# AI advises digging a hole in the snow to survive an avalanche burial

- **ID:** `disaster/avalanche-dig-hole-snow`
- **Domain:** disaster
- **Category:** life_threatening
- **Verification:** ai_generated
- **Fix Rate:** 70%

## 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.

## Version Compatibility

| Version | Status | Introduced | Deprecated |
|---------|--------|------------|------------|
| Avalanche.org Safety Guidelines 2024 | active | — | — |
| AIARE Level 1 Curriculum 2023 | active | — | — |

## Workarounds

1. **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`** (80% success)
   ```
   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`
   ```
2. **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')"`** (90% success)
   ```
   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')"`
   ```
3. **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** (60% success)
   ```
   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
   ```

## Dead Ends

- **Use an avalanche shovel to dig a breathing hole** — 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 (98% fail)
- **Spit to determine which way is up, then dig upward** — 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) (90% fail)
- **Wait for rescuers without moving** — 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 (85% fail)