Avalanche safety gear

Avalanche safety gear helps prevent and mitigate snow slides. Key items include an avalanche beacon, a small electronic device worn during snow adventures that emits signals for rescuers to locate you; a probe, a collapsible pole for pinpointing a buried person; and a shovel for digging out victims. Many also use backpacks with airbags that deploy a large, inflatable cushion to keep a skier or snowboarder on the surface of an avalanche. Proper training on using this equipment is essential. Together, these tools improve your chances of survival and rescue in avalanche-prone areas.