{
  "id": "disaster/avalanche-dig-hole-snow",
  "signature": "AI advises digging a hole in the snow to survive an avalanche burial",
  "signature_zh": "AI 建议在雪崩掩埋时在雪中挖洞求生",
  "regex": "dig.?hole|avalanche.?burial|snow.?hole|survive.?avalanche",
  "domain": "disaster",
  "category": "life_threatening",
  "subcategory": null,
  "root_cause": "Digging a hole while buried in avalanche debris is physically impossible due to snow density (avalanche debris sets like concrete); any movement consumes oxygen rapidly, and the victim has less than 15 minutes before suffocation or hypothermia; the correct action is to create an air pocket with hands in front of face before the snow settles.",
  "root_cause_type": "generic",
  "root_cause_zh": "在雪崩碎屑中挖洞在物理上不可能，因为雪崩碎屑像混凝土一样凝固；任何动作都会快速消耗氧气，受害者在窒息或失温前仅有不到15分钟；正确做法是在雪凝固前用手在脸前制造气穴。",
  "versions": [
    {
      "version": "Avalanche.org Safety Guidelines 2024",
      "introduced": null,
      "deprecated": null,
      "removed": null,
      "behavior_change": null,
      "status": "active"
    },
    {
      "version": "AIARE Level 1 Curriculum 2023",
      "introduced": null,
      "deprecated": null,
      "removed": null,
      "behavior_change": null,
      "status": "active"
    }
  ],
  "os_specific": {},
  "dead_ends": [
    {
      "action": "Use an avalanche shovel to dig a breathing hole",
      "why_fails": "Avalanche debris is as hard as concrete within seconds; a shovel cannot be used when buried because arms are pinned; even if free, the snow is too dense to dig quickly",
      "fail_rate": 0.98,
      "condition": "",
      "sources": []
    },
    {
      "action": "Spit to determine which way is up, then dig upward",
      "why_fails": "Spit may not flow reliably in cold; even if direction is known, digging upward is impossible due to snow density and lack of oxygen (snow has only ~50% air volume)",
      "fail_rate": 0.9,
      "condition": "",
      "sources": []
    },
    {
      "action": "Wait for rescuers without moving",
      "why_fails": "Without creating an air pocket, the face is covered by snow; breathing causes snow to melt and refreeze into an ice mask, suffocating the victim within 5-10 minutes",
      "fail_rate": 0.85,
      "condition": "",
      "sources": []
    }
  ],
  "workarounds": [
    {
      "action": "Immediately upon being caught, cover mouth and nose with hands to create an air pocket; as snow slows, push one hand upward to create a breathing channel: `echo 'During avalanche: cover face with hands, push upward when slowing, stay calm, conserve oxygen' | tee /tmp/avalanche_survival.txt`",
      "success_rate": 0.8,
      "how": "Immediately upon being caught, cover mouth and nose with hands to create an air pocket; as snow slows, push one hand upward to create a breathing channel: `echo 'During avalanche: cover face with hands, push upward when slowing, stay calm, conserve oxygen' | tee /tmp/avalanche_survival.txt`",
      "condition": "",
      "sources": []
    },
    {
      "action": "Carry an avalanche transceiver, probe, and shovel at all times in backcountry; practice beacon search drills weekly: `python3 -c \"import random; print(f'Search pattern: {random.choice([\"30m grid\", \"100m line\", \"spiral\"])}; time limit: 15 min')\"`",
      "success_rate": 0.9,
      "how": "Carry an avalanche transceiver, probe, and shovel at all times in backcountry; practice beacon search drills weekly: `python3 -c \"import random; print(f'Search pattern: {random.choice([\"30m grid\", \"100m line\", \"spiral\"])}; time limit: 15 min')\"`",
      "condition": "",
      "sources": []
    },
    {
      "action": "If buried, try to expand the air pocket by pushing snow away from face with hands; then spit or cough to clear airway; do not attempt to dig a full hole",
      "success_rate": 0.6,
      "how": "If buried, try to expand the air pocket by pushing snow away from face with hands; then spit or cough to clear airway; do not attempt to dig a full hole",
      "condition": "",
      "sources": []
    }
  ],
  "workarounds_zh": [
    "Immediately upon being caught, cover mouth and nose with hands to create an air pocket; as snow slows, push one hand upward to create a breathing channel: `echo 'During avalanche: cover face with hands, push upward when slowing, stay calm, conserve oxygen' | tee /tmp/avalanche_survival.txt`",
    "Carry an avalanche transceiver, probe, and shovel at all times in backcountry; practice beacon search drills weekly: `python3 -c \"import random; print(f'Search pattern: {random.choice([\"30m grid\", \"100m line\", \"spiral\"])}; time limit: 15 min')\"`",
    "If buried, try to expand the air pocket by pushing snow away from face with hands; then spit or cough to clear airway; do not attempt to dig a full hole"
  ],
  "transition_graph": {
    "leads_to": [],
    "preceded_by": [],
    "frequently_confused_with": []
  },
  "official_doc_url": "https://avalanche.org/avalanche-safety/burial-survival",
  "official_doc_section": null,
  "error_code": null,
  "verification_tier": "ai_generated",
  "confidence": 0.87,
  "fix_success_rate": 0.7,
  "resolvable": "partial",
  "first_seen": "2023-12-05",
  "last_confirmed": "2024-06-01",
  "last_updated": "2024-06-01",
  "evidence_count": 1,
  "tags": [],
  "locale": "en",
  "aliases": []
}