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AvaLife—A New Multi-Disciplinary Approach Supported by Accident and Field Test Data to Optimize Survival Chances in Rescue and First Aid of Avalanche Patients

Author

Listed:
  • Manuel Genswein

    (MountainSafety.info, 7260 Davos, Switzerland)

  • Darryl Macias

    (Department of Emergency Medicine, University of New Mexico, International Mountain Medicine Center, Albuquerque, NM 87131, USA)

  • Scott McIntosh

    (Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Utah Health, AirMed, Salt Lake City, UT 84132, USA)

  • Ingrid Reiweger

    (Institute of Mountain Risk Engineering, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, 1190 Vienna, Austria)

  • Audun Hetland

    (CARE Center for Avalanche Research and Education, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, 9010 Tromsø, Norway)

  • Peter Paal

    (Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, St. John of God Hospital, Paracelsus Medical University, 5010 Salzburg, Austria)

Abstract

Snow sports in the backcountry have seen a steep increase in popularity, and therefore preparedness for efficient companion and organized rescue is important. While technical rescue skills are widely taught, there is a lack of knowledge regarding first aid for avalanche patients. The stressful and time-critical situation for first responders requires a rule-based decision support tool. AvaLife has been designed from scratch, applying mathematical and statistical approaches including Monte Carlo simulations. New analysis of retrospective data and large prospective field test datasets were used to develop evidence-based algorithms exclusively for the avalanche rescue environment. AvaLife differs from other algorithms as it is not just a general-purpose CPR algorithm which has been slightly adapted for the avalanche patient. The sequence of actions, inclusion of the ≥150 cm burial depth triage criterion, advice to limit CPR duration for normothermic patients to 6 min in case of multiple burials and shortage of resources, criteria for using recovered subjects as a resource in the ongoing rescue, the adapted definition of “injuries incompatible with life”, reasoning behind the utmost importance of rescue breaths, as well as the updated BLS-iCPR algorithm make AvaLife useful in single and multiple burial rescue. AvaLife is available as a companion rescue basic life support (BLS) version for the recreational user and an advanced companion and organized rescue BLS version for guides, ski patrols and mountain rescuers. AvaLife allows seamless interoperability with advanced life support (ALS) qualified medical personnel arriving on site.

Suggested Citation

  • Manuel Genswein & Darryl Macias & Scott McIntosh & Ingrid Reiweger & Audun Hetland & Peter Paal, 2022. "AvaLife—A New Multi-Disciplinary Approach Supported by Accident and Field Test Data to Optimize Survival Chances in Rescue and First Aid of Avalanche Patients," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(9), pages 1-18, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:9:p:5257-:d:802397
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Ingrid Reiweger & Manuel Genswein & Peter Paal & Jürg Schweizer, 2017. "A concept for optimizing avalanche rescue strategies using a Monte Carlo simulation approach," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 12(5), pages 1-16, May.
    2. Simon Rauch & Giacomo Strapazzon & Hermann Brugger, 2021. "On-Site Medical Management of Avalanche Victims—A Narrative Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(19), pages 1-12, September.
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