| The National Ski Patrol (NSP) was founded in 1938 to promote ski safety and to assist and rescue injured skiers. In 1980 the United States Congress granted the NSP a federal charter "to promote patriotic, scientific, educational and civic improvement activities, including public safety in skiing and to form local patrols, consisting of competent skiers trained in the administration of Primary Emergency Care, for the prevention of accidents and rapid assistance of skiers sustaining accidents." The NSP is now 24,000 members strong, mostly volunteers. NSP is divided into 12 divisions, ten throughout the United States, one in the Far East, and one in Europe. The European Division is further divided into nine patrols, of which the Heidelberg Ski Patrol is one. The other European patrols are Augsburg, Frankfurt, Garmisch, Oberbayern, Ramstein, Stuttgart, Vicenza and Wuerzberg. National Ski Patrollers receive extensive training in outdoor emergency care, first-aid and CPR as well as in evacuation procedures, tobogganing and skiing. Senior Patrollers receive advanced training in emergency care, triage and toboggan skills, and focus on skiing in difficult terrain and adverse conditions. Many patrollers choose to further enhance their skills with avalanche and mountaineering training. The European Division now offers basic and senior level training for nordic skiers and for snowboarders too! If you are interested in becoming a National Ski Patroller, look for us at the HISC meetings or contact Lisa Smith at 06203- 61573 or 370-9461 or Mike Pangman at 06201-507168 or 370-6388. |
| On most of the HISC trips there will be at least one ski patroller. Your ski patroller will introduce him- or herself on the bus trip down and give a short ski safety briefing. The rust and navy parka with the gold cross on the back is a good clue. But the dead giveaway is the big navy pack or waist belt. Crammed into that pack is a mini MASH unit, only without the medicine. So, if you hurt yourself or just need a Band-Aid or sunscreen... just ask! |
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