CISA-IKAR, Avalanche Committee (internationally recognised commission for Alpine rescue teams)

September 22 - 25 , 1999 Sonthofen, Germany
Avalanche Committee

Resolution
Due to so many avalanche rescue devices on the market the Avalanche Committee would like to emphasise the following points:

Most of the avalanches are caused by their victims. There is always the danger of a deadly ending. The best protection against avalanches is to not release one.

There is no rescue system which will absolutely prevent all injuries and deaths of avalanche victims.

The best way to prevent getting caught in an avalanche is information (in particular avalanche forecast/report), personal knowledge, experience, powers of observation and caution.

The best chance of surviving an avalanche is to not get buried under the snow.

At present there is only one system available which makes it possible to not get buried under the snow : The Avalanche Air Bag (ABS).

If a person is buried under the snow his/her life depends on how fast he/she will be dug out. The immediate use of transceivers by other skiers, equipped with shovels and probes, is the best way to recover the victim alive.

For the professional rescue teams who work in a ski area RECCO offers a good system to recover victims who do not carry a transceiver.

CAUTION: every transceiver as well as the Avalanche Air Bag require a certain amount of knowledge and Activation.

Signed:
Grenoble Nov.2, 1999
Francois Sivardiere, ANENA, IKAR
Francois Valla, CISA