2023 - 2024 Far West Skier's Guide - 71

WHEREAS, that Act includes establishing
a Ski Area Retention Account to retain
fees that ski areas pay to the US Forest Service
with 80% of those fees available for authorized
local uses and the remaining 20% would be
available to assist any National Forest with
winter or broad recreation needs, and
WHEREAS, that to support winter recreation,
75% of the funds retained are directly
available to support the Forest Service Ski
Area Program and permitting needs, and any
excess will be available to direct to other National
Forests with winter or broad recreation
needs, and
WHEREAS, the other 25% of retained
funds are available to support a broad set up
year-round local recreation and community
needs,
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED
THAT, FWSA enthusiastically supports the
Ski Hill Resources for Economic Development
Act (SHRED Act) that would support ski resorts
that are operating within Forest Service
boundaries by keeping ski fees local and using
those funds for local year-round recreation opportunities.
ss
What is a Tree Well and Snow
Immersion Suffocation (SIS)
Accident?
A tree well/snow immersion suffocation
accident can happen when a skier or snowboarder
falls - usually headfirst - into a tree
well or deep loose snow and becomes immobilized
and trapped under the snow and suffocates.
In an inverted position you can
become trapped under the snow. Breathing
becomes difficult as the loose snow packs in
around you. Without immediate help from
your partner, you may suffocate.
Prevention of falling into a tree well, or
areas of deep snow, is all-important because
the odds of surviving deep snow immersion
are low. A total of 90% of people involved in
Tree Well/SIS hazard research experiments
could NOT rescue themselves. If a partner is
not there for immediate rescue, the skier or
rider may die very quickly from suffocation -
in many cases, he or she can die as quickly as
someone can drown in water.
TIP: In dense tree areas or in poor visibility,
ski or ride short pitches and stop to
regroup often - stay within sight of your
partner! More than half of all SIS victims
were with partners that did not see them go
down. Lose sight of your partner and you
could lose your friend.
What if you go down?
n Yell or use a whistle to get your
partner's attention.
n Do whatever you can to keep your
head above the surface of the snow including
rolling, grabbing tree branches or the tree
trunk. If possible, keep your feet below the
level of your head.
n If you become immersed, make a
space around your face and protect your airway
- resist the urge to struggle, it could compromise
your airspace and entrap you further.
n Stay calm to conserve air.
n Trust your partner is on their way.
n If possible, use your cell phone to
call the ski patrol or the resort's emergency
number.
Keep your partner in site at all times.
n Don't leave to get help. Stay with
A tree well/snow immersion suffocation accident can happen when a skier or snowboarder
falls - usually headfirst - into a tree well or deep loose snow and becomes immobilized and
trapped under the snow and suffocates.
What is a Tree Well?
Deep Snow and Tree
Well Safety
by Monica Palmer
Safety Committee Chair, FWSA
Skiing and snowboarding in deep powder
is awesome. However, tree wells, areas of
loose, unconsolidated snow at the base of
trees, can be extremely hazardous, and can
even cause death from Snow Immersion Suffocation
(SIS). When skiing in areas where
tree wells and deep snow are a potential hazard,
always ski with a buddy.
A tree well is a void or depression that
forms around the base of a tree. It can contain
a mix of low hanging branches, loose
snow and air.
These voids can be hidden
from view by the tree's low hanging
branches. There is no easy way to identify if
a particular tree has a dangerous tree well by
sight therefore, treat all tree wells as dangerous.
Most all Tree Well/SIS accidents happen
in ungroomed terrain. You can easily identify
and avoid these areas.
The picture from the site of a fatal Tree
Well/SIS accident demonstrates that even very
small trees with just their tops visible can be
lethal.
your partner.
n Call for additional resources. Use a
whistle or yell for assistance. If possible, call
ski patrol or the resort's emergency phone
number.
n Evaluate scene safety for yourself.
n Immediately begin snow immersion
rescue efforts. Go directly for the airway,
and keep it Clear, being careful not to knock
more snow into the hole. Clear any snow
from the airway and continue necessary first
aid or extrication efforts.
n Do not try to pull the victim out the
way they fell in. Instead, determine where the
head is and tunnel in from the side.
n When tunneling directly to the airway
be careful not to knock more snow into
the hole. Continue expanding the tunnel to the
airway until you can extricate the body. Efficient
" strategic shoveling techniques " with
multiple rescuers is very useful. ss
Copyright © 2012 Tree Well and Snow Immersion Suffocation
(SIS) Information. This article is provided
with permission from: Paul Baugher, Director * Northwest
Avalanche Institute. paul@mountainguides.com, (253) 5081898
cell and Gwyn Howat, Operations Manager Mt. Baker
Ski Area, Inc., 1420 Iowa Street, Bellingham, WA 98229,
gwyn@mtbaker.us, 360-734-6771.
Far West Skier's Guide 2O23 - 2O24
71

2023 - 2024 Far West Skier's Guide

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