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Courtesy National Ski Patrol

snowsports participants who have special medical needs. may need more information on caring for drowning vic-
Blind, deaf, and autistic children are an increasing pres- tims, or people who have ingested a poisonous plant indig-
ence on the slopes. Other patrollers have delivered babies. enous to the region.
Older folks are skiing into their 70s and have unique med- All of these topics are covered in the OEC core curricu-
ical needs. Many areas have daycare centers that care for lum, but depending on the need, more detail can be taught.
infants. Some patrons may have difficulty breathing due The NSP needs to provide a wide education for patrollers,
to altitude illness or other causes and require supplemental as patrollers see different medical conditions, depending on
oxygen. A patroller needs to be able to manage the medical where and when they work.
problems for all these situations, with the knowledge and
kindness needed to help the injured or sick guest and, occa-
sionally, employees. When the final evaluation is given to the OEC
Beyond that, depending on the resort, OEC instruc- technician candidate, questions will come
tors can emphasize certain elements of OEC training from the stated objectives and skills: the core
that other resorts may not find relevant. At a high-alti- information each technician must master.
tude resort in Colorado, for example, OEC instructors
may wish to provide additional information on altitude
illness. At a southwestern ski area where patrollers cover
summer activities, the OEC instructors might want to CPR/AED
expand the discussion on how to care for a scorpion sting All active NSP members must hold a current “Professional-
or a bite from another venomous arachnoid. A ski area in rescuer CPR certification” from an NSP recognized agency
Utah may choose to increase the focus on managing trau- and must demonstrate their CPR skills annually to a cer-
matic asphyxia, which often occurs when an avalanche vic- tified CPR instructor, regardless of the certifying agency’s
tim’s chest is constricted. And a southeastern resort whose requirements or the expiration date of the card. The cur-
patrollers work as white-water raft guides in the summer rently recognized CPR providers are the American Heart