Superior Zone Online
A Day in the life of a Ski Patroller
Who Are We?
The Canadian Ski Patrol System (CSPS) is a national, non-profit, charitable organization providing safety and rescue services in ski areas and at non-skiing events across Canada.
.... Number more than 5000 members coast to coast. .... Are mostly (but not limited to) downhill skiers, telemarkers, snowboarders, and cross country skiers. .... Range from 18 to 80 + years old. .... Are men and women, students and professionals, from all walks of life. .... Give their time to help those in need at ski areas and events all across Canada. .... Provide volunteer first-aid services at many non skiing events through out the summer. .... Work with many other cheritable organizations to provide first-aid services for their events. .... Work closely with all season resorts in providing year round services like mountain bike patrols. A Provincial (WSIB) and Federally (Parks Canada) recognised Wilderness First Aid and Rescue course like no other including… .... patient transport from difficult terrain – wilderness ski areas. .... Chair Lift evacuation procedures. .... Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)
Health Care Provider Level "C" Basic Life Support(Heart and Stroke Association of Canada). .... Automatic External Defibrillator (AED) training. .... Oxygen therapy techniques and basic airway management. .... In mountainous regions prone to avalanche, we teach avalanche specific search and rescue techniques
in conjunction with the CAA (Canadian Avalanche Association). .... Our courses are provided by CSPS certified instructor/trainers and are ski area specific.
.... The CSPS has over fifty years' experience in working for the prevention of injuries and the application of first aid in cases of injury or sudden illness.
.... Deals from the ski areas where we patrol, e.g.
complimentary lift pass when on patrol. .... Exchange programs and visitation privileges between local, provincial, national and international patrols and organizations. .... Local and national discounts on ski equipment and supplies. .... Belonging to an organization where you can have lots of fun, make lifelong friendships
and feel great about helping someone in need. August: Recruiting, for us, is a year-long adventure but it really comes to a head in August as we start thinking about the ski season. September/October/November/December: During the fall, we do first aid training (40 hours for new patrollers) or annual re-certification (20 hours for returning patrollers) and testing. December/January: At the beginning of the season, you will complete your on-snow training and certification as a new patroller (16 hours minimum)
or re-certification as a returning patroller (every three years) where you’ll learn and practice toboggan handling, backboard loading techniques and lift evacuation procedures. December to March/April: Get out and use those skills you gained during the fall training period. A day in the life appears below…check it out to see what you’ll be up to! April/May/June Those great folks who provided your first aid training last fall are now very busy doing their Instructor Certification and re-certifications. If you are interested in becoming an Assistant Instructor, this is when you can expect to take a course in your area. May/June/July/August The first aid kits in many locations are still pretty busy. During the summer months, we provide first aid services at many local non-skiing events
including marathons, bike races, fundraising events, sporting tournaments and so on. Check what events are supported in your area through your local CSPS contacts! August/September: The cycle begins again with a new patrolling season… 08:30 - Morning Sweep Check toboggan caches, trauma kits, oxygen tanks... Make first tracks on the runs while checking for any hazardous conditions or items that need to be addressed... Allow the general public to partake in the fresh powder on the slopes. 08:30 – 12:00 - On Patrol Once the slopes are open to the public we can ski in small groups of patrollers, with friends, other clients or even with our family if we wish to. We socialize with ski area clientele, promote our ski area and provide safety tips to customers while we ride the lifts and ski the runs at our area. This puts the “ski” in ski patrolling! 12:00 - 13:00 Although everyone won’t be able to eat at the same time, you will get a break for some sustenance. Skiing and bringing toboggans down the hill make folks pretty hungry and you’ll need to take advantage of this break to recharge your batteries with some food! 13:00 – Closing - Still on Patrol Accidents can happen throughout the day they seem to be most prominent after lunch through to closing time. It’s almost like car accidents that statistically happen closest to home; skiing accidents tend to happen closest to “going home”. When snow sport enthusiasts get injured somewhere in the area, we are the people they count on. We work in teams to immobilize any injury they may sustain
and safely move the injured person to the Patrol hut at the bottom of the mountain.
Depending on the severity of their injuries, they will then be released or sent for further medical attention. That’s not all though…during the day we provide many other services too…we reassure children that may be lost, helping them to find their parents; we guide people to runs they are capable of skiing and we provide many tidbits of information to the public. Wearing a Ski Patrol uniform means we should know and represent out ski area well and be able to answer lots of queries, not just provide accident assistance. Helping people is the most gratifying part of being a patroller. Closing - End of Day Sweep We take the last run down each trail to make sure that no one is left behind at the end of the day. During this “sweep” of the hill, we also take note of any safety issues that may have arisen during the day that will require correction prior to opening the slopes the following day. The Ski Patrol is first on and last off the hill! Q. I already have a first aid certification. Do I have to take the CSPS first aid course? A. Yes, our training is very specific and applies to providing services to in adverse environments (i.e. slippery ski slopes). Even experienced medical professionals take our course.
Our training is to a higher level than a regular first-aid course, partly because we are trained to move patients. We include Level "C" - Health Care Provider training; with Oxygen therapy, AED procedures, and airway management. Q. What level of skier/snowboarder should I be to become a patroller? A. You need to be a strong intermediate skier. Since you may ski or ride in all kinds of conditions under any circumstance, you must be able to competently handle all of the runs on the mountain where you will patrol. You don’t need to be an expert, but you will need to be able to handle a toboggan, and meet the minimum rating set out by the local Patrol at the particular area you wish to patrol. Ski and snowboard instruction is often available at preferred rates to the local Patrol. Q. Are there paid patrolling jobs offered? A. The CSPS provides a volunteer service and as such our members are not paid. The local ski areas in Thunder Bay hire "pro" patrollers (CSPS trained patrollers) for the Monday - Friday day and night shifts. Advise your local patrol leader that you have the time to be a paid patroller and apply with at the resort. Q. Are patrollers legally protected for their actions as a patroller? A. Yes, the CSPS carries a general insurance policy. You are also covered by the Good Samaritan Act. Q. How are ski patrollers recognized at a ski area? A. Most of the time we are the skiers wearing the blue and yellow jackets with the yellow cross over a blue Maple Leaf on the back. Q. Is CSPS training recognized by other organizations? A. Yes, the province of Ontario (WSIB) approved our course as one of their first aid trainers for Regulation 1101. Other Provinces in Canada have similiar legislation. Parks Canada has approved the CSPS training as Outoor / Wilderness First responder status for their Park Rangers.
Be sure to show your employer your CSPS identification card. Q. Can I take the CSPS first aid course without becoming a ski patroller? A. In most regions, yes. We offer a first-aid only membership classification for patrol hut duty. In some areas of the country we provide first aid services
for many non skiing events and first-aiders are always welcomed in these roles. Q. I am a snow boarder, can I be a patroller even if I have never skied? A. Yes, we accept Snow Boarders, Telemark, Cross Country and even Alpine skiers. We have lots of patrols in Nordic ski areas. In alpine areas, we also accept snow blades, but we strongly suggest you ski or snowboard to make toboggan handling easier. Q. Is it hard to transport a patient in a toboggan? A. No, we have 100 pound patrollers that can handle a 150 pound toboggan with a 250 pound patient in it. We teach you how to do it and with a little practice it will become something fun, you'll see. Q. Is there a minimum age for patrollers? A. Yes. You must be at least 18 years old when you obtain your Training Certification, i.e. when you have met the first-aid and on-hill/on-trail requirements and are awarded your jacket. Q. Can I choose the club/resort where I will patrol?
A. Your preference for the area you would like to patrol is recorded when you sign in to join the patrol (see below). In most cases, this is honoured. You may be asked to patrol a nearby area within your zone depending on numbers in the zone's patrols. You must register and submit your fees before the first class in mid October to participate in training. Patroller Registration is $200. Rookie fees include first First Aid Kit, Manual CD and learning package. Superior Zone of the CSPS provides jackets to our patrollers for use on a season by season basis. At registration time, a deposit of $150.00 ( post dated cheque) will be collected from patrol candidates and will be returned at the end of the ski season when the patroller jacket is returned to the Zone. The training calendar is currently being developed for fall 2009. Classes begin at the end of September and are held two evenings per week, Mondays and Wednesdays, from 7-10 pm for approximately 6 weeks Part of your training includes a level "C" CPR certfication. Any patrol recruit that produces certification at this level dated after May 01, 2009 may be excused from this training day. CSPS Ski Patrollers recertify in First Aid and BLS techniques on an annual basis.
Our Volunteers:Our Strengths:Our Volunteers Benefit Through:Okay! I have enough information, how do I join the CSPS?
Sign up here so we can contact you, or look around the site some more,if only to confirm that this is going to be the best ski season ever.
Pre - Register now .
What Do We Do ?
A Year in the Life of a CSPS PatrollerA Day in the Life of a CSPS PatrollerFrequently Asked QuestionsWhat is my next step in joining the CSPS?
Feel free to look around the site for a while,check out the links to the ski areas and our partners.
Pre-register here and more information will be forwarded to you this summer.
Cost and Time Comittments100% ATTENDANCE OF THE COURSE AND FIELDS DAY
IS ENCOURAGED TO ENSURE SUCCESS.
