The way this video is shot can be misleading. Because there is a single searcher in the video, it seems like you are advocating locating all the multiple avalanche victims before digging - even if you are the only searcher. My impression is that you are the only searcher in a multiple burial situation, you want to locate a victim, dig, turn off their beacon if possible, and then continue the search for the rest of the victims. It seems like you show a single searcher in the video but infer that these techniques are appropriate when you have multiple people to dig (e.g. a guide a with group). Is that correct? I realize that this video is part of a sequence of videos, but often youtube video suggestions show up randomly and in isolation, so the visuals here give a confusing message. Otherwise, very informative series of videos, and I'm learning lots about my BCA beacon.
Great question. In the previous video, “Introduction to Multiple Avalanche Burials,” we make it very clear that the first priority is to dig up the first victim, get him or her an airway, then turn off his/her transceiver, if possible. “Complex" multiple burials involve situations with more than two victims where you can’t do this either because you can’t access their beacon, they’re too deep and/or you have some manpower that can start shoveling while you continue searching. As stated in both videos, these kinds of situations comprise less than five percent of all avalanche rescue scenarios and are mainly the domain of the guiding world, where one person’s transceiver skills (the guide) are usually far superior to everyone else’s (the guests). In a recreational environment, if there’s more than one searcher, then everyone with a transceiver would search “in parallel” and, most likely, each person would find a different victim. You might have noticed that the videos on complex multiple victim searching and “how to pass a guiding exam” are buried at the end of our video series. That’s because we want people to focus on the basics first and go through the progression after they master those skills.
Cool. Here is the link to our Intro to Multiple Avalanche Burials: ua-cam.com/video/eEAVoDH2Ios/v-deo.html. We commend you for taking the time to watch and prepare for safe backcountry travel and what to do if one in your group is caught in an avalanche. Cheers!
Thank you for your videos, it's always helpful to have a refresh every now and then!
By the way, do you know the name of the song in the intro?
The way this video is shot can be misleading. Because there is a single searcher in the video, it seems like you are advocating locating all the multiple avalanche victims before digging - even if you are the only searcher. My impression is that you are the only searcher in a multiple burial situation, you want to locate a victim, dig, turn off their beacon if possible, and then continue the search for the rest of the victims. It seems like you show a single searcher in the video but infer that these techniques are appropriate when you have multiple people to dig (e.g. a guide a with group). Is that correct?
I realize that this video is part of a sequence of videos, but often youtube video suggestions show up randomly and in isolation, so the visuals here give a confusing message. Otherwise, very informative series of videos, and I'm learning lots about my BCA beacon.
Great question. In the previous video, “Introduction to Multiple Avalanche Burials,” we make it very clear that the first priority is to dig up the first victim, get him or her an airway, then turn off his/her transceiver, if possible. “Complex" multiple burials involve situations with more than two victims where you can’t do this either because you can’t access their beacon, they’re too deep and/or you have some manpower that can start shoveling while you continue searching. As stated in both videos, these kinds of situations comprise less than five percent of all avalanche rescue scenarios and are mainly the domain of the guiding world, where one person’s transceiver skills (the guide) are usually far superior to everyone else’s (the guests). In a recreational environment, if there’s more than one searcher, then everyone with a transceiver would search “in parallel” and, most likely, each person would find a different victim. You might have noticed that the videos on complex multiple victim searching and “how to pass a guiding exam” are buried at the end of our video series. That’s because we want people to focus on the basics first and go through the progression after they master those skills.
Thanks, BCA, for the reply. Hopefully, these comments can clear up any confusion for novices stumbling on this video in isolation.
Cool. Here is the link to our Intro to Multiple Avalanche Burials: ua-cam.com/video/eEAVoDH2Ios/v-deo.html. We commend you for taking the time to watch and prepare for safe backcountry travel and what to do if one in your group is caught in an avalanche. Cheers!