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Feature Story

National Ski Patrol Opens Ranks to EMTs, WFRs

In a bid to be inclusive and to support ski areas, National Ski Patrol (NSP) is expanding its membership to include working patrollers who have first responder credentials, such as EMTs and wilderness first responders (WFRs). Both groups were allowed to join NSP in the past, but only after achieving certification in NSP’s Outdoor Emergency Care (OEC) course.

ski patrol member with rescue dogFounded in 1938 by Charles Minot Dole, NSP is a federally chartered 501(c)(3) nonprofit education and membership association dedicated to serving the outdoor recreation community, particularly within the ski and snowboard industries. It has since grown to become the largest winter rescue organization in the world. Currently, NSP has more than 30,000 members across 630 patrols. Its ranks include ski and bike patrollers, as well as mountain and bike hosts, alumni, associates, physician partners, and emergency care professionals working to protect the public at ski/snowboard areas and bike parks.

NSP’s outreach to EMTs and WFRs is the brainchild of NSP CEO Stephanie Cox. “NSP has a great history, and I wanted to extend that legacy by being more inclusive,” she said. “I envision NSP to be the organization for all patrollers. My hope is that we provide ski area operators with more options for their patrols and more benefits for their hard-working patrollers, while also expanding the number of ski patrollers available in the U.S. to keep the public safe.”

“By recognizing the substantial training and experience of EMTs and WFRs, NSP aims to expedite their patrol membership nationwide,” Cox said. “This inclusive approach encourages patrols to join the National Ski Patrol through an Associate Patrol membership without requiring OEC certification. With our August 29 [2024] announcement, EMT and WFR credentials bypass the need to take the OEC course to be a member, if ski area managers choose. In the past, if you were not OEC credentialed as a patroller, you were not an NSP member.”

The changes to NSP’s membership rules open up opportunities for EMTs and WFRs alike, whether they are looking for extra employment income or just a reason to spend time on the slopes. “There are paid and volunteer opportunities, depending on the ski area’s needs and the patrol’s hiring structure,” Cox said.

Stephanie Cox
Stephanie Cox, CEO of National Ski Patrol.

At the same time, there is no reason why EMTs and WFRs who join NSP cannot take the OEC course to enhance their existing skills. “We believe there is a great benefit to doing so,” explained Cox. “In the topics it covers, the Outdoor Emergency Care (OEC) course is comparable to a basic EMT course. OEC places less emphasis on urban emergencies but more emphasis on outdoor sports-related trauma, environmental emergencies, and extrication in outdoor environments.”

“We offer the OEC Modified Challenge to people who are already emergency trained and licensed as EMTs or paramedics, but who need their OEC credential at their ski area. While it is not a necessary certification for an EMT- or WFR-credentialed Associate Member, it is the most widely used, as it is fit for purpose for the industry. OEC teaches how to perform safe and effective patient care, stabilization, and extrication of injured persons in outdoor environments.”

“After just announcing this change on August 29, we have received several inquiries from ski areas, as well as from EMT professionals,” she said. “We are thrilled how the industry has responded and supported this move.”

For EMTs and WFRs interested in exploring this NSP opportunity, here’s what they need to know. “Currently, EMTs can join the National Ski Patrol as an Associate Member if they are simply interested in taking courses, but not necessarily patrolling,” Cox said. “To patrol, they must be tied to an active patrol within the ski area. Interested EMTs should visit the National Ski Patrol website at NSP.org, and they can see the steps to apply under ‘Join Us’.”

For EMTs and WFRs wanting to be active NSP ski patrollers in the most expeditious manner, Cox recommends that they take the following four steps:

  1. Locate a patrol and learn about their requirements and needs for Associate Members with EMT/WFR credentials.
  2. Create an account at nsp.org.
  3. Contact your patrol director and wait for them to confirm this step.
  4. Apply for NSP membership.

Article updated Jan. 22, 2024 with this statement from Stephanie Cox, CEO of National Ski Patrol:

"National Ski Patrol (NSP) provides comprehensive medical training necessary for safe and effective care on the slopes, which includes wilderness medicine but also includes other critical emergency education. Upon further legal review, Wilderness First Responders (WFRs) will be required to get Outdoor Emergency Care (OEC) certification, which covers a wider range of emergency medical skills, to become a National Ski Patrol member. While valuable, WFR is not equivalent to OEC certification in terms of comprehensive emergency training.

 

We will reexamine this decision in a few years, to be defined by new research and a successful pilot program."