MOUNTAIN RESCUE ADVICE
You’ve got to imagine things before they happen. Think about what could go wrong and how you would manage it if it did. Everyone in the group should be carrying, and know how to use an avalanche transceiver (make sure it’s turned on), a shovel and a probe.
Before you go out
Make sure the people you’re with know what to do if there’s an avalanche. Ultimately, the only people who are going to save you, if you get caught in one, are the people you’re with. Practice these skills – they should be almost muscle memory. Take 20 minutes to study all the info regarding weather and avalanche risk. How would you feel if somebody asked why you didn’t look at the forecast after an avalanche took your friend? Why didn’t you know it? There's no excuse.
Throughout the day
Make sure you are spread out far enough apart so only one of you gets caught or sets off the avalanche. Don’t walk or climb directly underneath each other. Keep track of where everybody is at any time, so you can spot where they disappeared into the avalanche. You may need to mark these points later.
In case of avalanche
One of the first things you should do once an avalanche has happened is take a selfie because in a couple of minutes, you’re not going to have a clue where things were. Then do a risk assessment on the slope to make sure you’re not going to get caught in a second avalanche.
If any people are missing, try to identify the last place you saw them, look for clues downslope of where they were and mark those clues. If you see any obvious things like an arm or leg sticking up, dig a hole as fast as you can to their head to make sure they’re still breathing. Once you get to that stage, phone for help.