New safety gear made to save lives

Keith McCord reportingUtah's mountains have received a lot of snow this season, and the avalanche danger has been moderate to high for weeks.

We hear the warnings all the time--if you are heading to the backcountry on skis or snowmobiles, you should be prepared.

Some brand new safety gear will soon be on the market. Each year, when the Outdoor Retailers Convention comes to town, we try to get together with outdoor recreation specialist Brian Brawdy, who is always looking to make your trip outdoors as safe and fun as possible.

We've had a number of dangerous and deadly avalanches in Utah in recent years. Snowboarders buried under the snow with rescuers trying desperately to find them with shovels, dogs, and probing with long poles.

The equipment you carry is critical. From shovels to beacons, it can mean the difference between a rescue and death. Brawdy says, "It's nothing you want to mess with, and if you take some precautions before you head out, you can dramatically increase your chances for survival."

Technological advancements have made safety gear smaller, lighter, and better. Brawdy took us up on a snowy hillside to show us some of the latest gear including the "I-Probe." It's a long pole that folds up and fits into your backpack. The pole is electronically equipped to search for the signal emitted by a beacon.

Another tool that searchers are now using is the hand-held scanner that detects small reflectors that clothing manufacturers are embedding into their products. The scanner can pinpoint the location even if a person is buried under 65 feet of snow! Dale Atkins of RECCO Rescue System says, "When it hits the reflector [it] beeps. You get a strong chirping signal, and it's very directional. It's a radar."

It's all about saving precious time, which is what SPOT (Satellite Personal Tracker) the personal tracker does. It can send text messages, as well as a 911 emergency signal, that can be tracked on a computer!

Brian says when you're out in the backcountry, remember the big 3: shovel, probe and beacon.

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