Lesson 10: Strike Team Shovelling Technique

Once the buried subject is marked by probing, the rescuers then work together as a shovelling strike team to rapidly exposing the subject’s head and airway and prepare them for extrication. Rescuers must take care to avoid standing on the subject, which can damage or compress their air pocket or chest cavity.

Technique

Length.

  • Flat terrain (0-5 degrees) = 2x burial depth
  • Steep terrain (>20 degrees) = 1x burial depth

Width.

  • Apex of the corridor = 80cm
  • Remainder of the corridor = 2m

Setup and Procedure.

  • Shovelers are positioned a distance of two shovel lengths apart (one person for every 80cm of the V) and work offset from one another.
  • Shovelers at the apex cut and dig snow.
  • Shovelers at the end use a paddling motion to clear snow without lifting it. Cutting is done by progressively less-so towards the end. The goal is to create a ramp down to the subject. The ramp helps reduce the need to lift snow from one shoveler to the next.
  • Each shoveler is responsible for keeping the area immediately to and right clear of snow.
  • Shovelers should rotate positions regularly to prevent fatigue (shovelers at the apex do considerably more work).
  • When the subject is reached, two rescuers move to assist with exposing the subject while the others continue preparing the ramp.

Example of five rescuers, each spaced two shovel lengths apart (left). When the subject is reached, two rescuers move to assist with exposing the subject while the others continue preparing the ramp (right).

Exceptions.

  1. If the burial depth is very shallow (<50cm). In this case, start digging 1m below the probe to avoid standing on the subject. Instead of a single rescuer at the apex, two rescuers work in parallel, digging along the probe. A third rescuer is positioned behind and moves snow along the conveyor.
  2. If there are too few rescuers available in proportion to burial depth. This situation may result in a steep ramp angle and other challenges in extricating the subject. In this case, one rescuer starts digging downslope from the probe. The starting distance from the probe increases with greater burial depth and fewer rescuers. Rescuers work their way towards the probe, throwing the snow to the side to keep the ramp clear.
  3. If resources allow, dig two corridors at each end of the buried subject to access the airway more quickly. Position one probe at each end of the buried subject, and remove the central snow pile once the subject’s head is reached.

First Contact with the Subject.

  • Do not continue with the rotation once the subject is visible.
  • Determine the orientation of the subject’s head.
  • The second and third shovelers widen the apex and begin to hollow a cave to assist in extricating the subject. This is done carefully to avoid further injury to the subject.
  • Remove the probe only when there has been direct contact with the subject.
  • The remaining shovelers continue to clear the ramp to facilitate easy extrication.
  • When the subject’s head is reached, the rescuers determine whether or not an air pocket exists. Air pocket assessment as this stage critically affects the type of care that will be administered.

Extrication:

  • Once the head is reached, one rescuer administers First Aid while additional shovelers carefully remove snow from around the rest of the subject’s body. The entire body should be clear before attempting to extricate the subject.
  • Shovelers prepare the ramp for removal of the subject.
  • When Advanced Life Support (ALS) providers arrive, shovelers move to a position where they can prepare a path for the subject to be transported by stretcher and/or toboggan.
  • Found-subject locations are marked with three crossed wands of any colour.

First aid is administered as soon as the head is reached (left). Other rescuers continue to prepare for extrication (right).

Common Mistakes.

  • Shovelers positioned too close together.
  • Ramp too steep.
  • Subject removed too quickly (possibly causing injury)
  • Shovelers not adjusting work to snow and weather conditions.
  • Resources ineffectively used.
  • Shovels breaking due to improper use.

In order to maximize efficiency, it is important to assign a coordinator to the excavation efforts. Ideally, the coordinator would be removed from the actual excavation so he or she is in a position to direct resources, communicate between shovelers and medical responders, and ensure smooth transitions.