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There is a very small rescue device that is barely visible, but when it comes down to it, can save your life: RECCO®. The importance of this small lifesaver is often underestimated by outdoor athletes or is perhaps even unknown to some. Follow this article to explore more about the functionality of the RECCO® Avalanche Rescue Technology.
WHAT IS RECCO®?
The RECCO® system is a technology which helps rescuers to find victims of avalanche buriers or to search for people which got lost in the outdoors. And it helps the victims to be searchable during such accidents. It consists out of two parts, a detector and a reflector. More than 30 years ago the first RECCO® systems weighted around 16kg, nowadays the detector is a 1kg light and is no bigger than a cell phone or an avalanche transceiver. The reflector was reduced to the size where you cannot even notice that you have it on you.
HOW DOES RECCO® WORK?
This two-part system works on a sophisticated radar technology signal basis. The two parts are the RECCO® detector and the RECCO® reflector. The more known is the RECCO® reflector, a small piece of material, which can be placed in ski jackets, ski pants, boots, backpacks or helmets, and other protective gear.
Facts about the RECCO® reflector:
-
- Weighs less than 4 g
- Has unlimited lifespan
- Does not need to be replaced or recharged
- Does not lose any signal strength
- Does not require maintenance
The counterpart is the RECCO® detector, which is mostly used by fully trained mountains rescue teams. It sends signals which can locate the reflector. Once the signals reach the reflector it bounces back to the detector and warns the user of the detector about the location of the reflector. The max. range of this two-piece system is 200 m in airspace and 30 m in snow. The actual search range always depends on the circumstances: moisture content of snow, the direction of barrier and orientation of the searched device.
The rule of thumb applies here – if you wear more reflectors it increases your searchability, so the signal can be bounced off in more directions from more than one place.
Recco vs. tracker beacon what is better?
An answer to this question might be simple but the explanation needs to be a bit broader. None of these two technologies are better nor worse, it is more like comparing apples with oranges. Avalanche transceivers and RECCO® reflectors are two different technologies, which complement each other. If you have your RECCO® reflector on, it will help you to be found by professional rescuers, who are using RECCO® detector. But it won’t be of any use if your friends will try to search for you with their beacons, which might be a critical moment, as shown in the graph below. After an avalanche accident the first 10 minutes are critical, and usually, during the first 10 minutes, there are only those people available who are located close to you and have witnessed the accident. And the other way around – if you only rely on your RECCO® reflector, this technology won’t help you with finding any of your buried companions.
Please note that RECCO® rescue system does not prevent you from any avalanche accident nor does substitute avalanche transceiver! If you decide to enter the area outside of the ski resort bounds, make well-informed decisions based on facts and previous analysis of all factors that could be influencing the snow conditions. And in the best case, you take Avalanche Safety Awareness Courses before you start with any activities outside of the ski resort. This is the most effective way to avoid the danger of an avalanche.
WHERE DOES RECCO® COME FROM?
The idea of creating the RECCO® system was a tragic avalanche accident in Åre, Sweden in 1973. This memorable experience prompted founder Magnus Granhed to develop a technology that uses electronic signal transmission to locate victims and casualties, thus making the search for buried victims much easier. After years of research the team of scientists came up with the first commercial prototype, which was ten years later in 1983. In the ’90s, the RECCO® system transformed into a smaller and more portable rescue device that has since been used by more and more rescue organizations. Now more than 800 ski resorts and mountain rescue organizations, worldwide, are using RECCO® with around 2000 detectors.
DO I HAVE RECCO® IN MY SKI CLOTHES AND PROTECTORS?
If you would like to know if your outdoor clothing or ski/snowboard equipment includes the RECCO® reflector you have to read the product description carefully and look for the labels hanging with the price tags on your clothes. Your outdoorjacket or skijacket might be labeled with the RECCO® label on some parts – such as sleeves, or just below the hood on the back side.
The common placement of RECCO® on ski pants or outdoorpants is on the bottom part, close to your ski/snowboard boots. The reflector is also used in various backpacks and protectors? You can find the RECCO® reflector in selected ski-touring helmets or bike helmets, too. For safety’s sake, you should pay close attention to the product description when buying, or get precise advice from a specialist salesperson.
Furthermore here is an example of different products from diverse manufactureres which got an included RECCO® reflector:
If you are about to leave the bounds of a ski resort always think about the safety first. Think not only your own, but also those of your friends who accompany you and who are with you in a potential danger zone. You never know if there is a person in your fall line which could be buried in an avalanche that you have triggered. Therefore always look around and leave enough space between you and the fellow riders. With more and more unstable winter conditions the avalanche danger is constantly increasing.
Keep in mind that the signals can’t be transmitted in wet snow and the RECCO® Avalanche Safety System might lose its functionality. And never rely on this system as your only option to be searched!
→ Here you can find a detailed guide of further avalanche safety equipment.
Read other interesting blog posts:
→ Safety First! – Avalanche Safety Camps