Snowsafe Blog

What is a Recco Reflector and why you should always wear one?🔴

What is a Recco Reflector?

The Recco Reflector is a small band-aid size battery-free transponder which makes you searchable to professional mountain rescue teams in the event of an avalanche.

If you are caught in an avalanche situation the mountain rescue team will search the avalanche area with a Recco Detector, this detector responds to frequency signals of the reflector which should be mounted on your Helmet, Backpack or as a Belt.

What Recco Products are Available?

	Recco Reflector A Recco reflector is a small, band-aid sized, electronic transponder that weighs less than four grams. It is mounted to your ski helmet or to gear that is unlikely to be torn off in the event of an avalanche or outdoor summer accident
	Recco Backpack Rescue Reflector The RECCO Backpack Rescue Reflector has been specially designed for the application on carrying straps of backpacks and is primarily intended for use in the summer to be located by the SAR Recco Detector Helicopter in the event of a missing person situation.
	Recco Rescue Belt The Recco Belt is made of flexible and robust material with a metal buckle and two integrated rescue reflectors for optimum searchability.
	Terrawest Recco Backpack Safety, Practicality and Innovation, This was the guidelines when developing the Terrawest Core 22 Backpack. Terrawest partnered up with Recco Advanced Rescue Technology & SAS-TEC to bring you a new freeriding/downhill ski and snowboarding backpack to the market.
	Ortovox Diract Voice The Ortovox Diract Voice is the worlds First Avalanche Transceiverwith Integrated Voice Navigation. Clear, Simple Instructions support you in every search phase and provide calm and clarity when your partner’s survival is of utmost importance.

Highlights of the Recco and why you should always wear one.

• 950+ Search and Rescue Organisations worldwide use the Recco Rescue Device
• Non powered Device
• No Batteries to function 
• Never loses Signal 
• Maintenance Free
• Unlimited Life Span
• Very Cost Effective 
• Added extra safety to Avalanche Transceivers & other Avalanche Safety Equipment.
• Highly recommend for young children on school trips or in small or large ski groups
• Snowsafe have sold over 3000 Recco Reflectors

What mountain rescue professionals think about Recco?

To mountain rescue teams the Recco Reflectors are a “very useful piece of equipment and is a standard in avalanche rescue”.

Professional rescuers use the Recco detectors for one reason and one reason only and that is to save crucial time when searching when wearing a Recco Reflector the search becomes a lot quicker.

If you are not wearing a Recco Reflector it becomes a lot more difficult for rescue teams to search for you and manual searching with probe lines and other methods take up a lot more time meaning that the chance of survival decreases dramatically.

Please see the short clip from Mountain Rescue Teams:

SAR (Search & Rescue) Helicopter Detector

The SAR (Search & Rescue) Helicopter Detector service was first introduced in 2015 and is now found in several countries, and offers year-round missing persons services.

The RECCO SAR Helicopter Detector is used by attaching the detector to a rope that is then dangled below the Recco rescue helicopter.

When the helicopter flies at a height of 100m, it is able to scan an area that is 100m wide.

When the speed of the helicopter is 100 km/h this translates to 1 km2coverage within six minutes. This equals to 30 football fields per minute.

Recco SAR Helicopter Detector services are used in the following countries :

• Switzerland – Zermatt, Sion
• Italy – Aosta, Bozen, Trento
• Austria  – Hohenems, Innsbruck, Linz, Graz
• Norway – Alesund, Hastad, 
• Sweden – Ostersund 
• Canada – Snohomish Helicopter Rescue Team, Snohomish, WA
• United States – Alpine Helicopters, Canmore AB
• SAR Rescue Helicopter Search

Recco Reflector Frequently asked questions. 

1. Does the RECCO replace the transceiver?

The Recco supplements transceivers, we, as well as mountain rescue professionals encourage people to get and learn how to use avalanche transceiver devices, Avalanche Beacons are the best tool for rescuing your ski or snowboard companions and vice versa.

Recco Reflectors are used for when you need mountain rescue professionals to help with searching for a missing person. 

2. I already have a transceiver, Do I still need a RECCO Reflector?

Even the most experienced skiers and boarders forget to carry there transceiver sometimes so you must ensure you mount a Recco to your Helmet, Backpack or as a Belt, the Recco provides a basic, simple and inexpensive rescue system for all.

You can find pre-installed Recco products like the Ortovox transceivers below:

• Ortovox Diract Voice
• Ortovox Diract 
• Ortovox Zoom
• Ortovox 3+

3. Does the Recco interfere with avalanche rescue beacons?

No is your answer. the two systems work on very different sets of frequencies and cause no interference with each other. Find out more on what interferes with your avalanche beacon.

4. Can I just put a RECCO reflector in my pocket?

It’s not recommended.  The adhesive-backed reflectors are designed to work best when attached to hard-shell boots or helmets however you can sow the Recco Reflectors to the outside of your ski jacket, as long as these are visible and have not been dropped in your pocket they will work and won’t reduce the performance of the system.

5. Where in the world can I find the Recco Detectors?

More than 900 ski resorts and mountain rescue organizations in 28 countries employ RECCO handheld and SAR helicopter detectors for rescue operations in the Summer & Winter.

Snowsafe Blogs:

It’s important to stay safe and have the correct training when skiing or snowboarding off-piste please check out further blogs below:

• Avalanche Transceiver Warranty, are you covered?
• End of season checklist, how to store your avalanche safety equipment correctly.
• New Ortovox Transceivers for season 21/22, follow the voice.
• Dont Venture off-piste without testing your avalanche transceiver
• Do Smartphones, Watches, Go-Pros interfere with Avalanche Transceivers?

If you would like to feature a blog about your organisation or experience in the snow please feel free to contact us on info@snowsafe.co.uk or  01273 003925. We are happy to take guest blogs linking back to your website.