Here are tips on how to minimize risks associated with winter storms in the mountains.
• Do not ski alone. Buddy up with another skier or snowboarder and stay within sight of your partner. This means stopping and watching your partner descend, then proceeding downhill while he or she watches you.
• Ski or board carefully in trees or on un-groomed areas. Stay on terrain that fits your skill level.
• Observe posted closures and warning signs. Out-of-bound areas are out of bounds for solid reasons.
• Do not use pole straps. Skiers or boarders trapped in snow have difficulty getting out of pole straps, which can hamper efforts to escape or clear an air space to breathe.
• Carry personal-rescue gear. On deep powder, have the same gear used by backcountry skiers: an avalanche beacon, shovel, probe, and whistle.
• In a tumble, grab hols of any available tree branches. If you go down in a tree well or deep snow bank near a tree, a grip on a branch can keep you on the surface.
• In a tumble into deep snow, resist the urge to struggle. Concentrate on making a breathing space around your face, and move your body carefully in a rocking manner to hollow out space (for air) around you.

Put safety first in your winter sports; doing so can mean the difference between life and death.

Tahoe Forest Hospital is located in Truckee, California.              --By Tahoe Forest Hospital