In Case of an Emergency

Given all of the injuries that have been happening lately and the sheer multitude of “Doctor NS” threads popping up on all topics from concussions to ACL tears, I think it’s necessary to offer a bit of direction on what to do in case of an emergency on the slopes.

There are three categories I’m going to cover. I’m not going to tell you what to do if your friend inflicts a spinal injury upon himself. I’m not going to give you instructions on CPR or First Aid. But I will tell you how to prevent injuries, take precautions, and receive training on the aforementioned. This thread will simply be a collection of things to know in case of an emergency on the mountain.

Preventing Injuries

I cannot stress enough the fact that prevention is the number one way to guard against injuries and to protect yourself. Progression is key in any sport, but pushing yourself too hard is also an issue. As you are no doubt aware, the NSAA produces a preventative program for ski resorts to use in and around terrain parks called “Smart Style.” I think many seasoned veterans either ignore or simply don’t pay attention to signage and rules, as if they don’t apply to them. Don’t make this mistake; anyone can get injured in a park or anywhere else on the mountain—at any time, under any circumstances. Period. They may sound stupid, but they’ll keep you skiing uninjured.

Stuff to Know

1. Know your Limits and ability level and select the appropriate Freestyle Terrain for you.

2. Your condition, speed, balance, body movements, alignment, trajectory and maneuver difficulty will DIRECTLY AFFECT YOUR DESIRED OUTCOME.

3. Know the intended use of the Freestyle Terrain you have chosen.

4. BE AWARE that features change constantly due to snow conditions, weather, usage, grooming and time of day.

5. Read and obey all posted signs, instructions and warnings before using Freestyle Terrain.

Smart Style

1. MAKE A PLAN
2. LOOK BEFORE YOU LEAP
3. EASY STYLE IT
4. RESPECT GETS RESPECT

Again, these things sound second-nature and obvious, but keep them in mind; they might just help you prevent an injury and keep you on the hill.

General Tips

Know the Responsibility Code. Again, it might sound second-nature and stupid, but it will help prevent injuries, problems, etc. If nothing else it will help you to avoid getting stopped by patrol.

•Always stay in control, and be able to stop or avoid other people or objects.
•People ahead of you have the right of way. It is your responsibility to avoid them.
•You must not stop where you obstruct a trail, or are not visible from above.
•Whenever starting downhill or merging into a trail, look uphill and yield to others.
•Always use devices to help prevent runaway equipment.
•Observe all posted signs and warnings. Keep off closed trails and out of closed areas.
•Prior to using any lift, you must have the knowledge and ability to load, ride and unload safely.

Wear A Helmet. Millions of skiers worldwide choose to go without a helmet. The resounding question: Why? Why put yourself at risk? Wear a helmet—don’t risk it.

That’s really all there is to know in terms of preventing injuries. The main thing is to know your limits. Progression is good. Injuries are bad.

Taking Precautions

1. Use an ICE Contact. One of the systems that’s really growing in popularity right now is ICE functionality in cell phones. The idea is that you put a contact in your phone labeled “ICE.” In it, you put pertinent medical information, emergency contacts, and other info. Many cell phones have this function built-in. If you have an iPhone, there are numerous apps available to serve this function on the App Store.

2. Carry Pertinent Medical Information. Keep pertinent medical information such as emergency contacts, allergies, your name, and other info with you at all times. And I don’t mean just in your phone; you want to have two copies with you whenever you’re skiing.

3. Know Your Ski Patrol. Program your ski patrol’s dispatch line into your phone. Put it on speed dial or favorites for easy access. If you visit a new resort, put that patrol dispatch number in your phone. Many resorts also have a dispatch line on Motorola’s line of TalkAbout radios.

4. Communication is Key. Carry a cell phone. Keep it fully charged. If you don’t carry a cell phone (who doesn’t?), consider a Motorola TalkAbout radio. Even for resort skiing, these offer an impressive range (32+ miles) and excellent feature set.

Train/Prepare Yourself

One of the best ways to prevent injury is to learn about them and what to do in the event of an emergency. You can do this through cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and automated external defibrillator (AED) training. You can do this through first aid training and outdoor emergency care (OEC) classes. One of the most important things to learn about is tree well and deep snow safety.

Tree Well/Deep Snow Safety
(courtesy: treewelldeepsnowsafety.com)

A tree well is the hole or depression that forms around the base of a tree. Evergreen trees (fir, hemlock, etc) can have large, deep tree wells that form when low hanging branches prohibit snow from filling in and consolidating around the base of the tree. These holes are hidden from view by the tree's low hanging branches.

ALWAYS SKI WITH A PARTNER

Always stay in visual contact so that they can see you if you fall. Visual contact (See photos # 1-3) means stopping and watching your partner descend at all times, then proceeding downhill while he or she watches you at all times. It does NO GOOD if your partner is waiting for you in lift line while you are riding down.

Stay close enough to either pull or dig you out. If you have any question about what "close enough" to assist someone in a tree well is, hold your breath while you are reading this. The amount of time before you need air may be how much time your partner has to pull or dig you out of danger. Other factors such as creating an air pocket or the position you fall in, may affect this critical timeframe.

Remember, if you lose visual contact with your partner you could lose your friend. It is important to know that most people who have died in deep snow or tree well accidents had been skiing or riding with "partners" at the time of their accident. Unfortunately, none of these partners were in visual contact so they were not able to be of help in a timely manner.

There have also been many cases WHERE PARTNERS HAVE RESCUED SOMEONE in a tree well or deep snow accident and SAVED THEIR LIFE!

First Aid/CPR/AED

I am not going to give instructions on CPR/AED/First Aid. That would be idiocy. I will, however, give you information on where to take the class, prerequisites, etc.

The national standard for CPR/AED/First Aid education is Red Cross CPR/AED for the Professional Rescuer. CPR/AED for the Professional Rescuer teaches students to respond to breathing and cardiac emergencies in adults, children and infants, use an AED on an adult or child victim of cardiac arrest and use personal protective equipment to stop bloodborne pathogens and other diseases from spreading.

For more information on this course, visit the Red Cross’ website at:

http://www.redcross.org/portal/site/en/menuitem.53fabf6cc033f17a2b1ecfbf43181aa0/?vgnextoid=42eebd7df52bb110VgnVCM10000089f0870aRCRD&currPage=ae14bd7df52bb110VgnVCM10000089f0870aRCRD

Outdoor Emergency Care (OEC)/Outdoor First Care

Outdoor Emergency Care® is the NSP’s award-winning training program for patrollers and others in the recreation community who deal with emergency situations. This nationally recognized program is designed to help you manage the toughest emergencies, in all seasons. Developed in the late 1980s for the 26,000 members of the National Ski Patrol, Outdoor Emergency Care is a training program that is tailored to the nonurban rescuer.

More information: http://www.nsp.org/EduPrograms/emergencycare.aspx

Outdoor First Care is a first aid training program designed for ski area personnel and other outdoor recreation groups who may encounter medical emergencies before the ski patrol or other response team arrives. Based on Outdoor Emergency Care concepts, this course introduces basic assessment skills to help the non-patroller determine appropriate support for patients with a life-threatening illness or injury.

More information: http://www.nsp.org/EduPrograms/firstcare.aspx

That’s basically what you need to know. I’d like to see this thread turn into a conglomeration of safety tips, but I don’t want to see instructions on CPR/AED/First Aid, etc. It’s a legal issue and it’s a moral issue. There’s simply no substitute to taking a class. So that’s what I expect to come out of this thread: safety tips and increased knowledge on what you need to do to take a First Aid/CPR/AED or OEC class.