Avalanches: How common are they, and how do you prepare against them?

Sign up to Simon Calder’s free travel email for expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calder’s Travel email Get Simon Calder’s Travel email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Following the fatal avalanche in the French Alpine resort of Tignes, in which at least four people have died, the Foreign Office has issued an emergency number: "If you’re concerned about family members, you can call the local town hall on +33 4 79 40 09 91 for information." Wind will be generally light.” But the avalanche warning level from MeteoAlarm, the Europe-wide warning site for extreme weather, was yellow, meaning: “The weather is potentially dangerous … be attentive if you intend to practice activities exposed to meteorological risks.” In an average winter, around 25-30 people die in France because of avalanches, with February usually the peak month for fatalities. “Observe all warnings regarding avalanches and where appropriate consider carrying avalanche search equipment.” Avalanche airbags, typically costing £600 or more, can improve the chances of survival. Writing in The Independent, Stephen Wood advises: “For anyone caught in an avalanche, the key survival techniques are to stay near the surface with ‘swimming’ movements, avoid inhaling snow and try to create a breathing space before the slide comes to rest - at which point the snow can set like cement.”