Despite the ever increasing attractions of backcountry and off-piste winter sports as well as ever more heavily frequented mountain routes in Switzerland, avalanche fatalities are slightly decreasing. In this empirical study, we present the developments in avalanche accident prevention methods throughhout the last 40 years in Switzerland. In five-year steps, from 1968/69 until 2007/08, the developments in Swiss avalanche forecasting, the change and expansion of informational products, their frequency, presentation and distribution are presented. These are seen alongside the developments in further prevention measures such as education, rescue, equipment and human factors. This series of developments is compared to a total of 988 avalanche fatalities in backcountry and off-piste areas as well as on ski runs and on traffic routes. Catastrophic avalanche situations and victims thereof are not taken into consideration since the time frame of the analysis is too short. A mix of qualitative and quantitative analysis aims to depict the changes and trends over the 5-year steps. Positive and negative trends in avalanche fatalities are set against developments and reversals of trends in avalanche prevention. The mostly qualitative study hopes to offer a basis for discussion rather than conclusive scientific results on this complex topic. However, it can serve as a framework for individual forecasting services or for countries to draw up a comparison of trends in avalanche accident prevention methods and avalanche fatalities.