An initiation or refresher course in snow safety at the beginning of each season is therefore a wise reflex for all types of independent mountaineers. Off-piste freeriders, snowshoe hikers, winter alpinists and touring skiers – we all want to descend in one piece at the end of the day.

Courses in avalanche science and first aid come in many shapes and sizes. This winter I myself participated in a snow safety course in the mountains in the broadest sense of the word. We discussed theory in the morning and put our. knowledge into practice throughout the afternoon. The main themes covered were first aid, avalanche science and general planning. We under took numerous avalanche simulations with a variation of victims numbers and rescuers, we dug igloos to keep our ‘victims’ warm, fake bleeding was planted at the scene to simulate trauma, together we learnt and practiced resuscitation techniques on dolls and constructed splints for broken arms and legs.

Many people automatically think of snow safety as avalanches. However, there are plenty of other factors to consider before imposing the risers or buckling your bones at the top of the slope.

These factors are also often human. 'Heuristics' is the collective term for human mental shortcuts that influence decisions. Of these, peer pressure is the most well-known, but also individual expectations, previous expectations and uncertainty or excessive enthusiasm. For example, people who only have a few days of skiing vacation often take risks that they would not take if they had more time. Also, familiar descents are often mistakenly considered safe and people stick to a predetermined plan despite indications that this would be better adjusted throughout the day.

For those that already have a first aid certification in their salopettes, it’s reaffirming to know that these foundational principles are also valid in the high mountains. But circumstances in this challenging environment can be much trickier.

This is why simulating practical applications is of the greatest importance to ensure you are prepared to act quickly if and when things go wrong. The first step is to save a life (bleeding, consciousness, breathing), simultaneously calling for support from rescue services as soon as is physically possible, ensuring that everyone within your ski touring group has the local emergency support number to hand at all times.