Article: Never hit the slopes without it. There are a few pieces of equipment that greatly reduce people's risk of dying in an avalanche. Invest in the following items:  An avalanche receiver and probe. The receiver puts out a signal to show where the person is buried, and the probe is used to locate the person and start digging. Every person in your party should carry both. A small shovel. This is used to dig an air pocket around the face. A helmet. Many avalanche-related fatalities happen because of the initial impact of the snow knocking people off of their feet. Skier's airbags have become more popular in recent years. They help to keep your body toward the surface of the snow, so you're less likely to get buried. Avalanches happen frequently enough that many organizations provide intensive training courses to coach skiers and snowboarders on how to avoid avalanches, save themselves, and rescue each other. If you're traveling to avalanche country, it's worth taking a course.

What is a summary?
Take survival equipment, in case of an avalanche, always. Take an avalanche training course.