|
1. What is it exactly that the AA is
able to do?
2.
How does the AA work?
3.
Can
the AA be transported on an airplane? What about heli skiing?
4.
What happens if I get caught in an avalanche in
the valley or at the bottom of a run?
5.
Have skiers already been saved with the AA?
6.
I have to trigger the AA by myself. Do you think everyone is
capable of doing so in an avalanche situation?
7.
What happens if the trigger gets caught somewhere?
8.
How can I prevent unwanted activation?
9.
Is the additional safety belt absolutely
necessary?
10.
Does the cartridge always remain attached?
11.
How will I know whether the cartridge or trigger
handle is filled?
12. Is it
advisable to carry an extra cartridge with a
trigger handle?
13. Does
the AA need maintenance and if so, at what time
intervals?
14. The
cartridges and trigger handles are refillable.
Can the cartridges be purchased at camping gas dealers?
15.
Are
there ice-up problems with the trigger handle of
the dual system - with attaching the pin to the pressurized hose
or with the activation itself ?
16. The
cartridges for the dual system are different from
the ones for the compact system, why is that and would it be
possible to interchange them?
17.
The AA may work in powder conditions but nobody
has a chance in heavy snow.
18. Once I
have purchased an ABS do I still need a
transceiver?
1.
What is
it exactly that the AA is able to do?
The AA keeps
you on the surface in case of a running avalanche. It prevents
you from getting buried under the snow mass. It prevents
complete burial. Most of the avalanches in which alpine skiers
can get caught are running avalanches and they are mostly
released by the skiers themselves. Most avalanche victims do
survive the actual fall in the avalanche. However, approximately
half of these victims are completely submerged. Three out of
four (75%) of the completely buried victims have a blocked
airway or are unable to breath properly due to the enormous
pressure on their chest. In a situation like this the victim
will survive for only a few minutes. After a maximum of fifteen
minutes the chances of survival drop drastically. The Avalanche
Airbag prevents the burial. The avalanche will drag you with it
but you will stay on the surface and therefore have the best
chance to survive.
To Top Of Page
2. How does the AA work?
The avalanche
is a moving mass of snow. It consists of many tiny snow
crystals, which start a powerful rotation once the avalanche is
moving downwards. In this rotation all bodies which are larger
than the snow crystals will automatically be pushed to the
surface. However, on the surface area the rotation slows down as
does the buoyancy and it is then important that the volume of
the skier at least equals the volume of the avalanche snow at
the same mass and weight. The snow of a powder avalanche in mid
winter has approximately 2.5 times the volume per kilogram
weight, as does the volume of a person. The numbers are as
follows: one kilogram of powder snow has a volume of approx. 2.5
litres. One kilogram of a person has a volume of 1.03 litres, a
little more than a litre. A person at 100 kg therefore has a
volume of 103 litres. However, 100 kilograms of mid winter
avalanche snow have a volume of 250 litres. In order to swim on
top of this avalanche snow the person needs 100 kilograms of
weight and a volume of 250 litreAmerican weights and measuresThe
numbers are as follows: one pound of powder snow has a volume of
approx. 76.3 cubic in. One pound of a person has a volume of 31
cubic in. A person at 220 lbs. therefore has a volume of 6820
cubic in (3.9 cubic ft). However, 220 lbs. of mid winter
avalanche snow has a volume of 15255 cubic in (8.8 cubic ft). In
order to swim on top of this avalanche snow the 220 lbs.
person needs a volume of 8.8 cubic ft The Avalanche Airbag
can handle such extreme situations. It has a volume of 9158
cubic in (5.3 cubic ft) and is therefore able to make up for the
missing volume of a person weighing 220 lbs. Ex:3.9 + 5.3=
The skier is no longer able to sink into the avalanche. Without
the Airbag he/she would sink down immediately after the buoyancy
effect has pushed him/her to the surface. To put it simply: the
buoyancy dynamic due to the rotation of the snow crystals pushes
the victim to the surface. The airbag makes up for the missing
volume and therefore prevents the burial. (For your personal
information: This buoyancy phenomena, caused by the snow
particles, is also the reason why only half of the victims are
buried, they are the lucky ones who, as soon as they reach the
surface are pushed out of the avalanche either by terrain
formations or other circumstances and therefore escape
burial).
To
Top Of Page
3.
Can the AA be
taken into the airplane? What about heli skiing.
The backpack
itself does not pose a problem. Problems arise with the gas
cartridges. Every pressurized container is regarded as dangerous
goods by the IATA and has to be declared as such. This means
that the gas cartridges have to be checked in at the airline
company two weeks before departure in order to reach the
destination in the required time. You need to fill out a
declaration for dangerous goods which is available from the
airline company. The listed dangerous goods code number is: UN
1066. Generally there are no
problems with heliskiing. Some heliski companies require that
the trigger handle is secured with a carabiner or that it be
transported outside the helicopter in the ski basket. With the
dual system the trigger handle should be detached while in the
helicopter. As far as the heliski companies are concerned the
cartridges do not represent dangerous goods as such but there is
the danger of an accidental activation and therefore space
problems could lead to panic amongst the passengers
4.
What happens if I get caught
in an avalanche in the valley or at the bottom of a run.
If the skier
is already down in the valley and the avalanche comes thundering
down his chances of survival are zero even with the Airbag. The
masses of snow literally strike the victim down and bury
him/her. With 30 or 40 meters above the valley bottom and an
avalanche release 200 to 300 meters up, the survival chance is
still minimal. Zero without the Airbag and slightly greater with
the Airbag if the avalanche has a good run out. In this case it
is possible to stay on top with the AA and only receive
injuries due to the impact of the snow masses. All in all
it must be said that this situation represents less than 5% of
all avalanches involving skiers
To Top Of Page
5.
Have
skiers already been saved with the AA?
Yes, there are
already approx. 3 dozen documented cases where without a doubt
the AA saved lives. One can assume that this figure would be
much higher if the unreported cases were included. There
has been one death involving the AA I have to trigger the AA
by myself.
6.
Do you think everyone is capable of doing so in an avalanche
situation.
Absolutely.
Most of the activating is executed once the skier has fallen.
Quite often the skiers are not aware that they released a slab
and only activate the AA once they fall. The Airbag reaches
half of its volume within one second and is filled after another
1.0 or 1.5 seconds or so. This is enough time to stay on top
even in the case of short slabs. The Airbag inflates itself once
the victim has already been caught in the avalanche. The only
thing which needs practice is the pulling of the trigger. In
order to do so it is important that it has been installed
properly. The trigger must be located between the chest and the
clavicle at all times. The Velcro straps should hold it in place
so that it is always easily accessible. The activation strength
is approx. 8 kg.
To Top Of Page
7. What happens
if the trigger
gets caught somewhere?
The Airbag
will inflate.
8. How can I
prevent
unwanted activation
The trigger
should only be put in place when the person is ready to go
skiing. We strictly recommend that the trigger is always stored
in the waist pocket when not in use. An additional safety
measure is the red Velcro strap at the trigger. The compact
system (mechanical activation) requires the red trigger ring to
be fastened with the red Velcro strap which needs to be loosened
when in use. Otherwise more strength is needed for activation.
With the compact system it is also recommended to remove the
cartridge after skiing and store it separately with the
protective
9. Is the
additional
safety belt absolutely necessary?
It is the
regulation as per the manual. If the hip belt is not fastened
properly the backpack could be pulled over the head when caught
in an avalanche. The
additional safety belts which of course also have to be
tightened will prevent this from happening.
A really tight hip belt, however, is sufficient in most
cases.
To Top Of Page
10. Does the cartridge always remain attached?
With the dual
system it may stay attached. It should be weighed once in a
while to ensure that it is still full. It is recommended to do
this before each use. With the compact system we recommend
to detach the cartridge after each
use.
11. How will I know
whether the cartridge or trigger handle is filled?
The cartridge
can be checked by unscrewing the safety cap and checking the
little sealing disc. If the cartridge has been pierced it will
be easily visible. However, the possibility that the cartridge
may not have a proper seal cannot be disregarded. The
cartridge is under immense pressure. A hairline fracture, a
defect seal or thread could cause a leak or loss in pressure and
therefore the apparatus would malfunction It is therefore a must
to always check the cartridge before use. This is only possible
by comparing the weight. Each cartridge shows the weight on the
cap. By re-weighing it can be checked quite easily.
Should the weight differ by more than 5g, the cartridge
should not be used. The company will issue a replacement free of
charge. With the trigger
handle of the dual system the pin, which attaches to the
pressurized hose must be affixed tightly. This can be checked by
pulling slightly with your fingers. Most importantly a red band
on the pin should not be visible as it is an indicator that the
handle has already been activated. Attention! Do not under any
circumstances pull out the pin with pliers or your teeth. This
could have serious consequences.
To Top Of Page
12. Is it advisable to carry an extra cartridge with a
trigger handle
Absolutely. In
case of emergency you should not wait until you’ve been caught
in the avalanche before activating the AA. The trigger handle
should be pulled as soon as there is a chance you may have
released a slab. If this does not result in an avalanche all the
better. You have reacted properly and activated the cartridge.
In order to make the AA functional again you need the extra
cartridge with trigger handle. Cartridge and trigger handle are
one unit, without the trigger handle the cartridge cannot be
activated and an activated trigger handle without a full
cartridge cannot fill up the airbags. Only with the compact
system is the cartridge enough.
13. Does the
AA need
maintenance and if so at what time intervals
The AA is an
article of rescue equipment which in the case of an emergency
decides over life and death. The manufacturer recommends sending
the AA in every two years for a general check up. It is also
recommended to do a trial activation with a full cartridge
before each season The activation process should then be
monitored closely, the proper sealing of the airbag and the
general state of the complete AA system must also be checked.
The two year maintenance program includes a test to check the
general functioning, changing of the seals and a thorough check
of the whole system. As of now the price for this service is
$125.
To Top Of Page
14. Can the cartridges be purchased at camping gas
dealers
The cartridges
and trigger handles can only be filled by the manufacturer.
Replacement cartridges and trigger handles are only available
where the AA is sold. This also applies in foreign countries.
15. Are there
ice-up
problems with the trigger handle of the dual system.
With attaching
the pin to the pressurized hose or with the activation itself
No - unless you create an ice-up yourself.
Care should be taken though to protect the Velcro
closures at the adapter of the pressurized hose, no matter
whether the trigger handle is attached or not. It is also
important to handle the trigger handle with care and to avoid
any soiling of the pin or its opening. Should it get dirty do
not attempt to clean it yourself as you could provoke an
unwanted activation and possibly cause an accident, replace the
handle instead. You will only be charged for a refill
Please also note that the trigger handle must not be
attached unless a filled cartridge has been screwed in. Should
the system be activated without a cartridge the prick system
will be damaged and the whole system may therefore malfunction.
If it happened anyway, send the AA backpack in for a complete
check up.
To Top Of Page
16.
Cartridges for
the dual system are different from the ones for the compact
system, why is that and would it be
possible to interchange them
It is clearly
marked on the cartridges in which system they have to be used.
The cartridges for the dual system are shorter, fatter, uniform
in shape and are bronze in color. The cartridges for the compact
system are black, longer and of a non-uniform shape. Both
cartridges have a different thread and only fit with the
appropriate system. The reason
for the different design is as follows: Several years ago
the time for filling the compact system changed from 6 seconds
to 2 seconds and it therefore required more gas. The cartridge
could not be enlarged where it screws into the housing and more
room needed to be created at the bottom, outside the housing.
With the dual system there were no such restrictions and
the cartridge could be designed appropriately for the backpack
size.
17. The Airbag may work in powder conditions but
nobody has a chance in heavy snow.
In heavy snow
the opposite is the case. The heavier the snow the more dense it
is and the smaller the volume. Typically wet spring snow weighs
500 or 600 grams per litre. This means its volume is now just
under 2 times greater than that of a person. Therefore the
Airbag could have less volume or be smaller. From this point of
view the wet spring snow is much less difficult than the dry,
cold powder snow It is a fact, however, that the chance of
injury increases with wet spring snow. It has to be taken into
consideration that most of the avalanches are triggered by the
skiers themselves and the power of the snow is therefore
relatively weak. The dangerous mechanical pressure of a wet
avalanche can be as much as several tons pressing on the body
does not exist on the surface. The wet avalanche is therefore
less dangerous for the AA-user.
To Top Of Page
18. Once I have
purchased an
AA do I still need a transceiver
This is not a
question about whether or not to have a transceiver, this is a
question of priorities from the point of view of the avalanche
victim. So far the thinking has been from the perspective of the
rescuer. All activity comes from the outside and the avalanche
victim stays passive. In this case the time factor is the
biggest challenge. In locating the victims the transceivers are
the best. However, no advances have been made to reduce the time
it takes to dig the victim out. The only aid is the shovel. This
reduces the chances of a successful rescue immensely and the
fact remains that 2/3 of all totally submerged victims are dead
at the time of rescue.
Every form of outside help is therefore considered a Band-Aid
solution, the last of all possibilities. Even the most modern
transceiver cannot change this is a new way of thinking is
required, away from the passive role of the avalanche victim,
accepting burial and the exclusiveness of rescue, and towards an
active rescue with one’s own action. It is the not submerged and
visible avalanche victims who survive in most cases. To prevent
the burial by oneself is an active act and in most situations a
successful rescue out of an avalanche. Transceivers and shovels
are aids to rescue others but in no way are they a prevention of
one’s own burial. It is a fact that, due to special
circumstances i.e. extreme terrain formations, malfunctioning,
technical defects etc., a burial in an avalanche cannot be
counted out even with the airbag. There is no question that
submerged victims with transceivers have a greater chance to be
rescued than those without one.
The priorities when caught in an avalanche must include:
·
Active prevention of burial - which means the use of the AA
Avalanche Airbag
·
Additional use of a transceiver in order to facilitate a fast
rescue by other skiers in case of a total burial
To Top Of Page
|
