If you see an avalanche crashing towards you, drop your gear and start a swimming motion.
The swimming motion will help rescuers as it will keep you near the surface, because once the avalanche comes to a halt, it will set like concrete - trapping anything or anyone inside.
"The chances are small of finding people who are buried and who are not wearing an avalanche transceiver," New Zealand Mountain Safety Council avalanche education officer Chris Hall said.
"Most people who are caught in avalanches set them off themselves, [either] by stepping or skiing on to an unstable slope."
Getting out of the way of an avalanche is unlikely and when rescuers arrive, they are usually searching for bodies, not survivors.
That is why the Wakatipu branch of the Mountain Safety Council has launched two avalanche courses for the public.
The Avalanche Awareness course teaches participants how to keep safe in avalanche terrain and is aimed at all snow recreationalists and trampers.
It explains how to plan trips, read the weather, what equipment to use and how to use it, plus how to keep safe and assist others, while the Back Country Avalanche course goes into more detail and looks at group decision making and is aimed at recreational leaders.
Professional group leaders require a higher level of skill and Otago Polytechnic offers those courses, Mr Hall said.
For further information visit www.mountainsafety.org.nz
