The Avalanche Airbag |
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If you already carry a daypack, why not carry one that can save your life?
If you already carry a daypack, why not carry one that can save your life?
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1. What does the ABS is able to do? 3. Can the ABS be
transported on an airplane? What about heli skiing? 4. What happens if I get caught in an avalanche in the
valley or at the bottom of a run? 5. Have people already been saved with the ABS? 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 pressurized 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.
The ABS may work in powder conditions but nobody has a
chance in heavy snow 18. Once I have purchased an ABS do I still need a transceiver? 19. Are there discounts available?
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.
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
litreAmerican weights and measuresThe numbers are as follows: one pound of
powder snow has a volume of approx. 76.3 cubic in. One pound of a person has a
volume of 31 cubic in. A person at 220 lbs. therefore has a volume of 6820 cubic
in (3.9 cubic ft). However, 220 lbs. of mid winter avalanche snow has a volume
of 15255 cubic in (8.8 cubic ft). In order to swim on top of this avalanche snow
the 220 lbs. person needs
a volume of 8.8 cubic ft The Avalanche Airbag can handle such extreme
situations. It has a volume of 9158 cubic in (5.3 cubic ft) and is therefore
able to make up for the missing volume of a person weighing 220 lbs. Ex:3.9 +
5.3= 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).
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 that the gas
cartridges have to be checked in at the airline company two weeks before
departure in order to reach the destination in the required time. You need to
fill out a declaration for dangerous goods which is available from the airline
company. The listed dangerous goods code number is: UN 1066.
Generally there are no problems with heliskiing. Some heliski companies
require that the trigger handle is secured with a carabiner or that it be
transported outside the helicopter in the ski basket. With the dual system the
trigger handle should be detached while in the helicopter. As far as the heliski
companies are concerned the cartridges do not represent dangerous goods as such
but there is the danger of an accidental activation and therefore space problems
could lead to panic amongst the passengers
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 him/her. 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. 3 dozen 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. There has been
one death involving the ABS I have to trigger the ABS by myself. 6. 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
7. What happens if the trigger gets caught
somewhere? The Airbag will inflate
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 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?
With the dual system 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 use. With the
compact system we recommend to detach the cartridge after each
use
11.
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 always check the cartridge
before use. This is only possible by comparing the weight. Each cartridge shows
the weight on the cap. By re-weighing it can be checked quite easily.
Should the weight differ by more than 5g, the cartridge should not be
used. The company will issue a replacement free of charge.
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.
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 may 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 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. As of now the price for this service is DM 95.-, however the first service after purchase is free of charge 14The cartridges and trigger handles are refillable.
14. 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 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
16. 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 color. 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. The
reason for the different design is as follows: Several years ago the time
for filling the compact system changed from 6 seconds to 2 seconds and it
therefore required more gas. The cartridge could not be enlarged where it screws
into the housing and more room needed to be created at the bottom, outside the
housing. With the dual system there were no
such restrictions and the cartridge could be designed appropriately for the
backpack size.
17. 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.
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 is 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:
19. Are there discounts available? Yes. If you purchase 10 ABS packs we will discount 10%. Buy 10 get one free. That is the only discount available at this time. |
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