There are search and rescue teams at almost all large ski resorts with potential avalanche hazards as well as larger organizations that are called upon in very large avalanche disasters or to remote areas. Although the people trained to do search and rescue are well qualified it should be stressed that the chance for survival of an avalanche victim is dependent on time, therefore avoiding disaster and/or knowing personal saftey tips to aid in the victims location will greatly reduce the risk of death. The victim has only a 50% chance of survival if uncovered within a half hour. With small, very mobile rescue teams this time constraint is not impossible to work under. If the victim has taken the neccessary precautions to aid rescuers in locating them they stand a much greater chance of survival.
An organized rescue effort that takes the least amount of time must be prepared prior to the search. This is called an avalanche rescue plan and is required reading for all employees of ski resorts. These plans are updated every season and within the season if weather conditions change drastically.
The rescue plan includes information on equipment, alarm sounding, and personnel in charge. There is a rescue leader who's responsibility it is to contact medical support, air support, law enforcment groups, and government officials for handling public-relations problems. Throughout the search and rescue the leader is usually stationed to a particular post, while others members of the team are actively looking for the victim within the avalanche area.