Avalanches and mountain safety

In short: In the mountains there are avalanches, weather changes, rockfall and altitude problems. Good planning, equipment and knowledge reduce the risk considerably.

In more detail: Most avalanches that catch people are triggered by the victims themselves.

In detail

• Avalanche bulletin: Check the danger level (1 to 5) before every tour.
• Terrain: Slopes between 30 and 45 degrees are particularly dangerous.
• Emergency equipment: Avalanche transceiver, shovel, probe; an avalanche airbag can help.
• Never alone: Group with spacing on the slope, one after the other.
• Companion rescue: After burial the first 15 minutes count; search immediately, emergency call 112 or 140 (Alps).
• Weather and equipment: Turn back in good time, warm clothing, provisions, map (wandern-sicher-planen).
• Altitude: Watch for altitude sickness (hoehenkrankheit-und-akklimatisierung).
• Cold: Prevent hypothermia (kaelte-erfrierungen-und-unterkuehlung).