A ski patrol is an organization that provides first aid and rescue services to skiers and participants of other snow sports, either at a ski area or in a backcountry setting. Patrollers are trained with the first aid necessary to stabilize and transport casualties to advanced care, often as EMT-B's or the National Ski Patrol's equivalent Outdoor Emergency Care (OEC) certification. Patrollers can also be EMT-I's or paramedics. Due to the remote location and terrain, transportation is often limited to toboggan, snowmobile and helicopter. Patrollers are often well versed in avalanche search and rescue and other specialized techniques (e.g., chairlift evacuation, helicopter rappelling). Patrols work to promote ski safety, enforce area policies (where applicable), and help injured skiers when necessary. Ski patrollers also work to set up the mountain for before it opens by conducting trail checks 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.

Contrary to the name's implications, ski patrollers can be snowboarders in addition to alpine, telemark, or nordic skiers. Many patrols also have non-skiing positions whereby patrollers no longer able to ski or lacking the skiing skills to handle toboggans can still provide emergency care in a first aid room. Some ski areas also have a junior ski patrol program where teenagers can work as a ski patrol without full duties and without medical training.

National Ski Patrol

The National Ski Patrol (NSP) is the patrol governing body for the United States and some portions of Europe. The organization 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 and had trouble evacuating himself from the slope. One of the few federally chartered not-for-profit organizations in the U.S., the NSP has since become the world's largest winter rescue organization. The NSP's 28,000 paid and volunteer members serve on over 600 patrols.

The NSP is composed of 10 geographic divisions plus a single division for all paid patrollers. Members are recognized on the slopes by the red jackets they wear marked by a white cross on the chest and a larger one on the back.

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.

See also

• Lifeguard (similar service)
• Mountain rescue
• Wilderness first aid
• Emergency medical technician

Exterior Links

• Australian Ski Patrol Association
• British Association of Ski Patrollers
• Canadian Ski Patrol System
• Swiss Ski Patrol
• (US) National Ski Patrol