Knowledge of the Avalanche Victim Resuscitation Checklist and Utility of a Standardized Lecture in Italy

Abstract

Health care providers and mountain rescue personnel are not widely aware of avalanche guidelines. The standardized lecture significantly improved knowledge of the principles of avalanche management related to core AVReCh elements. However, the effect that this knowledge acquisition has on avalanche victim survival or adherence to the AVReCh in the field is yet to be determined.

On-Site Medical Management of Avalanche Victims—A Narrative Review

“…Deficiencies in awareness of the guidelines by bystanders, first responders, and hospital personnel, and the transfer of essential information from the accident site to hospital may have been partially responsible for poor outcomes. About 75% of BLS and ALS providers, and members of mountain rescue services working in areas in which they were likely to manage avalanche victims, at the scene or in hospital, had never participated in avalanche-specific rescue training [ 63 ].…”

In Response to AVReCh—Avalanche Resuscitation Checklist by Strapazzon et al

“…For that reason, we recently introduced in our continuing medical education course “La gestione del trauma in DEA (Dipartimento di Emergenza ed Accettazione)” (A.O.S. Croce e Carle Cuneo) specific training on this topic, and we read the brief report by Strapazzon et al 1 with interest.…”

In Reply to Lorenzati et al

“…Most of the survey participants were either advanced life support or basic life support providers or members of mountain rescue services. 2 The regions of Italy where the survey was held 1) have helicopter emergency medical service specialized in search-and-rescue missions with a mountain rescue technician as part of the team, and 2) host areas of Italian Alps and Apennines where the medical and mountain rescue personnel are at risk of being involved in the management of avalanche patients on site or in the hub/spoke hospitals, 3 including the authors’ institutions. Providers operating in such areas should be able, especially if an avalanche victim is found in cardiac arrest, to administer proper pre- and in-hospital management and triage based on the duration of complete burial (or core temperature), presence of vital signs, airway status, and data about the air pocket.…”