D
deepdiver
Well-known member
Are we behind the times here in Washington and perhaps other states? I was reading about RECCO reflectors. Very interesting and should be another "tool" that we utilize. Many of the top Skiing and boarding clothing manufactures and North Face have them in the jackets and boots already. Snowmobiling gear does not.
The other problem is that WA SAR teams and local Sherrifs are behind the times also(not surprising). Except for Chelan County Sherrifs according to the data on Recco's web site.
We need to get this going in our sport and local SAR teams as well. There are too many times where someone is down in a AVY that doesnt have a beacon for one reason or another. Sad but this is the truth...I am a former SAR member from Chelan County.
The reflector is integrated into your clothing..fairly cheap and does not need batteries or training. It is something to be used together with a beacon. If we can all start to push for this techknowledgy on the SAR teams and manufactures (KLIM are you out there?) it is nothing but Positive! People forget beacons..some cant afford one or dont have one for whatever reason. I know of one AVy call that I was on where the recovered snowmobiler was getting one for Christmas from his Parents a few weeks later. Unfortunatly this was a recovery and not a rescue. I already know that this wont help with self rescue or better called partner rescue but it is something that would be near impossible to forget opr not have. However we need the Rescue SAR units to have the receivers. There are cases of people still alive after 24hours!
Batteries go bad. Electronics dont always work well. I have worked in the electronics industry for over 30years and will tell you that you are never garanteed that your beacon will always work. A secondary device may be helpful. Check out http://recco.com/startsida/index.asp
.The RECCO® system is an exceptional additional search method since it can pinpoint the exact location of burial with harmonic radar. The equation that enables this search precision is an interaction between two critical parts, a reflector and a detector. The RECCO® detector is used by organized rescue groups, and RECCO® reflectors are permanently affixed by snow sports manufacturers to their commercially available clothing, helmets, boots or protection gear. The RECCO system does not interfere with other methods of recovery and functions as an additional tool that complements the performance of avalanche dogs, transceiver searches or probe lines. The RECCO system has become a critical piece of comprehensive avalanche strategies and effectively speeds the search in the event of a slide.
The RECCO system is currently utilized by 600 rescue organizations worldwide to assist in the rapid location of avalanche burials. In Europe an overwhelming majority of ski areas–from Verbier and Chamonix to St Anton and Zermatt–utilize the system. In addition, 50 of the most respected European rescue organizations such as the Mountain Rescue Tirol and Air Zermatt are solidly behind the system.
The other problem is that WA SAR teams and local Sherrifs are behind the times also(not surprising). Except for Chelan County Sherrifs according to the data on Recco's web site.
We need to get this going in our sport and local SAR teams as well. There are too many times where someone is down in a AVY that doesnt have a beacon for one reason or another. Sad but this is the truth...I am a former SAR member from Chelan County.
The reflector is integrated into your clothing..fairly cheap and does not need batteries or training. It is something to be used together with a beacon. If we can all start to push for this techknowledgy on the SAR teams and manufactures (KLIM are you out there?) it is nothing but Positive! People forget beacons..some cant afford one or dont have one for whatever reason. I know of one AVy call that I was on where the recovered snowmobiler was getting one for Christmas from his Parents a few weeks later. Unfortunatly this was a recovery and not a rescue. I already know that this wont help with self rescue or better called partner rescue but it is something that would be near impossible to forget opr not have. However we need the Rescue SAR units to have the receivers. There are cases of people still alive after 24hours!
Batteries go bad. Electronics dont always work well. I have worked in the electronics industry for over 30years and will tell you that you are never garanteed that your beacon will always work. A secondary device may be helpful. Check out http://recco.com/startsida/index.asp
.The RECCO® system is an exceptional additional search method since it can pinpoint the exact location of burial with harmonic radar. The equation that enables this search precision is an interaction between two critical parts, a reflector and a detector. The RECCO® detector is used by organized rescue groups, and RECCO® reflectors are permanently affixed by snow sports manufacturers to their commercially available clothing, helmets, boots or protection gear. The RECCO system does not interfere with other methods of recovery and functions as an additional tool that complements the performance of avalanche dogs, transceiver searches or probe lines. The RECCO system has become a critical piece of comprehensive avalanche strategies and effectively speeds the search in the event of a slide.
The RECCO system is currently utilized by 600 rescue organizations worldwide to assist in the rapid location of avalanche burials. In Europe an overwhelming majority of ski areas–from Verbier and Chamonix to St Anton and Zermatt–utilize the system. In addition, 50 of the most respected European rescue organizations such as the Mountain Rescue Tirol and Air Zermatt are solidly behind the system.
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