If You're Ever Buried Alive, This Is the Only Way to Escape

If you’re heading out into the backcountry, check for avalanche risk in your area first!

Trapped in an avalanche, you know you don’t have a long time left. Oxygen deprivation is imminent, and the weight of the snow burying you in makes it impossible to move. Dangerous backcountry skiing trips can end up with death, and even when you’re careful, you can find yourself in an unplanned situation. Let’s get into it!

Sources:
[How to Survive an Avalanche]

[Avalanche Safety]

[How do Avalanches Form]

[How Avalanche Risk is Calculated]

[Avalanche Rescue]

[Other Sources]

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Manhattan Twist by Avocado Junkie

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[Brew]

Thanks to Established Titles for sponsoring today's video!

[probablynaz]

This video is the perfect amount of time for someone that's stuck in an avalanche

[lead_sommelier]

Ayo, just noticed one major flaw in this video: the transceiver was always shown as attached to the outside of the jacket, it absolutely has to be as close to your skin as possible in order to prevent it from tearing off since branches or debris might destroy your clothes.

[gokudomatic]

For those who are really taking risks knowingly, you can increase a lot your chances to float by taking with you an avalanche airbag. It won't protect you from shocks like a car airbag, but it's a balloon in your back that helps you float, considering that an avalanche acts like a fluid. However, it takes space and weight. 7 lb to carry all the time, plus your water and stuff. But it can save your life.

[daphenomenalz]

My grandmother was buried when she was a child, her parents thought she had died. She was actually almost dead, but woke up alive again in the night and came back to home. Everyone was scared at her home. She also remembers seeing herself being buried as if her consciousness was still there lurking around her.

[HenrikMyrhaug]

I was in an avalanche risk managing course once, and we had one exercise where we got partally buried (just the upper body, the legs weren't buried, and were used to signal when we wanted to be dug out). I used to think I would be able to move enough to expand the space around me, but after that exercise, I can say for a fact that if you were buried by an avalance, you would not be able to move at all.

Worst of all is your chest is compressed by the pressure from hundreds of kilograms of snow, making you unable to take full breaths if you are even lucky enough to be able to breathe at all. You should always carry a transmitter so that you can be found if you get buried, as that is the best way to easily be found under the snow. If you need to dig someone out, it is also important to know you can not just dig straight down, you have to make a trench so that you can pull them out sideways, as pulling a person straight up out of packed snow is virtually impossible.

[AshAYP]

Did anyone else get this video recommended after seeing the amazing hero skier rescue the upside down snowboarder.

[Meggarra]

I live in Australia where there is no snow in my area, and I do not plan to go skiing or visiting a place with snow. Yet, I didn't know how much I needed this video. This was great. Thanks!

[GlorifiedGremlin]

This is one of my worst nightmares. Combines my extreme fear or suffocating to death, and my claustrophobia. Ugh it makes me shiver just thinking about it

[gabrielrabelo]

Gotta say, that's a pretty terrifying way to go out.

[dhawthorne]

If you are going into the back country, I highly advise you carry an avalanche air bag. They are worn like a parachute but function like an inflatable life vest. There is a ripcord (typically on the shoulder strap) that will break the seal on a couple of air cylinders and surround your upper body with an air bag. This will make you less dense than the snow and ensure that you remain upright. You may still need to wait for someone to help dig out your feet, but your head won't be under the snow and you'll be plenty easy to spot.

[Featinwe]

I took part in avalanche training two years ago, run by elite rescue team in Tatra mountains in Poland. We have slightly different procedures which is normal since avalanches are a little different in our mountains. However - best way to survive avalanche is to avoid in the first place. And best way to avoid it is no to go the mountains if the conditions are bad... it's almost impossible to predict if avalanche goes off or not.

[Manny.]

Rip to my 4 fellow swedes who died in the austrian avalanche a few days ago

[zogar]

Drowning of sufficating has to be the worst way to go. Knowing you are dying and being fully aware of it all right to the end. I can't imagine it.

[BoredSai]

bro the way you narrate the situation gave me chills for some reason and _i_ almost panicked (even if i haven't even skied before, let alone touched real snow)

[bobbiscub]

Suffocation is my biggest fear. I've been choked to the point of blacking out before and that was terrifying enough.

[JoelRH]

The nearest Ski field to me also happens to be an active volcano. Do the same rules apply for a lava flow?

[Bolt]

You should be fine on a resort mountain if there are no signs saying not to go somewhere because usually they will dynamite blast the mountain before opening it to make sure all potential avalanches are safely activated

[aff]

I've never been afraid of getting stuck in an avalanche. But now I am! Thanks!

[TommyCrosby]

I'm so glad you told us that the the safest place to be is outside the path of the avalanche, I would have never guessed!