Lumivyöryetsintälaite

Lumivyöryetsintälaite, often referred to as an avalanche transceiver or beacon, is a crucial piece of safety equipment for anyone venturing into avalanche-prone terrain. Its primary function is to locate buried avalanche victims. The device operates on a digital signal and emits a radio signal that can be detected by other transceivers. During a rescue, a transceiver is switched to transmit mode, broadcasting its location. If an avalanche occurs and a person is buried, rescuers can switch their transceivers to receive mode, which then detects the broadcast signal and guides them towards the buried victim.

Modern avalanche transceivers typically have a range of up to 50-70 meters. They are designed to be user-friendly, with clear visual and auditory indicators to help rescuers pinpoint the buried person's location with increasing accuracy as they get closer. The search process generally involves a coarse search to pick up the signal, followed by a fine search to narrow down the exact location, and finally, a pinpointing phase to determine the depth of the victim. Proper training and practice are essential to effectively use a lumivyöryetsintälaite in a real rescue situation. All members of a backcountry party should carry and know how to operate a transceiver.