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In the wake of the recent storms that have produced hazardous conditions across the Alpine arc between France, Switzerland, and Austria, an avalanche safety warning has been issued.

• Wear a helmet to help reduce head injuries and an avalanche beacon to help others locate you.
• Use an avalanche airbag that may create air pockets, giving you more space to breathe and helping you avoid being completely buried.
• Carry a collapsible avalanche probe and a small shovel to assist in rescuing others.
• If your partner or others are buried, call 9-1-1 and then begin to search.
• Treat others for suffocation, hypothermia, traumatic injury, or shock.

If people plan to ski or snowboard, they should:

• Sign up for alerts from a U.S. Forest Service Avalanche Center near you. Your community may also have a local warning system.
• Learn the signs of an avalanche and how to use safety and rescue equipment. Take first aid training to recognize and treat suffocation, hypothermia, traumatic injury, and shock.
• Travel with a guide who knows the locations to avoid. Always travel in pairs. Follow avalanche warnings on roads.
• Roads may be closed, or vehicles may be advised not to stop on the roadside. Know the signs of increased danger, including recent avalanches and shooting cracks across slopes.
• Avoid areas of increased risk, such as slopes steeper than 30 degrees or areas downhill of steep slopes.

The National Alpine and Speleological Rescue Corps said that dangerous points are hard to identify even for experts. People should take extra care when planning trips near mountains.