A "warning" has been issued after five people have been killed near the Winter Olympics in Italy.
A series of avalanches in mountain ranges near the Winter Olympics have resulted in several deaths. Three people were killed in avalanches outside of Milan, Italy last weekend. Two more people were killed in an avalanche roughly 120 miles outside of the Winter Games this weekend.
Two skiers were killed and one more was injured in an avalanche at a luxury resort town of Courmayeur, which is about 120 miles outside of the Winter Games.
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A record-high amount of people have died in avalanches or mountain accidents in Italy over the past week, as 13 people have been killed.
An avalanche safety "warning" has been issued after the tragic accidents:
- Wear a helmet to help reduce head injuries and an avalanche beacon to help others locate you.
- Use an avalanche airbag that may create air pockets to give you more space to breathe and help you from being completely buried.
- Carry a collapsible avalanche probe and a small shovel to help rescue others.
- If your partner or others are buried, call 9-1-1 and then begin to search.
- Treat others for suffocation, hypothermia, traumatic injury, or shock.
Heading into any skiing or snowboarding, the following should be done:
- Sign up for alerts from a U.S. Forest Service Avalanche Center near you. Your community may also have a local warning system.
- Learn the signs of an avalanche and how to use safety and rescue equipment. Take first aid training to recognize and treat suffocation, hypothermia, traumatic injury, and shock.
- Travel with a guide who knows the locations to avoid. Always travel in pairs. Follow avalanche warnings on roads.
- Roads may be closed or vehicles may be advised not to stop on the roadside. Know the signs of increased danger, including recent avalanches and shooting cracks across slopes.
- Avoid areas of increased risk like slopes steeper than 30 degrees or areas downhill of steep slopes.
Stay safe, everyone.