Comparison of avalanche survival patterns in Canada and Switzerland.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Current recommendations for rescue and resuscitation of people buried in avalanches are based on Swiss avalanche survival data. We analyzed Canadian survival patterns and compared them with those from Switzerland.

Methods

We extracted relevant data for survivors and nonsurvivors of complete avalanche burials from Oct. 1, 1980, to Sept. 30, 2005, from Canadian and Swiss databases. We calculated survival curves for Canada with and without trauma-related deaths as well as for different outdoor activities and snow climates. We compared these curves with the Swiss survival curve.

Results

A total of 301 people in the Canadian database and 946 in the Swiss database met the inclusion criteria. The overall proportion of people who survived did not differ significant

SUBMITTER: Haegeli P 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3080528 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature