Welcome 2008 WMSP Candidates

This page contains information that may be helpful to you in preparing for your first season as Candidate Patrollers with the West Mountain Ski Patrol.  You are encouraged to check back here frequently over the summer and early fall for updated information.  You will also get periodic e-mails with information or just a reminder to visit the web site.  Some of the information below is also in the "Frequently Asked Questions" (FAQ) area.

• Calendar

• Being a Candidate Patroller

• Patroller Candidate Program

Calendar

The training and other event calendar has not been finalized for the 2007-2008 season.  However, below are some general guidelines: 

Being a Candidate Patroller

Q:    What do I wear as a Candidate Patroller?
A:    You should wear suitable clothing for the conditions in which you will be skiing.  Generally, insulated wind-proof jacket and snow pants, insulating layers, gloves, helmet or hat, and goggles.  When responding to a patient, be sure to identify yourself as a patroller since your clothing does not immediately identify you.  You cannot wear a patrol jacket (red coat, white crosses) until you are a member.  

Q:    Do I wear a ski patroller's belt or pack?
A:    Yes.  Upon successful completion of the Outdoor Emergency Care (OEC) course, you have the training to perform first aid and can respond to accidents.  You cannot transport patients until being signed off on your Ski & Toboggan (S&T) skills.  A list of recommended equipment is in the OEC textbook.  General suggestions for equipment are also in the WMSP FAQ.

Q:    Do I have a radio when I'm patrolling as a candidate?
A:    Generally, candidates carry a radio unless a patroller needs it.  This sometimes happens on weekend days when there are more patrollers on duty, so there are fewer radios available for the candidates.  You may be asked to provide your radio to a patroller that does not have one.

Q:    Does it cost anything to be a ski patroller?
A:    Candidate patrollers are required to pay for the CPR and OEC courses, annual dues, and must provide their own clothing, equipment and transportation.  The National Ski Patrol is a not-for-profit organization, so many of the expenses incurred in the course of their patrol activities may be deductible.

Please see the WMSP FAQ for more information on being a patroller. 

Patroller Candidate Program

Below is a description of the various commitments to becoming a patroller at West Mountain.

Candidate Program - OUTDOOR EMERGENCY CARE

This sequenced, competency-based education program prepares candidate patrollers and other outdoor rescuers without previous first aid or EMT training to handle the emergency care problems encountered in a non-urban setting. The knowledge and skills learned are oriented toward the wilderness environment, with special emphasis on ski and snowboard injuries, high-altitude and cold-weather illness, wilderness extrications, and the special equipment needed for emergency care and transportation in the outdoor environment. Students are required to participate in comprehensive lessons with skill and scenario application; complete various workbook exercises; take a final written exam; and demonstrate their skills and knowledge in final scenarios. Challenge students are required to demonstrate all skill performances and complete the same final written exam and practical scenario evaluation as course students.

Prerequisite: None

Challenge prerequisite: Current license in medicine (MD, DO), nurse, physician assistant, any level of EMT or paramedic in accordance with US DOT curriculum; previous OEC certification provided the expired OEC certification date has not exceeded three years; or other certifications as approved by the national medical director or the national Outdoor Emergency Care Program director, based upon and after submission and review of appropriate curriculum materials.

Course time commitment: To master the objectives, a candidate typically needs to devote 80 to 100 hours of class and study time to the course. The West Mountain Candidate program runs the first week in September to the last week in November, two nights per week (3 hours/night) to be determined in August of each year. It is required that you read the chapters prior to the night they will be discussed in class.  This is equivalent to a college level course and requires studying and commitment.

Challenge time commitment: Will vary with the candidate’s emergency care background, specialty, and experience. Credential: NSP Certificate of Achievement; OEC card (valid for three years) Continuing education/refresher requirement: Annual OEC refresher consisting of 1/3 of the total curriculum (skill competency is verified by instructor of record) Required texts: • Outdoor Emergency Care (#544) • OEC Student Workbook (#545) Helpful Site to Visit - http://www.oeczone.com/ Check out the chapter pretests to study for your test, Interactivities, Vocabulary Explorer, etc… Lots of interactive tools to help you study the material! Email the West Mountain Candidate Program Coordinator to receive further information regarding start date for the course or to challenge the OEC course at

Strong intermediate skiing skills are required for this course. If you want to become a patroller and your skiing skills are not the strongest, you can be an auxiliary patroller whereby you do not transport patients but, can administer first aid. In doing so, it gives you time to work on your skiing skills over the course of one or several seasons as needed to obtain your S & T Certification. 

Tune your skiing skills

In the first season as a candidate or challenge patroller with your patrol, you will perfect your ski in skills to ‘tune up’ for toboggan training in:

• Snowplow and side slip – with consistent speed control and with proper technique 

• Short, medium and long radius carved turns 

Training using a toboggan

• Responding to an accident with an empty sled 

• Approaching and arriving at an accident 

• Loading of a sled 

• Transport to base loaded 

• Return of the sled to the top sled shack 

Equipment carry

• bamboo

• drill

• shovel

• other patrol equipment (trail signs, rope, supplies, etc.)

Radio communication

Protocols in regards to operating a toboggan and transporting and use of equipment

By the end of your first season, your Patrol Director and S & T instructor will sign you off on an individual basis when you are ready to transport the public with a toboggan. 

Take initiative and ask your S & T Instructor what you can work on, on your own. The core of pulling a toboggan is speed control using snowplow and side slip techniques. Working on transitions is always something any patroller can refresh and improve.

Each year after you complete the S & T Certification, at West Mountain, we have you run a toboggan and get signed off at the beginning of each season just to get the rust off.