What exactly does the Ski Patrol do?
The simplest answer to this question comes from the Letters Patent of the Canadian Ski Patrol , which outlines three basic aims and objectives:
1) To assist in the reduction of ski accidents in Canada.
2) To provide remedial and first aid services in the event of ski accidents in Canada.
3) To promote and encourage the standardization of training, equipment and qualifications of ski patrollers in Canada.
The role of the Canadian Ski Patrol
To express the role of a ski patroller in simple terms, one must imagine the activities required to meet the aims and objectives listed above.
Patrollers ensure that the ski trails and surrounding areas are free from danger, monitor the skiing/snowboarding behavior of the general public, operate various safety programs and promote safe skiing/snowboarding both by skiing/snowboarding safely and through interactions with the skiing/snowboarding public.
All patrollers are instructed in the CSP first aid course and in subsequent on-hill/on-snow toboggan training, to be prepared to offer first aid on the ski trail or wherever their help is required. Every year, patrollers are cited for their first aid activities both on and off the ski hills/trails, during the course of all four seasons.
Ski Patrol instructors train members in every facet of first aid and accident site management. All patrollers are also qualified in Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR), through the CSP course.
All ski patrollers taking care of injured persons fill out an accident report form, which helps to provide statistics on ski accidents in Canada. Individual patrols use this information to identify areas that will cut down on accidents. The patrol will make recommendations to the resort, if they feel steps can be taken to eliminate or reduce accidents.
Individual patrollers are responsible for the promotion of safe skiing/snowboarding and for the rescue and transport of the injured. Patrollers accept these obligations to the patrol and to the general public, which generally affects the patroller’s ski experience very little, except for the strict rules that patrollers neither drink while wearing their patrol jackets, nor ski in a style likely to endanger the general public. While the patrol obligations come first, patrollers generally ski in a “stand by” situation and enjoy skiing/snowboarding from the first run of the day, until the lifts close, within a structured program that leaves plenty of room for enjoyment of the sport.
Why patrol?
Most Patrollers are first attracted to the Ski Patrol as a way to participate in a group skiing/snowboarding experience. The offer of free skiing/snowboarding, in exchange for first aid services, is important, and the extensive first aid training equips patrollers for almost any situation they will ever encounter which requires fast and effective first aid.
The spirit of good fun exists within each area’s patrol, with great pride taken in a job well done. Skiers have learned to respect the Canadian Ski Patroller, whose presence at ski areas across Canada is at the invitation of the area operators.
Ski Patrol requirements
Since the duty requirement varies widely by resort, it is difficult to say what your exact requirement will be. Red Deer Zone asks for four to five shifts per month during the season. We also have some bingos/casinos/ski swaps for fundraising.
You may be interested to know that once all your training is complete, your off days can be spent as a visiting patroller at other resorts within our system. There are steps necessary for visiting other resorts. Provided you have made the proper arrangements it should be an eventful day meeting new people.
What’s a Ski Patrol day like?
Great!! On the hill before the lift starts, next, sweep the slopes for dangers before the general public disturbs the fresh. Patrol until break, then back on the slopes and trails, closing the runs at the end of the day.
During the day, the patrollers take care of all accidents as well as incidents and events.
Why we need you
If you are thinking that the Canadian Ski Patrol can get along without you for another year, please think again. Our patrollers are competent and highly trained skiers and boarders, with first aid and CPR qualifications. They are not, however, capable of being everywhere at the same time. Every patrol in the zone will need new recruits for next winter. If you are interested in patrolling, now is the time to step forward and sign up.
You are a skier/rider yourself. How would you feel if you fell on a quiet trail and suffered an injury too severe to allow you to ski to the bottom of the hill?
You’ve always felt safe because the familiar Ski Patrol members were in view, patrolling all the trails. Now it’s your turn to make other skiers feel safe.