by Kathy Fitzpatrick, Safety Supervior | Dec 18, 2024 | Division News, Spotlight Articles
50-year veteran Ski Patroller Joe Kulina and his wife Marianna, a Mountain Ambassador
The Eastern Division Safety Team strives to bring safety awareness to the mountain. This is exactly what it did at the Killington World Cup from November 29-December 1 to a crowd of over 39,000!
Our energetic team successfully delivered important messages while ensuring guests had fun throughout the festival. All were invited to “step right up and meet the Eastern Division Safety Team of the National Ski Patrol!”
Our amazing game hosts engaged each guest by asking a patrol question with an emphasis on safety. Once answered correctly, the patron spun the wheel to win a prize. Kids of all ages (questions were based on age and medical background) wanted to spin the wheel and walk away with ski patrol swag.
The Safety booth attracted those who wanted to share their stories about rescues from the patrol including those who served on the patrol or had a family member who did. It was also a hit with current patrollers, OEC candidates, and race coaches. Most importantly, it was a great place for potential candidates to ask questions and make connections about joining.
The festival had amazing fireworks on Friday night, but our team felt like those fireworks happened all weekend. We were embraced by the Killington patrol and supported by every staff member at Killington at this well-organized and inspiring event!
NSP East loves making an impact at preventing accidents and reducing injury with messaging and amusements. Much gratitude to those who supported us!
by Kathy Fitzpatrick, Safety Supervior | Dec 18, 2024 | Division News, Spotlight Articles
The Eastern Division Safety Team would like to bring your attention to a new safety initiative called Take-A-Break & RECHARGE. It was created by Safety Team members Jesse Remmey (NVT) and Eric Talbot (CT).
Take-A-Break addresses the importance of recognizing fatigue and its relationship to preventing accidents. The committee kicked off this initiative after reading an article citing a 5-year study in New Zealand by ACC Statistics, an evidence-based research company emphasizing prevention. It revealed that most injuries occur in late morning and mid-afternoon citing tiredness and congestion on the trails as the main cause.
“Statistics indicated people were tired after a big morning of runs and needed to take a break to prevent injuries,” according to ACC injury prevention leader James Whitaker. Physiology Professor Robert Mazzeo believes that “Fatigue is one of the primary causes of falls, which are the major cause of injuries.”
We want the public to Take-A-Break. To rest and rehydrate, especially late morning and mid-afternoon, when many accidents occur. Go in and warm up when temperatures drop. Learn not to push your body to take that last run if you are tired. Take breaks to avoid fatigue, rest your body, and regain energy. It sounds like a simple act, but using this practice routinely could have a big impact on injury avoidance.
Recognizing your whole body’s energy level is key to this initiative. Educate others about how fatigue is related to increased injury. Are we getting tired, hungry, or cold? Are we making mistakes as we ski or ride? Parents should pay close attention to how well their child is performing or listening on the mountain. If your little one is beginning to fall, get cold, express hunger, voice opposition, or is unusually quiet, it is likely time to give them a break.
People who ski in groups should learn to recognize how they feel and take the break they need and deserve rather than stay out to keep up with a group that may have more tolerance or less self-awareness.
As patrollers, it’s important to know our energy level especially when pulling a double shift. Don’t take risks with fatigue. Take-A-Break when you are tired and encourage your fellow patrollers and customers to do the same if you notice they are tired or stressed.
When you respond to an incident that does not require transport or a higher level of care, such as when an individual simply needs help getting up from a fall or assistance getting down a challenging trail, encourage them to take a break and go inside. Even better, ask if your area will offer patrollers coupons to share for a free hot chocolate to encourage such behavior.
Take-A-Break is great advice on the mountain and in life!
by Kathy Fitzpatrick, Safety Supervior | Jan 13, 2024 | Spotlight Articles
Children love our Safety Team tent and our stickers, but what they seem to enjoy most is being engaged and challenged about the sport they love. Whether it is skiing or snowboarding, it’s not hard to sense how much they take pride in learning and knowing the safety practices that go along with the sport.
At a recent safety event, the children engaged in creating a safety chain. They each took a long, rectangular, precut paper and were asked to write advice for being safe while skiing or riding. They eagerly and creatively went to work. Each completed paper was stapled around in a circle linking with the circle before it thus creating a chain. They had produced their own Know the Code and had fun listening, reading, and learning from one another.
There are so many creative activities to enable young skiers and riders to
reinforce safety and teach them to be more responsible and more confident on the mountain. The impact we have as patrollers to leave an impression with children regarding safety is important and something these same children later in life may pull out of their tool box when pressured by friends to go faster or not sit back on a lift and use the safety bar.
All patrollers are part of the Safety Team. “Safety First” extends beyond scene size up during incidents to our everyday life especially when we don our patrol jackets and encounter our youngest mountain patrons. The next time you greet children in the liftline, on the slope, or in the lodge, ask them what they did to be safe while skiing or boarding today. Perhaps they attended a Safety event, and they will be proud to tell you!
