EMT-B and Ski Patrol?

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It's lunchtime and I've gotten in 20 ski runs up here in VT. I wish I could ski more often but, man $72 per ticket really ads up.

It probably varies a lot by state and by ski mountain but in general are there opportunities to ski for free if you volunteer for the ski patrol? I've checked the website for a couple of mountains but didn't get a definitive answer. I would probably need NREMT because I'm from MA but I ski in VT. Are there other certifications that are mandatory?
 
Ski Patrol has their own course, Outdoor Emergency Care (OEC). If you have your EMT, you can challenge the exam, but it does include more specialized elements that you might find on a ski slope or mountain, rather than on the street in an ambulance.

My understanding, though this may vary depending on where you are, is that you ski for free at the mountain you work at, but if you are skiing, you are "on duty" if something happens near you. That's what a ski patroller friend of mine told me when I asked him the question about skiing for free, at least. :)
 
I know a lot of people who ski patrol in western MA. They don't much care about EMT or NREMT, but will put you through a course at the beginning of the season (it is much EMT/FR esque skills), but also includes evacuation skills, etc.
Find a patroller at the mountain you are skiing, and ask. Stop by their Aid room and get more information, as it tends to vary by mountain.
 
As far as I know, out here in CO, most Patrollers are paid, EMT-B or higher and often have OEC or WEMT. Some resorts have medics.
 
Most places you'd be working as a patroller if you are an EMT/patroller. That means checking trails, fixing tower pads etc. They people who get to just ski around and only deal with injuries are usually medics and . Not all places will let you challenge the OEC, some want you to do the course.

The reason to do patrol is because you want to patrol, not for free skiing. If you are tired of the $72 lift tickets you should look into season passes.
 
The easiest way is to stop in the patrol room and ask. Each area has different requirements. For our area, I have taught Outdoor Emergency Care (OEC) to the gamut of no-first-aid knowledge to physicians. We recently had a couple of OEC patrollers transfer to another state and they were required to become EMT-B.

Since you are in Vermont, you may want to look at these websites to get more information. They are for each of the two NSP regions in Vermont.
http://www.nspnvt.org/
http://www.nspsvt.org/

Compare what each patrol offers in return. For example, our area requires patrollers to ski in uniform at all times, therefore they are always 'on duty'. In return, they can ski any time they want. Their family (wife and children)ski free. If they are single, they get 10 discounted day passes to share with friends. It can be hard work but it can be rewarding also. I started over 20 years ago because I was skiing multiple days per week and wanted to 'ski free'. Now they pay me to do it!
 
Around here EMT is not required. As mentioned earlier the OEC class or similar is the standard. Patrollers at smaller resorts are typically volunteer positions, and can ski for free all the time provided they work a few shifts a month.
 
I heard ski patrol get all the chicks :)
 
CAOX3 said:
I heard ski patrol get all the chicks :)
Click to expand...

A man walks into a ski bar and ask for a beer.

Bartender: "Sure! That'll be 10 cents!"
Man: "10 cents? That's awesome! Give me a pitcher!"
Bartender: "Sure thing!"
Man: "Wait, if beer is so cheap, why are those scruffy guys not drinking anything?"
Bartender: "They are ski patrollers. They are waiting for happy hour."
 
I thought that I would add my $.02 worth.

It does vary greatly depending on the resort. Generally you will see "Paid/Pro" patrols, volunteer patrols, or a combination of both. More often than not, the paid patrols require EMT-B certification where the volunteer patrols associatated with the NSP require the OEC.

Keep in mind, most volunteer patrols have a minimum shift requirement you have to maintain.

Good Luck!
 
wyoskibum said:
I thought that I would add my $.02 worth.

It does vary greatly depending on the resort. Generally you will see "Paid/Pro" patrols, volunteer patrols, or a combination of both. More often than not, the paid patrols require EMT-B certification where the volunteer patrols associatated with the NSP require the OEC.

Keep in mind, most volunteer patrols have a minimum shift requirement you have to maintain.

Good Luck!
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