STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES U.S. SKI PATROL –ASIA

As of:  11/19/2001

PURPOSE

The U.S. Ski Patrol – Asia (USSPA) consists of National Ski Patrollers and is organized and dedicated to the service of the English speaking patrons at ski areas in the Republic of Korea (ROK).  This service includes but is not limited to providing ski areas with English speaking volunteer ski patrollers who are trainined and equipped to NSP standards to render competent first-aid and rescue services to US Forces Korea (USFK), English speaking personnel, and their dependents.  USSPA provides a volunteer augmentation to the local Korean professional ski patrollers and assists in providing first-aid and rescue service to any other patron on an as required basis.  USSPA promotes ski safety and a suitable educational program for accident prevention for USFK skiers.  In government agencies and other organizations in winter sports activities.

1.  REPORTS

     a.  An accident report form will be filled out anytime a National Ski Patroller renders emergency care of any kind.

     b.  The accident report form must be filled out completely and accurately, and the Hill Captain will review and sign the form for the end of each day.

     c.  If you assist a Korean Patroller with an accident, fill in as much information as possible.

     d.  The Hill Captain is responsible for completing and providing a copy of the Hill Captains report to all active patrollers within 5 days.  This is critical in case of any problems that occurred on the slope and documentation is required.  It also assists in tracking who patrolled that particular day and any information that other patrollers need to be aware of.

2.  ACCIDENT SITE PROTOCOL

     a.  The first patroller on the scene is fully in charge and responsible unless the patroller specifically requests that another patroller take charge.

     b.  Discussion of care, techniques, or suggestions should be made in private, out of the hearing of the injured skier and all members of the skiing public.  AT NO TIME WILL PATROLLERS ARGUE IN PUBLIC.

     c.  No discussion of accident details maybe conducted over a radio, unless a life threatening situation requires immediate coordination.

     d.  All but one radio at the accident site should be turned off.

     e.  All requests for equipment from a patroller are to be fulfilled without question or discussion.

     f.  Only the number of patrollers specifically needed to handle and manage the accident site are to remain on site.  All other patrollers should continue on with their assigned routes after asking if they are needed.

     g.  All Korean injuries should be treated by the first patroller on site if possible.  If you are unable to communicate with the injured skier, request a Korean patroller, and allow him to assume control.  Also, turn over control to a Korean patroller if he requests.

     h.  Request a Korean patroller to transport an injured Korean if possible.  If you treat a Korean, do not allow transportation until the injured party is stabilized for transport, or at the bottom of the hill if we transport.

     i.  If the Korean patrol is treating a English speaking foreigner, the first National Patroller on the site will assume control if the patient requests assistance, the patient is unconscious, or the Korean patroller is not following standard first-aid procedures.

3.  AMBULANCE/MEDIVAC

     a.  Requests for an ambulance or medivac will be directed to the hill captain.

     b.  If an English speaking foreigner is to be transported to a Korean hospital, a patroller will ride with the patient if there is a possibility of the condition changing to life threatening or if the foreigner is by him or herself.

     c.  The following conditions will exist before a medivac is called:

          (1)  Loss of life or limb condition.

          (2)  Any open broken bones.

          (3)  Open wounds to the chest or abdomen.

          (4)  Any arterial bleeding.

          (5)  Suspected head, neck, or spine injury in an unconscious patient.

          (6)  Known head trauma, neck or spine injury.

          (7)  Suspected heart attack.

     d.  If the hill captain determines one of these conditions exist, use the following procedures to request Medivac assistance.

          (1)  Calling for Medivac:

               (a)  YONGPYONG:  031-690-6680/87 

               (b)  MUJU:  Call 053-470-4227/4861

          (2)  State number of patients by precedence:

               (a)  Urgent – Evacuate within two hours.

               (b)  Urgent – Surgical – Must receive surgical care to stabilize before evac.

               (c)  Routine – Evacuate within four hours.

          (3)  State any special equipment needed, i.e. Hoist, AED, etc.

          (4)  State number of patients by Type, i.e. litter.

          (5)  State number and types of injuries/illnesses.

          (6)  State method of marking pickup site.

          (7)  State patient nationality and status.

          (8)  State terrain description.

     e.  A patroller may volunteer his or her POV to be used to transport patients to the dispensary with injuries which are not life threatening, but will require advanced care within several hours, i.e. broken arms, legs, fingers, illness, etc.  The hill captain will coordinate the use of the vehicle to evacuate a person in this manner.

4.  DAILY CHECK-IN REQUIREMENTS

     a.  All National Ski Patrollers and Auxiliaries must inform the scheduled hill captain if he or she can not make a scheduled patrol day prior to the weekend.

     b.  Report to the Patrol room NLT 08:00 on the day you are scheduled to patrol.  If you report later than 08:30, the hill captain has the right to assign you the afternoon shift only, receive only a half day credit for skiing.  PLEASE BE ON TIME.

     c.  The hill captain will take roll cal, fill out the hill report, issue radios, and give hill assignments after consulting with the Korean hill captain each morning.  The hill captain will also ensure that there are at least two patrollers to make the final sweep and close.

     d.  All patrollers must be in uniform, ready to ski and ready to join the Korean patrollers in daily warm-up exercises each morning NLT 08:30.

     e.  The hill captain must receive all requests and Korean money in exact change for family member discounts NLT 08:30 each morning.  He or she will present this request to the Resort Patrol Director.  The hill captain or designated representative will issue tickets to the family members.  At no time will the family member wait in the Patrol room for their tickets.

5.  HOURS OF AREA OPERATION

     a.  Patroller shifts.  All day credit 08:30 to 14:30 or 11:00 to closing.  Half day credit 08:30 to 12:30 or 12:30 to closing.

6.  ANNUAL REQUIREMENTS FOR PATROLLERS

     a.  Each member of the National Ski Patrol must patrol a minimum of ten full days (80 hours).  All patrollers should try to obtain the minimum requirements as early in the ski season as possible.  Ski seasons in Korea are often short and could end in mid February.  Three of these days must be on Sundays.

     b.  Each Patroller must complete the annual OEC refresher, CPR for Professional Rescuer course, ski skills refresher and toboggan refresher.

7.  LIFT LINES

     a.  Patrollers will assist resort employees in the safe orderly flow of lift lines.  Patrollers are expected to do this on their own initiative.

     b.  Only patrollers assigned to a particular lift or those going to a duty station or an accident are allowed to cut lift lines.  Patrollers cutting lift lines should attempt to ride with others and assist the lift operators in maximizing occupancy of chairs.

8.  OPENING AND CLOSING RUNS

     a.  All patrollers should take the first available lift to their assigned area, with the AM shift checking the lift and slope conditions on the way up.

     b.  Prior to patrolling the area, check the toboggan and storage area assigned to your area for a backboard, and complete trauma bag.  Take the sled out and set it up by placing the first aid supplies in the toboggan.  Then extend and lock the handles, drop the snow brake and place the sled out of the way but easily accessible for quick use.

     c.  On the first run, check for potential dangerous obstacles and report any such findings to the hill captain, who will inform the Korean Ski patrol of the location and type of danger.

     d.  If you are sweeping the hill for the last run, wait at the bottom of the ski lift about 15 minutes prior to the run closing and ride up after the lift is roped off to the public.  If the sled is on your run, find out from the hill captain where to secure it and the first aid supplies.   After the sled is secure, ski down in pairs, never getting in front of skiers, stopping, listening for and checking all off limit areas for skiers.

9.  PUBLIC RELATIONS

Public relations is the responsibility of all patrollers.  National Ski Patrollers work for the management of the ski resort and must extend professional courtesy to all customers and resort employees.  Every effort should be made to assure that the customer has an enjoyable and safe day of skiing.  The continued success of the National Ski Patrol depends on the satisfaction of the resort management and the Korean public.

10.  RADIO PROCEDURES

     a.  The hill captain will determine who will get radios.  It is the patrollers’ responsibility to ensure that the radio is complete and functional before he or she leaves the base area.

     b.  Radios will be worn and ON at all times.  The only exceptions are if the patroller is on break he or she may place the radio nearby well within hearing range and monitored at all times.

     c.  The hill captain will arrange who will take the radios if patrollers are spending the night and to assure the radios are transported to the equipment manager at the end of the each weekend.  The person with the radios will keep the radios charging when not in use and in a dry place.

     d.  At least every 30 minutes all patrollers should perform radio checks.

     e.  Radio use should be limited to official and necessary transmissions only.

     f.  Use the following codes when responding to a situation.

          0 = Skier assistance

          1 = Minor injury, no assistance required

          2 = Minor injury or other situation, assistance required

          3 = Major injury, splints, toboggan and assistance required

          4 = Unconscious patient, possible back, neck or spine injury, toboggan and multiple patrollers required.

          5 = Loss of life or limb type injury, toboggan and maximum number of patrollers required.  You may list specifics about the injury over the radio.

11.  UNIFORMS/PATROL BELTS

     a.  Name tags and a whistle will be worn at all times.

     b.  Ski pants should be black or navy blue only.

     c.  All first aid patrol belts or backpacks should be clean, neat, well organized, and fully stocked, as a minimum, they should contain:

            2          Pair rubber/latex gloves

            4          Triangular bandages

            1          Pocket mask or equivalent  *

                        Assorted sized gauze pads

                        Assorted sized Band-Aids

            1          Pair of scissors (EMT or kitchen type preferred)  *

            1          Knife or multi-tool  *

                        Large and small eye dressings

            5          Large tie wraps for mending fences

            3          4X4 Cover Sponges

            3          3X4 Sterile Pads

            8          21/8X25/8 Large eye pads

            2          4X4 Drain Sponges

            5          Band-Aids

            1          Tape Roll

            2          Elastic wrap 4"

            1          Elastic wrap 6"

            2          Bandage Roll

            1          Sam Splint  *

                        *  Provided by the patroller

12.  PATROL ROOM

      a.  The patrol room is for the Korean Patrollers.  We are guests and will act accordingly.

     b.  Family members and guest are requested to remain out of the patrol room.  Children are allowed when the only parent is present.

      c.  Patrollers remaining over night may use the ski and boot rack in the patrol room.  Boot bags and other articles should be neatly stored on top of wall lockers or in the back room.

13.  TRAINING AND OTHER REQUIREMENTS

     a.  Candidates:  New personnel are considered candidates until he or she successfully completes the OEC course (OEC written final exam and OEC practical exam), CPR, and a test on this SOP and the supported resorts.  Then he or she is an auxiliary patroller.  At this point, the auxiliary must order an NSP jacket.

     b.  Auxiliaries:  Auxiliaries are full members of the Ski Patrol, who because of the category of membership, are limited to specific patrol functions.  Auxiliaries are to be extended the same courtesies and privileges of any other patroller.  Auxiliaries may perform emergency care in the patrol room and on the mountain.  They may not participate in the transporting, loading, or unloading of toboggans, except in supervised situations.  They may not patrol alone.

     c.  Certified Patroller:  To become a Certified Patroller, an auxiliary must successfully complete a ski skills test and toboggan training.  The ski skills test consists of the following:

     1.  Skiing on everything from moderate to difficult terrain on packed slopes.  The candidate is expected to perform the snoplow in the fall line, snowplow turns in the fall line, sideslipping on packed slopes, stem and modified stem and emergency stop maneuvers.

     2.  Free skiing on both packed slopes with the candidate exhibiting stability, continuity, and confidence in the descent.

     3.  Ascending a slope on skis using herringbones, slideslipping, and sidestep climbing, as well as kick turns and traverses.

     4.  An equipment carry run in adverse conditions and on varying terrain.

These tests demonstrate your ability to safely handle yourself, equipment or a toboggan under a variety of conditions.  Toboggan training will be supervised with unloaded and loaded toboggans under a variety of snow conditions and slopes.

14.  PATROL ASSIGNMENTS AND PROCEDURES

     a.  The hill captain will make daily patrol assignments.  If personnel and conditions allow the hill captain should consider dividing the patrollers into two or more groups.  One of these groups will use the bump system where a patroller with a radio is always with the sled.  This bump patroller will be rotated on each run by other members within his group.

     b.  The hill captain may rotate the teams after lunch break if so desired.

15.  CHAIRLIFT EVACUATION

     a.  The operation of ski lifts and the emergency evacuation of passengers is the responsibility of the resort area management.  The participation of the National Ski Patrol is at the request and direction of the area management.

     b.  Requirements.  In order for the U.S. Ski Patrollers to provide assistance during a lift evacuation, the area management should provide the following or equivalent.

          (1)  Lift Evacuation Plan (LEP).  The LEP is a detailed written plan that establishes the approved methods, procedures and equipment to be used in the event of an emergency lift evacuation.

          (2)  Equipment.  Adequate equipment for the evacuation must be available, and it must be inspected and maintained on a regular basis.

          (3)  Training.  Adequate training for all personnel who may be involved in an evacuation must be provided at least yearly.

16.  PRIVILEGES FOR PATROLLERS

     a.  Depending on the resort supported, these are some of the privileges that might be made available. 

          (1)  Free lift access to anyone wearing the NSP jacket.  If you are skiing on a non-scheduled day, check in with the hill captain before skiing to see if your assistance is needed.  If you are not in uniform, you might be able to get the same discounts listed in 2 below.

          (2)  Fifty (50) percent discounts on lift and thirty (30) percent on equipment tickets for family member; up to two per family.

          (3)  Bag lunches for patrollers only when on assigned duty.

          (4)  Ski repair for the patroller skis.

          (5)  Free lodging on Saturday and Sunday nights at a nearby village.  One week advance notice is required for this privilege.  Contact the Patrol Director to make reservations.  Often these are Korean style rooms without beds.  You should bring a sleeping bag and/or air mattress and bottled water.  NOTE:  Once you make a reservation, you must spend the night.  The management at Muju pays for these rooms in advance and does not like to see empty rooms.

17. COORDINATION REQUIREMENTS

a.       Each year the Patrol Secretary will maintain a calendar of days with patroller scheduled patrol days. 

b.      Approximately 72 hours prior to a patrol day, a roster of those patrollers expected to be present will be sent to the particular resort.  Those not on the list may not be allowed to patrol by the resort patrol. 

c.       Do not signup to patrol if you do not plan on working that particular day.  There are emergencies that will prevent us from attending, but making this a regular event may result in not being able to support a particular resort or function.

d.      The senior patroller attending a particular weekend has the responsibility to assist with the coordination of transportation and any lodging that is required.