How to Survive an Avalanche

You can ski really well and climb mountains easily, but can you survive an avalanche? Avalanches happen when a large amount of snow suddenly moves down a mountain. 150 people die in avalanches each year. People usually start them by accident when they are skiing or climbing the mountains.
There are things that you can do to survive an avalanche. First of all, always check the weather carefully before you go to the mountains. Take rescue signals or transmitters. They help people to know where you are. Take decisions about what to do if there is an avalanche. When the avalanche comes, you can’t talk about what to do because there’s no time.
If an avalanche begins, the first thing to do is to separate yourself from your equipment as quickly as you can. Skis or a big, heavy bag can pull you down under the snow. Next, move your arms and legs and start ‘swimming’. You do this to stay above the snow. When the avalanche comes, close your mouth. Snow can get in quickly and stop you from getting air. Of course, if possible, jump to one side to escape the avalanche.
If the snow covers you, create a space in front of your mouth immediately so that you can breathe. If you can, put your arms up above the snow to show people where you are. If you can’t do this, wait calmly and patiently. Don’t shout or panic. People can’t hear you when you’re under the snow.