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Patrol

Association, American Red Cross, American Safety and patroller does, which may lead to the person taking an
Health Institute, Emergency Care and Safety Institute, OEC course and becoming a full-fledged OEC technician
National Safety Council, and Medic First Aid. and patroller. This is a clever way for some areas to recruit
future patrollers.
OUTDOOR FIRST CARE & NSP Because of the short length of the OFC course, there is
MOUNTAIN HOSTS no refresher, and the OFC credential is valid for two years.

The NSP has recognized that some resorts have developed After two years the entire course is retaken with no addi-
“Mountain Host” programs. Hosts are ski area helpers who tional course cost to the host. The annual community CPR/
provide an important individualized touch for the resort, AED refresher is always required. Mountain hosts are associ-
assisting guests with directions, crowd control, and other ate members of the NSP, pay annual dues, and receive NSP
resort activities. These are usually volunteer personnel who membership benefits.
can be a tremendous help to ski patrollers, but they are not a
replacement for a patroller. Hosts who are on the mountain THE FUTURE
may find a sick or injured patron first and then immediately The National Ski Patrol has formulated plans for the next
summon the ski patrol to the scene. OEC course and the next edition of the Outdoor Emergency
To support Mountain Host programs at ski areas, the Care text. The NSP Board has determined that the OEC sys-
NSP developed Outdoor First Care (OFC), a basic first aid tem will remain the “gold standard” for a patroller. The cre-
course designed specifically for these individuals and the dential will still be transferrable among resorts in all states.
types of duties they perform. OFC consists of an on-line As the NSP reviews, revises, improves, and consol-
part that takes three to four hours, followed by a day with idates the next OEC textbook, we will continue to use
hands-on activities. During this day, local resort protocols evidence-based medicine. The text still will have vital infor-
may be included as well. mation for all patrollers, from candidates to seasoned
This OFC course teaches the host how to commu- professionals.
nicate with a sick or injured patron, find out what is The NSP Board has already chosen a book publisher and
wrong, then contact ski patrol and assist a patroller if has selected the primary editor and medical editor for the
needed. If an immediate life-threatening problem is seen, next edition. Once again, Ed McNamara will be the editor,
the host can provide first aid care, using his or her CPR/ and I will serve as the medical editor. Both of us have expe-
AED training. rience authoring and editing the Fifth Edition of OEC. We
It is important to remember that OFC Mountain Host are in the process of putting together an exceptional team of
personnel do not replace patrollers during regular opera- doctors, reviewers, editors, and other personnel to complete
tional hours. At my ski area, Mountain Hosts are a wel- the totally volunteer project. The goal is to make the course
come sight at an accident helping with traffic control and and text more user friendly. In that regard, we will make
similar logistics. Also, they are a welcome extra set of “first available an electronic text.
aid” trained hands to assist the responding patroller. Some The editors of the next OEC textbook are committed to
hosts have shadowed patrollers, finding they like what a giving ski patrollers access to a medical education that will
continue to provide ski area guests with high quality care,
while at the same time addressing the wide-ranging needs of
different ski areas.
The National Ski Patrol will continue to work
in conjunction with the National Ski Areas FUTURE OEC COURSE
Association and other associations and One of the important issues that NSP is currently
stakeholders to provide patrollers trained in addressing is the next OEC curriculum and course for
the Outdoor Emergency Care Program who candidate patrollers. As explained in part one of this
care for sick and injured guests at ski areas. article, this course will be designed with the new patroller
in mind, addressing the key issues that are required to
All have the same goal: to provide excellent
make a well-educated patroller.
on-the-hill Outdoor Emergency Care for the
Four-season medical problems will still be taught. As
skiing public. more and more resorts offer non-winter season activities, it
is important to cover this material. Again, students in OEC

66 | NSAA JOURNAL | EARLY WINTER 2017