mrs_hammerhead

I don't know how it works where you are, but here it helps to know someone who is already on the ski patrol. Short of that, you should go to your hill and get acquainted with some of the patrollers there. They are your best source of information about how to get started. Ask if they mind if you shadow someone. Unless you are already certified, you will need to take the Outdoor emergency care class. Even those who hold advanced medical certification like paramedics, nurses and doctors are required to certify through this process. There may also be some equipment used on the ski hill that you are not particularly familiar with. Attending class can help you apply the skills you already have to on the hill applications. Depending on your experience/certification and how your division does things, you may be allowed to challenge the course and take the test without attending class. He re's a link to the NSP site that has some course scheduling and availability info: NSP Course Availability After you have your OEC certification, you will spend time on the hill trying to get checked off on your "on the hill" requirements. Your skiing skills will be evaluated, you may be required to attend ski clinics, you will participate in on the hill scenarios, you may receive orientation to the hill, learn hill opening and closing procedures, learning toboggan transport techniques and generally getting acquainted with how your patrol does things. I have learned that how long it takes to get through all of this depends largely on your hill. Some hills are quite informal and others very structured. And there is the politics that I mentioned in a previous post. Generally though, the more often you can be on the hill the quicker you will finish the process. Good Luck![/font:b6e2341eaf]

He's right, the snow is awesome! I'm keeping busy trying to learn all of the stuff I'm supposed to know to be a good little patroller. I've had my hands on several patients - mostly easy stuff. Getting lots of practice removing boots! Learning and re-learning my skiing - lots of people willing to help, but everyone seems to have a different idea of what I need to know and how I need to do it. All good advice, but sometimes a little overwhelming! I will say that I have skied places I never would have tried on my own. It's forcing me to stretch my comfort zone. I would love to hear from other patrollers how candidates are oriented and trained on your hills. Our hill is very informal - nice in some ways a little frustrating in others. Do you have training days for candidates where all are there and skills get checked off? Is it up to the candidates to seek out training at their own pace? Do you have experienced patrollers paired with newbies so they learn all of the ropes? :dontknow: I have a built in mentor with hammerhead there, but have found that my OEC classmates are kind of floundering for lack of direction. And then there's the politics...need I say more? :roll: [/font:cc567f3bef]

Like he said, good snow last weekend with more on the ground this week. Had my first patient - something relatively uncomplicated for me to get started with. A hand caught in a chair lift. A simple splint, elevate and ice. Not sure if it ended up being broken, looked really sore and badly bruised with decreased mobility. Hill Medical advisor ended up being the pt's doctor as well - convenient! Got to try out my new Atomics. Sweeeet! We're headed up again on Friday. Between now and then we get to deal with the 16 year old taking the drive test - oh boy! [/font:0aea92b812]

:santa: Things here are just getting started. Our hill (Lookout Pass at the North Idaho/Montana border) opened last Thursday with about two feet on top and less at the bottom. Lots of stuff still showing. They got a big dump this week though (51 inches) and more on the way this weekend. Paul patrolled for the opening day and he said they had a good turnout with no major accidents. New lift still needs chairs. The other resorts plan to open this weekend. I finished my OEC course first part of November with a 97 on the written (one of the questions I missed even the instructor got wrong???)and I am now looking forward to the on the hill stuff! Wish me luck. We will be going at least once a week to take our oldest up so he can teach snowboarding and so I can get my training in! I can hardly wait to try out the new skis I got at swap! (Thanks hammerhead!) [/font:382df2e969]

[/font:44e7ecce65] I love this topic! I couldn't agree more. My kids are the most amazing people, but that doesn't mean I knew what I was getting into before they got here! A friend sent me this U tube link that I thought was really cute and on the subject. Hope you enjoy it as much as I did!

You are a brave one. We didn't start our two younger ones until they were 6 and 7. I have never worked so hard as I did trying to keep them upright and moving down the hill as I did that first day of skiing. They had a great time though and they are good little skiers now (at almost 10 and 11). My advise is get them some lessons. Group is OK when they are older, but private is better! It was worth the investment and they listen better to someone else! [/font:23733af44d]

[align=justify:2a69ef5314]My hubby has worked EMS with a 24 on 48 off schedule since before we married 20 + years ago. He loves it and because I also did shift work in law enforcement - monthly rotations with different shifts and days off - I understood what I was getting into. It has advantages and disadvantages like any other job. I am a single mom for 24 hours at a time, but our family has never done it any other way, so it isn't an issue. He has a lot more time off with our kids than many parents and that has been great. His alternative schedule also allows him to be more of a help around the house. I now work a more traditional schedule, more or less full time and his help is definitely needed and appreciated. My schedule actually affects our family time more than his does. You really need to plan ahead for the family and for yourselves as a couple. Make dates and plan family time that you both agree won't be interrupted by EMS or anything else. We have to select our vacation times up to a year in advance for his job. I have most of the summer off. We ski as a family in the winter and are both going to be on the ski patrol this year (he goes to my OEC classes with me as time allows - not exactly a date, but time to ourselves at least!) EMS is part of your life, it doesn't mean you can't enjoy the other parts too.[/align:2a69ef5314] [/font:2a69ef5314] :wink:

As the name infers, I am the other half of this duo. I am a ski patrol candidate this year. Kids are finally old enough to do a little skiing on their own, so I decided to push myself a little (more than a little perhaps) and give it a try. Anyway OEC classes for now are a great refresher for my long ago EMT skills. I didn't start skiing until I was 18(we're both a little older than that now) and had a long break while the kids were little. Any other spouses out there?[/font:4f2a2c0014] :love3: