Will a deployed avalanche airbag float you face up or face down in water?

[snowww1]

After reading about an accident in Seeley Lake last winter where two snowmobilers drown. Media reported both were bodies found with deployed airbags and they were face down in the water.

I wanted to find out if you should deploy your airbag if you end up in a water situation. I tested four different packs in a swimming pool.


Three questions I wanted to answer.
1. What position does it float you in? Face up or face down?
2. How easy is it to swim with airbag(s) inflated?
3. How easy is it to remove the pack and will it work as a flotation aid? I had to release waist belt, leg strap and sternum strap or zipper on all packs.

How does this apply to avalanches?

Short answer: avalanches can flow like a fluid. Deploying airbag before being engulfed is essential. Swimming can be used to escape to the side or for avoiding objects.

First pack tested. ABS Vario. Which floated me face down.
Second pack tested. Snow Pulse Highmark, which floated me face up.
Third pack tested. BCA Float 22, which floated me face up.
Fourth tested. BCA Float MtnPro Vest, which floated me face up.

Videos are posted on Facebook. My page is "Avalanche1". On the page, I provide more information on what to do.

Note: Each pack tested performed differently. Thanks for watching.

Mike Duffy
Avalanche1.com
Professional avalanche education for mountain riders.

 

[snowww1]

Here's a link to the Facebook post:

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Avalanche1/133828716323#

Mike Duffy
Avalanche1.com

 

[christopher]

Good set of tests.
Posted this to the SnoWest FB page as well.

 

[Scott]

Here's a link to the Facebook post:

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Avalanche1/133828716323#

Mike Duffy
Avalanche1.com

Just watched all of those.
Thank you Mike.

The Seeley Lake discussion is interesting. Would love to know more.

 

[WingNutRacing]

Good job, good info

I wear a Wary vest and I would imagine it would perform much like the BCA vest....


Thanks for checking em out

 

[polaris dude]

Just out of curiosity how hard was it to get face up with the ABS vario?

Also, which pack did the 2 that drown have?

 

[Scott]

Just out of curiosity how hard was it to get face up with the ABS vario?

Also, which pack did the 2 that drown have?

I don't know what kind of vests the guys had. I have a possibility of finding out. If I do, I'll let you know.

That ABS kind a little scary to me.

 

[snowww1]

With the ABS pack, it was best to take the pack off and climb on top of it and use as a flotation aid. To take it off, I had to hold my breath for a few seconds.

I'm a whitewater kayaker and trained in swift water rescue, so getting the pack off in the water was not a problem. Not having gloves on and being very familiar with the pack really helped. It was work to keep my head up with the pack deployed in the water.

This was meant as an educational experiment to see how the different packs would float you in water. I feel the packs will buy you valuable time, but I would suggest taking the ABS brand pack off and climb on top of it as shown in the video.

Mike Duffy
Avalanche1.com

 

[roughrider99]

This was the #1 reason I went with snow pulse bags from the start. They float your head and abs floats your torso