- What is it exactly that the ABS is able
to do?
- How does the ABS work?
- The Airbag may work in powder conditions
but nobody has a chance in heavy snow!
- What happens if I get caught in an avalanche
in the valley or at the bottom of a run?
- Have skiers already been saved with the
ABS?
- I have to trigger the ABS by myself.
Do you think everyone is capable of doing so in an avalanche
situation?
- What happens if the trigger gets caught
somewhere?
- How can I prevent unwanted activation?
- Is the additional safety belt absolutely
necessary?
- Does the cartridge always remain attached?
- How will I know whether the cartridge
or trigger handle is filled?
- Is it advisable to carry an extra cartridge
with a trigger handle?
- Does the ABS need maintenance and if
so at what time intervals?
- The cartridges and trigger handles are
refillable. Can the cartridges be purchased at camping
gas dealers?
- Are there ice-up problems with the trigger
handle of the dual system, with attaching the pin to
the pressurized hose or with the activation itself ?
- 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?
- Can the ABS be taken into the airplane?
What about heliskiing?
- Once I have purchased an ABS do I still
need a transceiver?
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.
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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.
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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 run out. 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.
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5.
Have skiers already been saved with the ABS?
Yes, there are already approx. 70 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.
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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 practice 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.
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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.
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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.
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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 pressurized
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.
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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.
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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.
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15.
Are there ice-up problems with the trigger handle of the
dual system, with attaching the pin to the pressurized
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 pressurized 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.
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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? The cartridges for
the dual system are different from the ones for the compact
system, 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.
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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 pressurized
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 victim
who is not buried will be able to help a fellow skier.
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