Avalanches are: 

• NOT an act of God
• NOT random
• NOT bad Luck

In over 90% of all accidents, avalanches are triggered by the victim or someone in the immediate area. An avalanche needs very specific conditions to occur and we can learn to identify these critical ingredients.

If a member of your group is buried in an avalanche there is no time to go for help. The victim's only real hope for survival is if you are prepared and equipped to to begin an immediate rescue. If you can uncover the victim within:

• 15 minutes there is a 90% chance of survival
• After 30 minutes only half of all buried victims survive.
• By 60 minutes about two thirds of all buried victims have died.