ASC Case Analysis & Practical Application 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A group discovers a buried victim 45 minutes after burial. Their beacon search located the signal but probe strikes have not confirmed the body. What is the next correct action?
- Begin shoveling immediately at the beacon's lowest point reading
- Continue probing in a systematic spiral pattern until the body is confirmed (Correct answer)
- Switch to visual search since the victim is likely deceased
- Call for helicopter evacuation before probing further
Correct answer: Continue probing in a systematic spiral pattern until the body is confirmed
Probing must confirm the exact burial location before shoveling begins to avoid injuring the victim and to shovel efficiently.
Question 2: During a rescue, the first shoveler reaches the victim at 1.5 m depth. The victim is unresponsive and not breathing. What takes priority?
- Immediately begin CPR in the burial hole
- Enlarge the hole to allow access, then assess airway and begin resuscitation (Correct answer)
- Wait for professional rescuers before touching the victim
- Assume death and focus on extracting the body for report
Correct answer: Enlarge the hole to allow access, then assess airway and begin resuscitation
The burial hole must be enlarged to allow proper airway management and CPR; resuscitation cannot be performed effectively in a confined hole.
Question 3: A party of three is descending a 35° north-facing slope after three days of clear weather following a significant snowfall. What is the primary concern?
- Wind slab formation from recent loading
- Persistent weak layer buried beneath new snow (Correct answer)
- Solar radiation warming the surface crust
- Ice fall from above-treeline cliffs
Correct answer: Persistent weak layer buried beneath new snow
North-facing slopes preserve buried weak layers longer because they receive less solar radiation, making persistent slab problems the primary hazard days after snowfall.
Question 4: You witness a skier trigger an avalanche on an adjacent slope. The slide debris is still settling. What is the immediate first action?
- Ski directly to the debris field to begin searching
- Note the last-seen point and watch the debris until it stops moving (Correct answer)
- Call 911 before taking any other action
- Probe the runout zone while the slide is still moving
Correct answer: Note the last-seen point and watch the debris until it stops moving
Marking the last-seen point while observing the settling debris helps establish a search start point and ensures rescuers do not enter an unstable slide path prematurely.
Question 5: A team leader proposes crossing a convex roll on a 38° slope rated Considerable (3) danger. One member objects, citing the convexity. Who is correct and why?
- The leader, because Considerable danger still allows travel with caution
- The objecting member, because convex rolls concentrate stress and are high-frequency trigger zones (Correct answer)
- The leader, because 38° is below the critical 45° threshold
- The objecting member, but only if the slope is wind-loaded
Correct answer: The objecting member, because convex rolls concentrate stress and are high-frequency trigger zones
Convex rolls are stress concentrators where slabs are most likely to fracture, making them dangerous regardless of whether the overall danger rating is moderate.
Question 6: After a victim is extricated, they are breathing but unconscious with a suspected spinal injury from the avalanche impact. What packaging approach is correct?
- Place in recovery position without immobilization and evacuate rapidly
- Immobilize the spine, insulate aggressively, and arrange for evacuation prioritizing spinal precautions (Correct answer)
- Leave in place until EMS arrives to avoid worsening the injury
- Sit the victim upright to improve airway patency
Correct answer: Immobilize the spine, insulate aggressively, and arrange for evacuation prioritizing spinal precautions
Avalanche trauma victims require spinal immobilization combined with aggressive insulation to prevent secondary hypothermia during evacuation.
Question 7: A rescue team finds two beacon signals 8 meters apart in the debris. What is the recommended search strategy?
- Search for the stronger signal first, then switch off that beacon and search for the second (Correct answer)
- Search for both simultaneously by splitting the team
- Ignore the weaker signal — it is likely equipment interference
- Use a single beacon in transmit mode to pinpoint both at once
Correct answer: Search for the stronger signal first, then switch off that beacon and search for the second
The standard multiple-burial protocol is to locate and mark the first victim, switch that beacon to transmit, then search for subsequent victims to avoid signal interference.
ASC Case Analysis & Practical Application 2
A group discovers a buried victim 45 minutes after burial.
Their beacon search located the signal but probe strikes have not confirmed the body.
What is the next correct action?