• Wilderness Environ Med · Jun 2019

    Cause of Death in Utah Avalanche Fatalities, 2006-2007 through 2017-2018 Winter Seasons.

    • Scott E McIntosh, Graham Brant-Zawadzki, Brendan H Milliner, Erik D Christensen, Andrew A Nyberg, Colin K Grissom, Christopher R Olivares, Han S Kim, and Bruce Tremper.
    • Division of Emergency Medicine, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT.
    • Wilderness Environ Med. 2019 Jun 1; 30 (2): 191-194.

    IntroductionUnderstanding 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.MethodsAvalanche 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.ResultsThirty-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.ConclusionsAsphyxia 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.Copyright © 2019 Wilderness Medical Society. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

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