Ski Patrol Essay

Ski patrols work in some of the most dangerous conditions faced by first responders. Not only do they face precarious snow conditions en route to emergencies; but they also must carry all their equipment on their backs and perform rescues in below freezing temperatures. Some patrollers are also trained to rescue individual’s off chairlifts if necessary. On top of the already difficult job of rescuing injured skiers, patrollers also monitor trail conditions, and provide skiers with opportunities to learn more about the sport. Due to these varied skills, I have always thought of these men and women as tough and frightening. However, upon visiting the Ski Patrol hut at the top of Buttermilk mountain, my opinion has completely changed. The Buttermilk …show more content…
Patrollers face many uncontrollable variables that can make rescues extremely challenging. In an article from the Journal of Emergency Nursing, it is discussed that many of these variables are environmental (Bourg, P, et al.). High elevations, subzero temperatures, powder, and even terrain challenges such as moguls, rocks, and trees, can greatly impact how a ski patrol handles an emergency. Bourg et al. also remark that, “Many of the ski patrol hosts joke that ‘once you get to the patient, half the battle is over.’” (Bourg, P, et al.). On mountain emergencies often occur in highly dangerous terrain; due to this, patrol members must often place themselves in danger to respond to an emergency and extract patients from these locations. The environment also patient management at the site of an accident. Ski patrols often face the difficulty of perform initial triage in temperatures cold enough to make clothing removal impractical, or even temperature that freeze necessary equipment (Bourg, P, et al.). Many of these circumstances are unavoidable; however, there have been questions regarding to whether these happenings cause patrols to make mistakes which lead to injuries becoming more severe than they were, or even go