It goes without saying that you should not let go of survival equipment, such as a transceiver and probe or snow shovel; you’ll need these if you get buried. People searching for you later may be able to find you if they see some pieces of equipment on the surface of the snow, so you could let go of a glove or something else that’s light to increase the chances they’ll find you.
Keep in mind that a very powerful avalanche can carry away even large rocks and trees.
Swim on your back. This way your face is turned toward the surface, giving you a better chance of getting oxygen more quickly if you get buried. Swim uphill. Swimming up will get you closer to the surface of the snow.
Use either your free hand or an avalanche shovel to dig an air pocket near your nose and mouth. When the avalanche slows down. With a small air pocket to breathe from, you should have enough air to last at least 30 minutes. Take a deep breath before the snow settles. Right before the snow settles, inhale deeply and hold your breath for a few seconds. This causes your chest to expand, which will give you some breathing room when the snow hardens around you. If you don’t have this breathing room, you may not even be able to expand your chest to breathe while you’re buried.
If you hear people nearby, try to call them, but don’t keep it up if they don’t seem to hear you. You can probably hear them better than they can hear you, and shouting just wastes your limited air supply.
An avalanche receiver and probe. The receiver puts out a signal to show where the person is buried, and the probe is used to locate the person and start digging. Every person in your party should carry both. A small shovel. This is used to dig an air pocket around the face. A helmet. Many avalanche-related fatalities happen because of the initial impact of the snow knocking people off of their feet. Skier’s airbags have become more popular in recent years. They help to keep your body toward the surface of the snow, so you’re less likely to get buried. [3] X Research source
