 Poster: A snowHead
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Following on from the 'One for the boyZ' thread, what should we carry incase of an emergency:
Injury
Adverse weather
Lifts breaking down
Getting lost
etc etc
The space blanket has been discussed . . . it is small and light and would easily fit in a pocket or rucksack. Any other suggestions?
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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In my ski backpack there's always a:
- space blanket
- small first aid kit (focussed on stopping blood, rather than doing anything about it)
- LED head torch
- small strobe thing
- plastic whistle
- pink powder traces.
...and all sorts of other, unsavoury stuff...
None of this stuff takes up much space and after having seen three of four people injur themselves quite baldy I don't begrudge the space.
One thing I've only started doing recently is making sure I've got the telephone number of the local pisteurs in my mobile. Most resorts publish a number that you can phone for help.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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| PhillipStanton wrote: |
| One thing I've only started doing recently is making sure I've got the telephone number of the local pisteurs in my mobile. Most resorts publish a number that you can phone for help. |
I also do this, although all the piste maps I've seen recently have the 'Secours' phone number printed on them.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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PhillipStanton, Imagine trying to blow a metal whistle 
I have often given thought to these things, usually when browsing round S & R, and then just do nothing about it. I had thought about a whistle and torch, but until now not the blanket or even the first aid kit.
Is the pink powder for X marks the spot?
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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| IncogSkiSno wrote: |
| Is the pink powder for X marks the spot? |
Primarily as powder traces - the last thing you want to be doing is going for help and losing your skis off-piste
And two other things I've seen done, but not done myself:
- instead of just crossing poles above the victim, you can use the powder traces to make a "fence" - pole either end, traces tied
- to form an X on the ground to help being sighted from the air - although I'd imagine you'd want to pick them up before a helicopter came anywhere close.
("We're saved. We're saved. It's crashed. It's crashed!")
Why pink?
Because they go better with my outfit, silly... 
No, seriously, because they're easier to see on snow.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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If going well off-piste, particularly ski-touring, I think a small GPS (a basic one will do) is worthwhile, so that there is no doubt where you are if uncertain - especially when advising the emergency services of an accident location. I also echo taking a phone with the local emergency numbers already tapped in. And we all know 112 in Europe - don't we?
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A couple of those little tea bag things which, when opened, can warm hands for some hours. They keep indefinitely if the packs are unopened. Chocolate.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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Round my neck I wear a spare bootlace with a whistle & led light. Duct tape round ski pole or in pocket. In pockets -ratchet+bits, a few spare bolts. I've fixed people's ski & snowboard bindings with this. Space blanket, headlamp, radio, tubigrip, plasters, strapping in pack if carrying.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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fatbob, Do your ski boots still have laces....? 
Seriously though, be careful when wearing such things around your neck - esp. skiing through trees. If they somehow snag you can be in big trouble. I know it will probably be normally tucked away, but I saw a particularily nasty accident a few years ago near Courchevel - Warm day, spring skiing a young woman skiing in a t-shirt took a tumble and caught her elastic ski lift pass string in a tree root or something. It eventually broke, but left her with a really bad cut.
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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La Rosiere piste map
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In addition to the mobile phone, might I suggest a few choice phrases in the local language if you don't speak it.
E.g Help my partner has just broken their leg/arm/head
We are on piste number .... near the top/half way down/almost at the bottom
I can see the top/bottom station of the ....... lift
etc.
In the event of really bad weather, a piste map with north marked on it and a compass and a whistle to attract attention, of course this is exceptionally rare as you will always keep an eye on the weather and ski back early when it starts to change won't you.
If stuck on a lift for a while those self heating hand warmers might help but the space blanket willl probably blow away.
Mars bar or similar for a quick sugar rush and bit of extra energy.
I usually carry the following.
Money
Credit card (for emergencies)
Insurance card
Lift pass
Digital camera
Swiss army knife
Hip flask
Chocolate bar
variously concealed in pockets about my person, I also tend to carry two or three spare piste maps to help out lost skiers and a timetable for the local trains to Wengen etc.
I don't ski off piste so don't worry too much about whistles and phones etc, also I tend to be back well before the runs close for the day.
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You know it makes sense.
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As well as some of the suggestions above, I always carry my passport.
Firstly, I don't like leaving it in hotel/chalet rooms.
Secondly, it is a worldwide recognised form of identification.
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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No-one has mentioned two-way radios yet - my daughter bought us a set for Xmas last year, and they were really useful. Mobile pohones don't always get a signal in the mountains. Our son got lost just as we were on our way home in Villars. He didn't have a radio, phone or piste map, it had just started to get foggy and he ended up on the wrong Mountain. Fortunately for him, a kind Frenchman gave him a lift in his car round to the bottom of the Gondala where we had been waiting for over an hour for him.
I am now going to buy another set of Two-way radios.
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Poster: A snowHead
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IncogSkiSno, good for line of sight, I believe - which covers many situations, though I have not used them myself for skiing. And they will have lower costs per call than a mobile, of course.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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If with no intention of going off piste, I carry no more than insurance documents, choc bar, tape, swiss army knife, phone, 2-way radio, digicam, sunglasses/goggles, led headlight, whistle (the last 2 occupy no room), all in a small camelbak. If going off piste then I include xtra layers, proper compass (though my watch has a digital one with altimeter), shovel/probe/transceiver, space blanket, some gimmicky silver kite thingy I bought one day which flies at the slightest air movement to mark your position (no idea if it really works), balaclava, binocs.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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| slikedges wrote: |
| ...some gimmicky silver kite thingy I bought one day which flies at the slightest air movement to mark your position (no idea if it really works)... |
But who cares if it works - it's a toy!
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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PhillipStanton, Exactly! 
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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I carry a whistle, radio, phone, space blanket, water, chocolate, spare hat, fleece, glove liners, sun cream and lip balm. I'm thinking of getting a bigger back pack.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Hip Flask. In case the slope gets too steep.
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toilet roll in case it gets steeper.
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Wear The Fox Hat, I carry my passport with me when in Switzerland because it's mandatory to have identification on you at all times. It's not so much for on the slopes but the drive to and from - need it (and driving licence) if stopped by the police in one of their random stop-every-other-car sessions
I normally carry wallet, phone, radio, mini mars bar, suncream, lip salve, ski lock, glove liners, sunnies (usually wearing goggles), goggle case, piste map, keys to car/accom, buff (when not wearing), at all times plus passport in CH and digital camera when I remember - and all that in jacket pockets. Am seriously thinking of getting a back pack (sth like a Heli Pro?) this year as I can then also carry water, spare goggles for alternate light conditions, as well as empty out my pockets a bit and have somewhere to put a fleece if it gets hot - and have a pack that's compatible with avy gear for such time as we're ready to need to carry it. Kept thinking about a whistle last year but keep forgetting to buy one
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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| Quote: |
And they will have lower costs per call than a mobile, of course
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They cost nothing per call, which unfortunately seems to lead some of those who carry them to feel compelled to sit on chair lifts broadcasting their breathtaking exploits and lunch plans to anyone on the same channel. They are very useful (in line of sight) but you need to have someone else to talk to, listening on the same channel. There's no equivalent of "Channel 16" for marine emergencies, though I suppose you could call "Help, M'aidez!" on every channel in turn, and listen out hopefully.
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pam w, very much agree about unnecessary chatter on MY channel - how dare they?
Usually find one that nobody else seems to be using by about day 3.
Generally find that they are useful to make lunch arrangements! - but also helpful if group gets split up e.g. by someone taking a tumble and others stopping to help.
Trying to get back to the thread and not get diverted onto pros and cons of 2-way radios,
Other bits of kit that I take (not mentioned above):
A multi-tool (as well as the Swiss army knife that is).
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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| Quote: |
Hip Flask. In case the slope gets too steep.
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toilet roll in case it gets steeper.
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Imodium in case it becomes a crevasse
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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ever since watching an episode of Ray Mears Extreme Survival where a former US Airforce Pilot and his son tooka wrong turn off the top of a ski lift in bad weather and ended up spending 5 days on the moutain, i carry a little bit more kit with me in my pack.
I now carry a space blanket, bivvy bag, a large slab of kendal mint cake, elasticated bandage and usually an extra layer. i also carry a plastic whistle in the inside pocket of my jacket rather then in my pack as then its easier to get to if i take a spill and cant get in to my pack.
i bought a set of two ways earlier this year and they were a god send. everyone in my small group had one (5 of us) and apart from the usual lunch arrangements and banter, they really came in to their own when we were off piste (in bounds, nothing too adventurous) they were great for calling back up the slope to advise on lines to take, hazards to avoid etc and also to radio ahead if you took a spill to let everyone know you were ok. i bought the latest set of motorolas which cost about £70 - which is usually less than the extra on my phone bill after a week away! i just wish id bought them sooner.
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Survival blanket
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You know it makes sense.
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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frostie1861, 5 days? They were hiding.
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Poster: A snowHead
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David Murdoch - thats one hard core game of hide and seek! think it'll make it in to next years X Games? 
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Is someone going to do a laminated list to complement the travel bag packing one ? 
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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Mars bar
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Corkscrew.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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| Wear The Fox Hat wrote: |
| toilet roll in case it gets steeper. |
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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LARGEZOOKEEPER,
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Wear The Fox Hat wrote:
toilet roll in case it gets steeper.
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Pampers are,..... how shall I say....more efficient....
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I find a Breitling Emergency does
Dont reccoment testing it out though - know a guy who got a £30,000 bill for posing with it
A
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Injury
first aid kit- triangular bandage, some tampons, analgesia (codine or DF118 or diclofenac- very useful when Mrs Ed or I dislocate our shoulder - 3 times so far- it's a long way down from pissalais to Val D'Isere)
space blanket
used to carry a long 12 G needle- but not that sort of Dr anymore
latex gloves- very useful if dealing with someone elses blood
a guedel airway that fits me / most people.
Adverse weather
spare hat / gloves, goggles- in case dropped- it's a long way down from the top of the grand Montets without these
usually carrying Mrs Eds down jacket or vest + a fleece
Lifts breaking down
ergh- nothing special
Getting lost
whistle, map, mobile
(space blanket)- small amount food
led torch
I have been lost overnight up various mountains in The Dolomites, Nepal and Morrocco- and have never regreted carrying a small amount of stuff just in case. I have also hurt myself on a number of occassions and have always been pleased to get some pain relief. Once or twice I've seen other people mess themselves up - quite badly - and being in a position to help is good.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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I won't post my whole list again. You can see it here.
Interesting that so many people have said space blanket. I always carry one but a few years ago I was skiing with a guide called Remy Lecluse who argued that they are the biggest waste of time ever. In alpine situations, he offered, they give no added insulation at all.
I'm looking forward to adding GPS to my kit list...
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| parlor wrote: |
| ...a guide called Remy Lecluse who argued that they are the biggest waste of time ever... |
I'd be interested in the reasons.
I'd agree if his argument was that the space blanket has little, if none, insultating properties on its own. Much like tin foil. But I'd have thought the properties of the space blanket irrelevant compared to the benefit of the trapped air layer it would create?
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FAQ
