Ski patrols are organizations that provide medical , rescue, and hazard prevention services to the injured in ski area boundaries, or sometimes beyond into backcountry settings. Many have technical-medical certifications, such as Outdoor Emergency Care (OEC) provided by the National Ski Patrol (USA), that are specific to the winter-season environment and providing emergency medical services in remote locations. Many patrollers also hold EMS issued credentials, such as emergency medical technician or any other pre-hospital care certification. Due to the remote location and terrain, transportation is often limited to Rescue toboggan , snowmobile , or, for life-compromising injuries or extremely remote terrain, helicopter rescue . Depending on the ski area terrain, ski patrollers can be versed in a large variety of specialized rescues, such as avalanche search and rescue , outdoor emergency transportation, chairlift evacuation, and, in some cases, helicopter rescue techniques are taught. Patrols work to promote ski safety, enforce area policies (where applicable), and help the injured within their jurisdiction. Ski patrollers also work to set up the mountain before it opens by conducting trail checks, providing avalanche control work, and setting up necessary equipment in preparation for the day. At the end of the day, they also conduct a sweep clearing the mountain for off-hours.
31-558: Ski patrol is an organization that provides medical, rescue, and hazard prevention services to the injured in ski area boundaries, or sometimes beyond into backcountry settings. Ski Patrol may also refer to: Ski patrol Contrary to the name's implications, ski patrollers can be snowboarders in addition to alpine , Nordic , or telemark skiers. Many patrols also have non-skiing positions whereby patrollers no longer able to ski or individuals lacking sufficient skiing or toboggan handling skills can still provide emergency care in
62-426: A first aid room . Some ski areas also have a junior ski patrol program in which teenagers between the ages of 15 and 17 years old can participate. Most junior ski patrol programs limit the responsibilities of their members, such as preventing them from running toboggans or administering first aid without supervision. However, there are some areas with junior ski patrol programs which allow their members to operate with
93-694: A base camp on the siding during the day. While no injuries were treated on that first trip, the First Aid Committee (AKA Ski Patrol) continued active participation on trains reaching North Creek during the pre-war years. They were assisted by a "physician-on-call," Dr. James Glenn, a family physician and skier who practiced in North Creek. The First Aid Committee of 1933 anticipated the much needed assistance pioneered by Minnie Dole five (5) years later in conjunction with care for injured ski racers who were pushing limits of speed and technique. The first ski patrol
124-462: A local patrol affiliated with the NSP. Medical associates are physicians who volunteer their time to assist with medical training of patrollers. Patrollers who are no longer actively involved in providing emergency care to injured guests are able to maintain their affiliation with the NSP as alumni members. Associate members are personnel who are interested in courses offered by the NSP but are not members of
155-499: A member nation. FIPS exists due to the combined efforts of interested patrollers, individual ski patrols and national patrol organisations. FIPS seeks to improve the effectiveness of ski patrolling and, in turn, benefit the snow sports public. Over the years FIPS has initiated a number of specific projects of interest to patrollers: In 1933 the Schenectady (New York) Wintersports Club was organizing Snow Trains for local skiers to go to
186-401: A national ski patrol organisation. FIPS was created as the world forum for ski patrollers to meet, exchange ideas and compare the latest in patrol techniques on a regular basis. FIPS is supported by national patrol organisations to provide the necessary input and to offer potential solutions to patrolling issues. To enable this collaboration FIPS holds a congress every two years in a location of
217-445: A ski patrol. The mountain host category of membership is reserved for individuals who participate in on mountain customer service, are expected to be able to render first aid, but not part of an organization's ski patrol. Pursuant to its mission of promoting outdoor recreation safety, the NSP has developed a number of educational programs designed to increase safety awareness and injury prevention. The transportation education program
248-576: Is Central Zone, within Ontario Division, with 575 patrollers as of 2017. While some resorts or zones specify their own uniforms, the official Alpine uniform is defined as a jacket that is "...red with the proper markings. These markings will include a white cross on the back, a white cross on both upper arms and an optional white cross on the breast." The yellow and blue uniform was retired in 2016, and will be fully phased out by 2020. National Ski Patrol The nonprofit National Ski Patrol (NSP)
279-447: Is designed to ensure that those who venture into the wilderness have the necessary skills to do so safely. Patrollers are those members of the NSP who, as part of a ski patrol organization, provide assistance to ill or injured guests at a mountain area. To recognize and develop a continued commitment to patroller education and excellence, the NSP classifies patrollers based on completion of NSP approved courses. The classification schema
310-481: Is designed to teach members of the NSP safe techniques for the transportation of sick or injured guests from the wilderness to safety. Specific skills taught through the NSP system include safe toboggan handling, ski enhancement, and snowboard enhancement. The NSP began instructing ski patrollers and other search and rescue personnel in avalanche safety in 1957, making it the oldest and most experienced provider of avalanche education. In addition to courses designed for
341-636: Is the Purple merit star, this is awarded for saving a life. National Ski Patrol has an ongoing education system which includes OEC refreshers, and OEC classes. The NSP also offers a Certified Program that enables patrollers to build upon their existing skills and experiences. The Certified Program includes six modules, such as: Over the course of its history, the NSP has helped to develop similar patrol organizations in Canada, New Zealand, Australia, Argentina, Chile, Israel, Turkey and Korea. The Canadian Ski Patrol
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#1733093442717372-504: Is the largest winter education organization in the world. The NSP provides education, outreach, and credentialing related to outdoor recreation and safety. It is currently composed of more than 31,000 members who serve in over 650 patrols. NSP members, both volunteer and paid, ensure the safety of outdoor recreation enthusiasts in ski areas throughout the United States of America and certain military areas of Europe. For its dedication to
403-616: Is the patrol governing body for Canada. In 1940, Dr. Douglas Firth was asked by the Canadian Amateur Ski Association (CASA) to organize and train a first aid rescue group to patrol the ski hills. The Canadian Ski Patrol System was originally a standing committee of the CASA with independent patrols in different areas. During the years between 1941 and 1948, the war restricted expansion, but the Toronto and Montreal Patrols united to form
434-691: The 87th Mountain Infantry Regiment . The National Ski Patrol continued in this capacity until February 1944, by which time it had recruited around 8,000 soldiers for the 87th Regiment and eventually the 10th Mountain Division . The National Ski Patrol also assisted in training for the new troops. Membership within the NSP falls under five individual categories: patrollers , medical associates, alumni members, associate members, and mountain hosts. Patrollers are those members who are actively involved in providing emergency care to injured guests and are members of
465-711: The Victorian Rescue Service in Australia . In addition to its own ski safety programs, works closely with the United States Ski Team , Professional Ski Instructors of America , US Forest Service , National Park Service , and other organizations and agencies in the promotion of skiing and ski safety. Beginning in February 1940, Charles Minot Dole began writing to officials in the United States Army and
496-481: The Gore Mountain-Pete Gay Massif above North Creek, New York to enjoy skiing on trails cut by local sports enthusiasts as well as from Schenectady. Because of tales learned of injured skiers on the early (1931) Boston to New Hampshire (Franconia) Snow Trains, the organizers decided to have a large and well prepared First Aid Committee. Headed by Lois Perret (Schaefer), RN, and aided by expert skiers from
527-529: The National Downhill and Slalom Championship at Mt. Mansfield. Roger F. Langley , the president of the National Ski Association asked Dole to consider a national patrol. Dole later went on to create the 10th Mountain Division , after seeing Finnish soldiers on skis destroy two armored divisions. One of the few federally chartered not-for-profit organizations in the U.S., the NSP has since become
558-532: The National Ski Patrol. Upon his retirement in 1950 as president, Dole had built the NSP into an organization of 300 ski patrols and 4,000 members. Since its founding, the National Ski Patrol has worked closely with other countries in outdoor emergency care education, and has assisted in establishing ski patrol organizations in Canada , Korea , New Zealand , Israel , Turkey , Argentina and Chile , as well as
589-519: The Schenectady Wintersports Club, as well as North Creek High School students, a course on first aid and ski related injuries was taught to several dozen recruits. The Snow Trains were delayed because of a lack of snow in 1933/1934, but sufficient snow cover was achieved late, and the first Snow Train reached North Creek March 4, 1934. The First Aid Committee swung into action, sweeping trails for skiers needing assistance. The train acted as
620-564: The War Department about the need for specialized mountain troops. Dole had been inspired by Finnish efforts during the Winter War , and believed the United States should train specialized soldiers to fight in winter and alpine conditions. Due to the lobbying efforts by Charles Minot Dole, in November 1941 the National Ski Patrol was appointed by the United States Army to recruit and vet soldiers for
651-502: The first meeting was held in Calgary, Canada. Although there were many ski patrols in existence at that time, there was very little communication between them. Patrollers who had the opportunity to ski in other countries noticed differences and some commonality in procedures and standards relative to their own. In addition, accident prevention programmes were being implemented in some countries but not in others. A number of countries did not have
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#1733093442717682-406: The multi-disciplinary activities of ski patrolling and safety. Member countries of FIPS are Australia, Argentina, Canada, Chile, Finland, France, Italy, Japan, Korea, New Zealand, Norway, Romania, Russia, Scotland (UK), Serbia, Sweden, Switzerland, USA. In addition, there are a number of Associate Members who are non-national organisations. The concept of FIPS can be traced back prior to 1979 when
713-682: The nucleus of a national organization. During the next five years, the System expanded in Ontario, Quebec and the Vancouver area. The founder and President of the Quebec area was led by James Harold Millard, a resident of Montreal and Morin Heights. Harold became National Chairman for Canada, following Dr Firth. In the early years, those who were injured were taken down the hill on a toboggan where they were then loaded onto
744-579: The promotion of public safety in skiing and other winter sports, the group was granted a congressional charter under Title 36 of the United States Code in 1980. The National Ski Patrol was founded in 1938 in Stowe, Vermont , when the president of the National Ski Association, Roger Langley convinced the founder and leader of the Mt. Mansfield Ski Patrol, Charles Minot Dole , to form a national ski patrol. Dole
775-534: The same responsibilities as the rest of the patrol, after meeting the same standard in each skill category as other patrollers. The Fédération internationale des patrouilles de ski (FIPS) is the international organisation representing ski patrol and associated ski safety organisations with membership from throughout the world. These patrol and safety organisations comprise full-time and volunteer ski patrollers, doctors, lawyers, engineers, technicians, ski equipment instructors, and ski area managers, who are involved in
806-642: The ski patroller and the search and rescue personnel, the NSP offers avalanche education to the general public. NSP avalanche education courses are based on curriculum developed in conjunction with the American Avalanche Association. Developed to improve safety of non-patroller outdoor enthusiasts, the mountain travel and rescue program emphasizes skills necessary to survive in the wilderness These skills include nutrition, wilderness physiology, weather patterns, survival skills, group dynamics, navigation, and basic search and rescue skills. This program
837-473: The slopes by the red jackets they wear, marked by a white cross on the chest and a larger one on the back, or by the older style of blue and rust colored parkas with yellow crosses. The levels of the National Ski Patrol are There are also levels of personal achievement given to a Ski Patroller who goes beyond the call of duty is awarded the Yellow Merit Star . The highest Honor of the National Ski Patrol
868-576: The train for transportation to Montreal for medical care. Many photos of the original patrol in Quebec were turned over to the CSPS in the late 90s for their archives. The family tradition continued when both Harold's daughter-in-law and grandson were members of the CSPS in Ontario and Alberta. By 2004, the Canadian Ski Patrol had 5,000 members across Canada. The CSP is composed of nine geographic divisions, each further divided into zones. The largest zone
899-571: The world's largest winter rescue organization. The NSP's 26,500 paid and volunteer members serve on over 600 patrols. It is important to note that in conjunction with the development of the Nation's First Volunteer Ski Patrol at Stowe, Cannon Mountain, in Franconia NH, had developed the Nation's first Professional Ski Patrol, also in 1938. The NSP is composed of 10 geographic divisions plus a single division for all paid patrollers. Members are recognized on
930-539: Was about helping mountainside injuries to regular ski enthusiasts—not racers. The National Ski Patrol in USA was founded in 1938 by the NSP's first chairman, Charles Minot Dole . "Minnie," as he was known, decided that a "service and safety" organization was in order after he hurt himself skiing at Stowe, Vermont and had trouble evacuating himself from the slope. He created the Mount Mansfield Ski Patrol for
961-483: Was convinced of the need for a national ski rescue organization due to both the loss of a friend due to injuries suffered in a ski related accident the year prior and an on slope accident in which he himself was seriously injured. With Roger Langley 's assistance, Charles Minot Dole organized and formed the National Ski Patrol Committee of the National Ski Association. The resulting organization became