The avalanche protection device, part of a backpack with rip cord operated explosive inflation device, provides a Balloon on the back that is supposed to "float" the wearer in the event of avalanche, victim avoids being buried deeply....... rescue time is cut dramatically, altho it does NOT protect from crush injuries, broken bones etc etc, it "just" means the rescue has a chance of finding you near the top of the debris field, so hyperthermia/CO2 suffocation effects minimised....providing you react in time to pull ripcord as you are swept away
Survival rates improved simply due to search being quicker to find victim.
Does it work, well, all the instructors (at least in those Austrian resorts with extreme ski areas/reputations (St Anton, Lech etc etc)) who do Off Piste Sking groups, use them, altho they also still employ pieps transceivers too)
you can also have an "avalung" which is a breathing device which you put into mouth connected to a bag inside clothing which enables wearer to breath whilst buried without build up of CO2 around face and also avoids suffocation by ice forming a mask around face, as breath is transported away from face to bag
of course, if you have time to use these bits of kit you should really use the time to get out of the f**king avalanche!!!!!
, but they can impress the gullible as you strutt around the mountain hut!!!!However airlines are very reluctant to carry the packs, for obvious reasons, and heli ski operations insist the back pack must be carried in basket outside with ski equipment, as they do not seem to want a compressive "bang" going off inside the aircraft! ( so maybe operation of them is a bit hit and miss....interesting to see what would happen if one went off whilst riding bike at speed....like a parachute opening lifting rider of bike and into air...just what you need for that youtube moment!
)
