McIntosh Scott E, Brant-Zawadzki Graham, Milliner Brendan H, Christensen Erik D, Nyberg Andrew A, Grissom Colin K, Olivares Christopher R, Kim Han S, Tremper Bruce
Division of Emergency Medicine, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT.
Division of Emergency Medicine, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT.
Wilderness Environ Med. 2019 Jun;30(2):191-194. doi: 10.1016/j.wem.2019.02.007. Epub 2019 Apr 17.
Understanding patterns of avalanche fatalities can aid prevention and rescue strategies. In 2007, we published a report reviewing avalanche deaths in Utah between the 1989-1990 and 2005-2006 winter seasons. In the current report, we discuss Utah avalanche fatalities from the 2006-2007 to 2017-2018 seasons.
Avalanche fatality data were obtained from the Utah Avalanche Center and Utah State Office of the Medical Examiner. Autopsy reports were reviewed to determine demographic information, type of autopsy (external vs internal), injuries, and cause of death.
Thirty-two avalanche deaths occurred in Utah during the study period. The mean (±SD) age of victims was 32±13 (8-54) y. Thirty victims (94%) were male and 2 (6%) were female. Seventy-two percent of deaths were from asphyxiation, 19% from trauma alone, and 9% from a combination of asphyxiation and trauma. Snowmobilers accounted for the largest percentage of avalanche fatalities (15 victims; 47%) during the 2007-2018 period.
Asphyxia continues to be the most prevalent killer in avalanche burial. Patterns of ongoing avalanche deaths continue to suggest that rapid recovery and techniques that prolong survival while buried may decrease fatality rates. Trauma is a significant factor in many avalanche fatalities. Education and technologies focused on reducing traumatic injuries such as improved education in techniques for avalanche risk avoidance and/or use of avalanche airbags may further decrease fatality rates. Snowmobilers represent an increasing percentage of Utah avalanche deaths and now make up the majority of victims; increased education targeting this demographic in the basics of avalanche rescue gear and avalanche rescue may also reduce fatalities.
了解雪崩死亡模式有助于制定预防和救援策略。2007年，我们发表了一份报告，回顾了1989 - 1990年至2005 - 2006年冬季犹他州的雪崩死亡情况。在本报告中，我们讨论了2006 - 2007年至2017 - 2018年期间犹他州的雪崩死亡情况。
雪崩死亡数据来自犹他州雪崩中心和犹他州法医办公室。查阅尸检报告以确定人口统计学信息、尸检类型（外部检查与内部检查）、损伤情况和死因。
研究期间犹他州发生了32起雪崩死亡事件。受害者的平均（±标准差）年龄为32±13（8 - 54）岁。30名受害者（94%）为男性，2名（6%）为女性。72%的死亡是由于窒息，19%仅因外伤，9%是窒息和外伤共同导致。在2007 - 2018年期间，雪地摩托驾驶者占雪崩死亡人数的比例最大（15名受害者；47%）。
窒息仍然是雪崩掩埋中最常见的杀手。持续的雪崩死亡模式继续表明，快速救援以及在被掩埋时延长生存时间的技术可能会降低死亡率。外伤是许多雪崩死亡的重要因素。专注于减少外伤的教育和技术，如改进雪崩风险规避技术教育和/或使用雪崩安全气囊，可能会进一步降低死亡率。雪地摩托驾驶者在犹他州雪崩死亡人数中所占比例不断增加，现已成为受害者的大多数；针对这一人群加强雪崩救援装备和雪崩救援基础知识的教育也可能减少死亡人数。
