National Ski Patrol

The National Ski Patrol (NSP) is the largest winter rescue organization in the world. It was founded in 1938^[1] by Charles Minot Dole, at the urging of Roger Langley. It is composed of more than 26,000 members serving over 600 ski patrols^[2] including volunteer, paid, alpine, snowboard and Nordic patrollers throughout the United States and certain military areas in Europe.

The group holds a congressional charter under Title 36 of the United States Code.

History

The National Ski Patrol has worked closely with other countries in outdoor emergency care education, and has assisted in establishing ski patrol organizations in Canada, Korea, New Zealand, Israel, Turkey, Argentina and Chile, as well as the Victorian Rescue Service in Australia. The NSP was organized and directed by Dole as a committee of the National Ski Association (now the United States Ski Association). Through his efforts as the first national director of the NSP, the organization spread its effects and esprit de corps across the nation.^{[citation needed]} Upon his retirement in 1950, Dole had built the NSP into an organization of 300 ski patrols and 4,000 members.^{[citation needed]} During World War II, Dole was responsible for the establishment of the famed 10th Mountain Division of the US Army.^{[citation needed]} Applicants for this remarkable military unit, which saw much of its fighting activity in Italy, were screened by the NSP.^{[citation needed]} Many individuals who were responsible for the establishment of many ski areas in the US served in the 10th Mountain Division, and have contributed significantly to the sport.^{[citation needed]}

Organization

The NSP is composed of 10 geographic and one professional division for paid patrollers. The NSP develops and delivers numerous educational programs for its members, including the award-winning Outdoor Emergency Care program. Under the auspices and control of mountain resort management, the organization's members engage in patrol activity on the slopes and in the promotion of safety programs across the mountain recreation community. Safe skiing and snowboarding attitudes are offered to the public continuously in a sincere effort to reduce accidents and make mountain sports more enjoyable.^{[citation needed]} Many lives have been saved as a result of patrolling activity.

The National Ski Patrol is a nonprofit organization, deriving its primary financial support from membership dues, donations, user fees and corporate sponsorship. The national office is located in Lakewood, Colorado, and is staffed with full-time employees to handle administrative duties.^{[citation needed]}

Ski Patroller with rescue toboggan in tow

Collaboration with other programs

The NSP, in addition to its own ski safety programs, works closely with the United States Ski Team, National Ski Area Association, Ski Industries America, Professional Ski Instructors of America, US Ski Writers Association, US Forest Service, National Park Service, and other organizations and agencies in the promotion of skiing and ski safety. Movies, television, radio, brochures, lectures and ski area signage all devoted to ski safety have either been initiated by the NSP or cooperatively produced.^{[citation needed]}

Recognition as Federal Charter

In 1980, the National Ski Patrol was recognized as a Federal Charter by the United States Congress.^{[citation needed]} This is a coveted endorsement that only a few other American institutions, like the Red Cross, the YMCA, and the Boy Scouts of America, have earned.^{[citation needed]} The Charter stipulates the promotion of safety and health in skiing and other outdoor winter recreational activities. The NSP annually reports directly to Congress.

Merits, Awards and Ranking

The skill levels of the Ski Patrollers are 1.Auxiliary 2.Patroller (Basic) 3.Senior 4.Certified. Service levels of Leadership Commendation Award (for those who are basic patrollers) and National Appointment (for those who are seniors or certified) are awarded to patrollers who give much of their time in service to the local, regional, divisional and national organizations. There are also personal achievement awards given to a Ski Patroller who goes beyond the call of duty: Gold, Silver, Blue, Green, Yellow, and Purple Merit Stars.^[3] The highest Honor of the National Ski Patrol is the Purple merit star, this is awarded for saving a life.

The NSP today

The usefulness, stature and position of the National Ski Patrol had been attained through the devoted efforts of thousands of ski patrollers, some of whom have become involved in other phases of the sport. The NSP is continually growing and improving, offering many invaluable services to area management as well as to the public to include summertime activities such as mountain biking.^{[citation needed]}

Today, the primary mission of the National Ski Patrol is educational. It is a professional organization much the same as the AMA is for doctors. Local, day to day activities by individual patrollers at individual ski areas are under the supervision of the local area management.^{[citation needed]}

The National Ski Patrol's education system includes Outdoor Emergency Care (OEC), Outdoor Emergency Transportation, Avalanche training, and Mountain Travel and Rescue. Outdoor Emergency Care training is almost equivalent to basic EMT training. Differences are that OEC emphasizes trauma over medical emergencies and spends more time on extrication in natural and wilderness situations especially in cold weather while EMT training emphasizes medical emergencies over trauma and deals more with motor vehicle accidents.^{[citation needed][4]}

External links

• National Ski Patrol
• Eastern Division - NSP
• The Eastern Massachusetts & Rhode Island (EMARI) Region
• Loon Mountain Ski Patrol
• A History of the National Ski Patrol

References

1. ^ http://www.trskipatrol.org/national-ski-patrol
2. ^ "NSP Background and Evaluation". http://www.nsp.org/1/nsp/About_NSP/History.asp. Retrieved 13 January 2009. ^{[dead link]}
3. ^ http://www.d.umn.edu/~nspscdwr/awarddesc.htm
4. ^ http://www.nsp.org/EduPrograms/emergencycare.aspx