves. Having a complete avalanche kit is undoubtedly crucial for safety in mountainous areas, but proper training and regular practice using it is equally important. Even the best equipment won't help if we don't know how to use it properly in a crisis situation. Ultimately, prevention and proper expedition planning are the first step to avoiding avalanche danger.