if you are ever caught in an avalanche,the chances are slim that you will survive. if you are not killed instantly,you only have a short time 15-35 minutes before your oxygen run out. take off your ski,boots and poles. use a swimming motion to claw your way to the surface. often people do not know which way is up or down. the effect of this is disorientation. it is not uncommon for avalanche victims to dig in the wrong direction. with proper precautions, both skiers and ski resorts can avoid the tragedy of an avalanche