 Poster: A snowHead
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[EDIT] Sorry - the poll function's on the blink ... now deleted ....
A quick poll - don't cheat! You're in the French Alps, and you see an avalanche. So who do you call on your mobile? Assuming you carry a mobile, or there's someone nearby who has one. If you think you know the answer, whether or not you usually carry a mobile, tick the appropriate box. Please don't google for the answer, it would be interesting to see just what percentage of snowHeads actually know!
This is a brief - and very basic - summary of key actions to take.... (from Didier's book "Les Clés du Paradiski", see post in SnowNews...)
- If someone has been caught up in the accident and you witness the avalanche taking place, try to keep your eyes glued on him/her, and mentally mark the place where he/she disappears.
- Phone the rescue services immediately. If you have a signal, don't move about much. The signal can be lost by just moving a couple of feet when in the mountains.
- If there are enough of you to start a search, send someone off immediately to get help.
- Before you move onto the avalanche debris, try to ascertain that there is no risk of a second one. If need be, designate a watchman.
- Visually scan the surface for any clues - a ski pole, a ski, or better still, a hand or foot sticking out of the snow.
- On the surface mark the disappearance point of each buried person.
- If equipped with ARBs, make sure that everyone has switched to receiving mode - this applies to new people arriving on the scene.
- If not equipped with ARBs, probe the snow in the most likely areas with your pole (remove the basket first by trapping between your feet and pulling) - or a slope marker, if there's one nearby.
- Make as little noise as possible, and listen.
The rest depends on luck, and your first aid skills, until the ski patrol gets to the scene. Never hesitate to alert the authorities - it may be embarrassing to call for help when it turns out to be unnecessary, but the alternative could be disastrous if it transpires that someone's life depended on it. Every second counts.
Last edited by Poster: A snowHead on Sun 30-01-05 11:46; edited 2 times in total
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Looks like the poll function is on the blink again..... We'll start from scratch when admin has sorted it....
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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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Good question PG. I voted for "Didn't have a clue", but the poll results aren't showing. Is the phone number the same for all countries?
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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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I don;t carry a mobile, but if I did see an avalanche, I'd be straight down to the nearest liftie / psiteur / ski school monitor, all of whm I wqould expect to have radio or phone contact with the authorities.
Living in France as you do I'd expect you to have a mobile, but on our last holiday, of 12 people, only 4 carried mobiles - all were english mobiles paid for by the company. I, and OI'd expect many other, don;'t even bother taking my mobile as it costs so much to use in france
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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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OK, I've found the answer to my question myself - yes it is.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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No reason not to 'internationalise' the poll. snowHeads witness avalanches all over the globe. Who do you call if you're in the USA, Canada, Australia, NZ, Scotland, Japan, India ... or, say, Mount Etna?
In my case I guess I'd just start yodelling - 'emergency yodelling' - to the gods, wherever I am. I don't carry a mobile!
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Not sure about the logistics of this, but many people now carry walkie talkies, which seem cross brand compatible. So would it make sense for resorts to have an emergency channel or band to facilitate a quick response? I appreciate that it would entail advertising the band or frequency at lift stations, and it would also rely upon remembering the band. Getting a strong signal is also as consideration, but if it raises the potential to save lives then is it worth it?
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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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Hmm, googling is showing a dostinct lack of numbers to call to report an avalanche. not that I'm doubting that such a number exists, but as an experienced web user if I can;t find it easily, how is the information to be spread?
And no, I wan;t aware that there was a single number to call in any instance
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Is it better to call the international number or the number of the local avalanche office?
Local avalance office numbers are available on most resorts web sites.
I would suppose the international number operator would be more likely to speak English, but talking to the local avalanche office would be talking to the right people straight away.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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I would look on my piste plan for an emergency number, assuming there wasn't a professional (eg a pisteur) around. I'm ashamed to say I don't know off pat, and I don't know if piste plans have emergency numbers, though I hope and imagine so (none to hand at the moment). I await the definitive answer!
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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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a quick Google has confirmed that I got the right answer (Dan - search for "international emergency telephone number" and the first result gives a table of numbers around the world).
interestingly, the European number also works in the UK. I think that I did know this once, but had since forgotten.
but here I must be honest - although I picked the right number from the list because I vaguely recalled knowing the number from somewhere, I could not be sure that I would remember that number when on the slopes having just witnessed an avalanche. In fact, I am pretty sure that I would not.
I think that my first reaction would be to check the back of my lift pass for the local emergency number.
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laundryman, I'm just looking at the La Rosire piste map which lists piste security, lifts and tourist office numbers for both La Rosiere and La Thuile in 6 languages. It also very clearly states emegency assistance is not free of charge, insurance cover recommended.
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You know it makes sense.
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I'm not dan, and I was searching for report avalanche emergency tekephone
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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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| nbt wrote: |
| I'm not dan, and I was searching for report avalanche emergency tekephone |
ah yes, my apologies - i was confusing these three letter names/acronyms!
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Poster: A snowHead
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Most places I've skied either have local emergency numbers on the lift pass or piste map.
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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 Japan we call the ski patrol number....it's usually plastered all over the place and before we went 'hands free' was on the back of lift tickets. 'On mountain emergency number' in Whistler for the '02-'03 season was 604.935.5555. The only European 'plan de pistes' to hand...Les Houches... has only the usual 'renseignements' numbers so I'd probably ski to the nearest lift....getting a phone out, removing my glasses, searching for the emergency number etc. would take longer!
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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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nbt, with your typing/spelling I'm surprised you ever find what you want on google 
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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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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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When I arrive in the resort I take the emergency number from the piste maps and plug it into my phones contacts- also the PGHM one.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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I'm embarrassed to say I don't know what to call and I would have my mobile. the only number definitley programmed in would be the chalet which I guess I could call if I'm the only one to witness the accident. i could also radio the other people in my party so we could informt he pisteurs pretty quickly I guess.
I just had a quick look at my St Johann in Tirol piste map (just came back from a week end there) and couldn't see a number. there may be one but if you can't see it easily when you are a bit panicky having witnessed an avalalanche then it is no good.
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Often the resort brochures have some info. I usually email the resort tourist office before I go and get it sent. I most do France and its seems to be in a lot of their brochures. maybe a culture thing
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For those assuming that the emergency number is on the piste map, check again. I am sure that you will find that you are mistaken.
I have just checked 6 maps from this year and last. 1 French, 3 Swiss and 2 Austrian. None had the 3 digit international emergency number. The French one had the tel. numbers for the first aid posts, but that was all. 2 Swiss ones had information about the avalanche severity numbering system and a web address - useful on the slopes, but no emergency number.
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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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Have to admit, I've never checked for the number before  , but assume that the number to call is the Secours montagne?
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Mark Hunter, Well seeing as the poll function hasn't worked - and I understand it won't be fixed for a little while....
It's not easy to remember numbers, but I've memorised the three digit number by word association, the date "1st of December", start of the season (well approximately!)
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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PG, sorry that was a little unclear - I did know the emergency number, but it was the resort numbers listed on the back of piste maps that I was referring to. I'd imagine that phoning them would be quicker/more direct.
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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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Yes, you'd probably gain a minute or so if you had it handy - and that could make all the difference. But if not, the international system is pretty efficient.
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And the International number is.......? 
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You know it makes sense.
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Well, the poll reflects my memory, I vacilated between 911 an 112 and finally plumped for the latter. I really should have known but I share a mobile with my wife and don't often take it on ski holidays.
PG's advice above is good. Theoretically I know it all already, but would I get it all right in an emergency?
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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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snowball, in the US you could use either number, since they both work from a mobile. Ski Patrol also monitor channels 9-11 on radios. Not much good though if you can't get a signal, or if you don't carry either a mobile or radio!
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Poster: A snowHead
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snowball, on a GSM mobile the emergency number is always 112 regardless of which country you are in. There may also be additional numbers you can call, (e.g 999, 911) but 112 gets priority from the network when establishing the call, meaning they will throw someone else off their call if there are no channels available.
Unfortunately there's no guarantee that the person you are calling is going to understand you. In Taiwan, 112 directs you at a taped announcement telling you which number to call for an emergency. Unfortunately the announcement is in Chinese! So you'd better not go skiing in Taiwan...
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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At the beginning of every holiday I tap in numbers to my mobile for my ski group, my chalet and the emergency number on the lift guide. Have not had to use the emergency number yet (touch wood). 112 is a good point Mike.
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FAQ
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