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Patterns of death among avalanche fatalities: a 21-year review

From the Department of Emergency Medicine (Boyd, Shuster), Mineral Springs Hospital, Banff, Alta.; the International Commission for Mountain Emergency Medicine and the International Federation of Mountain Guides (Boyd), Banff, Alta.; the School for Resource and Environmental Management (Haegeli), Simon Fraser University, Vancouver, BC; Avisualanche Consulting (Haegeli), Vancouver, BC; the Department of Emergency Medicine (Abu-Laban), Vancouver General Hospital, Vancouver, BC; and Pathfinder Forum Consulting (Butt), Vancouver, BC

Correspondence to: Dr. Jeff Boyd, Emergency Department, Mineral Springs Hospital, 305 Lynx St., Box 1050, Banff AB T1L 1H7; fax 403 762-4193; jbaviifs{at}telus.net

Background: Avalanches are a significant cause of winter recreational fatalities in mountain regions. The purpose of this study was to determine the relative contributions of trauma and asphyxia to avalanche deaths.

Methods: We reviewed all avalanche fatalities between 1984 and 2005 that had been investigated by the offices of the British Columbia Coroners Service and the Chief Medical Examiner of Alberta. In addition, we searched the database of the Canadian Avalanche Centre for fatal avalanche details. We calculated injury severity scores for all victims who underwent autopsy.

Results: There were 204 avalanche fatalities with mortality information over the 21-year study period. Of these, 117 victims underwent autopsy, and 87 underwent forensic external examination. Asphyxia caused 154 (75%) deaths. Trauma caused 48 (24%) deaths, with the rate of death from trauma ranging from 9% (4/44) for snowmobilers to 42% (5/12) for ice climbers. In addition, 13% (12/92) of the asphyxia victims who underwent autopsy had major trauma, defined as an injury severity score of greater than 15. Only 48% (23/48) of victims for whom trauma was the primary cause of death had been completely buried.

Interpretation: Asphyxia and severe trauma caused most avalanche fatalities in western Canada. The relative rates differed between snowmobilers and those engaged in other mountain activities. Our findings should guide recommendations for safety devices, safety measures and resuscitation.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				F. W. Baumann Avalanche fatalities Can. Med. Assoc. J., June 23, 2009; 180(13): 1331 - 1331. [Full Text] [PDF]

				H. Brugger Should strategies for care of avalanche victims change? Can. Med. Assoc. J., March 3, 2009; 180(5): 491 - 492. [Full Text] [PDF]

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