ABS Avalanche Airbag System

Frequently Asked Questions Download FAQ (PDF) It is our mission to answer all your questions! Questions, answers and information regarding the ABS Avalanche Airbag you ask - we answer. If you don't find an answer to your question on this page, please mail us at abs@tirol.com.
	1.What is it exactly that the ABS is able to do?
	2.How does the ABS work?
	3.The Airbag may work in powder conditions but nobody has a chance in heavy snow!
	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 ABS?
	6.I have to trigger the ABS 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 ABS 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 pressurised 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.Can the ABS be taken into the airplane? What about heliskiing?
	18.Once I have purchased an ABS do I still need a transceiver?
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	1. What is it exactly that the ABS is able to do?
	The ABS 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.
	2. How does the ABS 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 litre.
	The Avalanche Airbag can handle such extreme situations. It has a volume of 150 litres and is therefore able to make up for the missing volume of a person weighing 100 kilograms. 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).
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	3. 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 ABS-user.
	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 it. 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 runout. In this case it is possible to stay on top with the ABS 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.
	5. Have skiers already been saved with the ABS?
	Yes, there are already approx. 120 documented cases where without a doubt the ABS saved lives. One can assume that this figure would be much higher if the unreported cases were included.
	6. I have to trigger the ABS by myself. 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 ABS 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 practise 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.
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	7. What happens if the trigger gets caught somewhere?
	The Airbag will inflate automatically.
	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 cap.
	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.
	10. Does the cartridge always remain attached?
	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 season.
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	11. How will I know whether the cartridge or trigger handle is filled?
	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 check the weight. Each cartridge shows the weight on a sticker. Should the weight differ by more than 5g, the cartridge should not be used. With the trigger handle of the dual system the pin, which attaches to the pressurised 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.
	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 ABS. The trigger handle should be pulled as soon as there is a chance you could 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 ABS 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 ABS need maintenance and if so at what time intervals?
	Does the ABS need maintenance and if so at what time intervals? The ABS is an article of rescue equipment which in the case of an emergency decides over life and death. The manufacturer recommends sending the ABS 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 ABS 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.
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	14. The cartridges and trigger handles are refillable. 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 ABS 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 pressurised 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 pressurised 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 ABS backpack in for a complete check up.
	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?
	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 colour. 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.
	17. Can the ABS be taken into the airplane? What about heliskiing?
	The backpack itself does not pose a problem. Problems arise with the gas cartridges. Every pressurised container is regarded as dangerous goods by the IATA and has to be declared as such. This means the airline company has to be informed a few days before departure in order to be checked in as carry on luggage or checked in luggage.
	Generally there are no problems with heliskiing in Europe and in the Caucasus (there the company supplies the airbag). With the Dual System the trigger handle should be removed in order to avoid accidental or wilful activation in the cabin. No ABS backpacks should be kept near the pilot. An accidental activation in the back part of the cabin resulted in no harm to the unbuckled ABS-user nor the helicopter.
	To this date Klondike Heliskiing in Atlin/BC is the only heliski company which uses the ABS and offers it to their clients free of charge. All other heliski operators do not equip their guests with the ABS system. It may take some time until these highly successful operators start to equip their guests with this very effective safety device and upgrade to European standards.
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	18. Once I have purchased an ABS 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.
	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 ABS Avalanche Airbag Additional use of a transceiver in order to facilitate a fast rescue by other skiers in case of a total burial. Reliance on the assistance from fellow skiers depends on the use of the Avalanche Airbag. Because only the victom who is not buried will be able to help a fellow skier.
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