You are the rescue team.

95% of survivors are rescued by their companions.

Before the Tour

Ensure that everyone has had practice searching with transceivers. It may be you who will be buried...
Do not assume that others are more competent and don't need practice.
Appoint possible search leaders.
Stress the need for discipline.
Make sure everyone knows the plan for the tour and the reasons for the route chosen. They might need to find their own way out.

During the Avalanche

Observe avalanche and positions of victims in avalanche. Note last seen positions with reference to landmarks (eg rocks, trees). This eliminates a whole section of the slope from the search.
Spot clothing, equipment, body parts sticking out of the snow. Equipment, skis etc may or may not indicate victim's position.

After the Avalanche stops

Take charge. How many are missing? Count heads. Roll call.
Appoint searcher(s) to find victims.
Appoint resuers to dig out and attend to victims.
Appoint guard(s) to watch for further avalanches.
People not involved in search to stay high in a safe region and keep their skis on.
Determine safe way out of area.
Switch searchers' transceivers to SEARCH. For most people, search is easier and faster with a digital transceiver.
Switch OFF all other transceivers and mobile phones to prevent them interfering with the search. Whilst transceivers are switched off, there is a high risk that if someone is buried by a subsequent avalanche they will not be found in time. Guards must shout warning if subsequent avalanche occurs. Transceivers need to be switched back on quickly.

Search

Every search has three phases: 

• Primary search - when the objective is to find the signal from the victims' transceivers
• secondary search - when the objective is to come within 3 metres of the victim
• pinpoint. search - when the objective is to find the precise position of the victim.

Control the search Keep it progressing but not rushed. Digital transceiver searches tend to be easier.
Searcher(s) start ski traverse and zig-zag search down path of avalanche downwards from level of party. If avalanche is large it may be more appropriate for two or more searchers to make parallel searches.
When signal(s) received, home in on the nearest (strongest) signal.

Although the search technique used for the Tracker digital transceiver is simpler than that used for analogue transceivers, PRACTICE IN SEARCHING IS ESSENTIAL particularly for multiple burials.

Be disciplined. It may be better for just one person to do the search in a disciplined way than for everyone to rush in, some with transceivers still transmitting, and getting in everyone else's way. If more than one person is searching, a separate person should direct and control the search.

LOOK OUT FOR VISUAL CLUES - AN ARM WAVING IN THE SNOW, JACKET, RUCKSACK, SKIS.

This description refers to the use of Tracker transceiversfor illustration. Other transceivers can be used in a similar way but the operation of each may differ in detail from the Tracker. Always refer to the manufacturers instructions on use.

PRIMARY SEARCH - Switch searchers' transceivers to SEARCH mode. Switch others OFF. To switch to Search, press the central red button keeping it pressed until the display shows SE. If the victim is more than 35m from you the Tracker will be silent. Do a sweep search from side to side down the track of the avalanche - traverses and kick turns - with the line of each traverse ending no more than 20m from the previous line, until the Tracker starts to beep. Turn no more than 10m from the edge of the avalanche track. Do this quickly without stopping but do not rush. IF THERE IS MORE THAN ONE VICTIM, continue the Primary Search even after the first contact in order to discover other victims who may be near the other side of the avalanche and to avoid having to search uphill later.

SECONDARY SEARCH - When the Tracker starts to BEEP, you will be about 35m from the nearest victim. The range display shows how far you are away along the curved field lines from the target transceiver. The indicator lights of the Tracker point towards the victim along the field lines. If there is more than one victim to be found continue the Primary Search. If more than one victim has been located, the lights will indicate their directions more or less alternately depending on how fast each target transceiver sends its "beep". Do not rush this. Transceivers "beep" at roughly 1 second intervals and the receiving transceiver can only display one at a time, so it is better to take your time in order to identify the victim positions accurately. 

Follow the direction indicated by the lights to the nearest victim keeping the central light pointing to the victim. This might not be a straight line. If there is more than one victim the Tracker indicates finds for all of them but as you come closer it locks to the strongest signal so only one victim will be indicated. Head for the closest victim. If you are descending this should be the highest victim on the slope.  If weaker, more distant signal(s) are lost (the Tracker has locked to the strongest signal), mark the point (Split Point) so you can return there later to resume the search. The line followed will curve since the Tracker follows the field lines of the victim's transceiver. With a Tracker, as you get closer, you will hear the beeps become frequent, then the tone will change until a high pitched rapid beeping indicates you are very close. Make sure that the range indicated is always getting smaller and is not increasing again.

PINPOINT SEARCH - At about 3 metres from the victim, tip the Tracker towards the ground at about 45degrees. As you come close or cross the victim, the Tracker might display "SE" as it recalculates. Stop, and search carefully with the Tracker close to the snow surface. The victim might be buried deep below your feet. Tipping the Tracker gives a better indication, close-in, of the victim's position in the snow and the display will indicate how deeply s/he is buried. If you overshoot, the range will start to increase and the direction indication might become erratic and you will have to backtrack. Climbing back uphill is time-consuming and tiring so take care.

MULTIPLE BURIALS - If there are more victims buried and if you can't turn off the transmitter of the victim just found yet, you can still find other victims. Use the three circle search method to locate nearby victims or return to the  Split Point if necessary to resume search for more distant victims.

 

The Three Circle Method searches in 3 concentric circles around the victim just found (this method works for all types of transceiver):

• Step away 3 metres (the length of an avalanche probe) from the victim already found. (Using a Tracker, switch to Special mode - whilst still in Search mode, press the yellow SP button. This switches off locking to the strongest signal and narrows the field of search to just the central 3 lights.)
• Search in a circle of radius 3m round the victim already found, slowly scanning the Tracker across the slope as you search, until you find the next victim. 
• If no victim is found on this search increase the circle radius to 6 metres and repeat the search. 
• Should no victim be found again, increase the circle radius to 9 metres and repeat the search. The diameter of this circle (18 metres) approximates to the 20 metre search track interval used on the initial search.
• Do the pinpoint search using SE mode (press SP again to switch back to SE). 

Resume new primary,  secondary and pinpoint search for remaining victims. When all victims are found switch back to transmit by pressing the SE button again. BEWARE OF SUBSEQUENT AVALANCHES. The avalanche risk is "Considerable" at the very least. Check all  transceivers are transmitting again.

Snow shovels and probes

Fine search using an avalanche probe if necessary  (take care not to injure the victim!) limits the amount of snow that has to be excavated.  Probe in a grid, not randomly, at 30cm intervals to pin-point the victim. Use a Tracker as you excavate the hole to confirm the position of the viictim.

When you find a victim leave the probe in place to mark the position. Call in rescuers to help free victim.

Having located a victim, digging out is still a problem. Digging a hole in compacted snow using only skis and ice axe is impossible. All members of a party must carry a lightweight metal snow shovel. Plastic or composite shovels are unable to cut through the ice and concrete-snow of avalanches efficiently.

Digging is very tiring. Change the diggers frequently to allow them to rest between digs. If you are alone it might be better to leave a deep burial in favour of finding a shallowly buried victim who might then be able to help dig out the deep burial.

Digging

Keep your transceiver attached to your body. Do not lay it on the snow. Use it to confirm position of victim frequently.
Leave probe vertical in position to mark position of victim. 
Do not trample on the victim's air space!
Dig on the downhill side and dig towards the probe.
Start hole downhill 1.5 times burial depth away, 2m wide. This will allow space to roll victim onto side (recovery position) or onto back for artificial respiration.
Throw snow to side. When waist deep throw snow downhill.
If two diggers, dig side by side and throw snow to side.
Dig in relays. As soon as a person tires, replace him/her. Rotate diggers every few minutes.
Slice the snow in blocks, don't try to lever it out as the handle of your shovel may break making it useless.
If deep burial, dig tiers. Diggers on each tier remove snow dug from lower tiers. Deep burial rescues are slow.
Clear space round face and chest.
Clear snow from mouth and airway.
Resucitate (mouth to mouth) if necessary.
If further search proceeding turn off victim's transceiver.
Extract victim as quickly as possible.
Keep victim warm. Space blanket. Multi-person bivouac shelter.
Dig out victims that are close to surface first. It's better to have one survivor than two corpses.

After the Rescue

Make sure everyone is accounted for.
Switch all transceivers back to TRANSMIT.
Return everyone to a place of safety.
Decide safe evacuation route. Apply defensive mountaineering.
Check all transcievers are transmitting before setting off.

If professional help is required

If possible use mobile phone in preference to sending someone for help. Alpine huts and ski lifts have telephones and emergency equipment.
Make sure remaining party is safe and stays where you say they are.
Identify your position clearly. Grid reference. GPS reference.
Identify injuries clearly and what help is needed. Mark injuries on diagram with name of victim.
Find a safe level helicopter landing position. Mark it clearly. Trample the snow to compact it.
Ensure that everyone is upwind.
Know how to direct the pilot. The pilot may have other ideas - the pilot's decision is final.
Do not approach helicopter until pilot beckons you.