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 Zeke Pease, Former Safety Manager, Windham Mountain | Dec 18, 2024 | Division News, Spotlight Articles
This past spring Windham Mountain hosted a group of first responders from the surrounding emergency response agencies for an Active Attack Integrated Response training (AAIR). The course was put on by the Greene County Sheriff’s Office instructors and is considered the national standard by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) for active shooter response training. The AAIR training was developed through the Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training (ALERRT) Center at Texas State University.

AAIR training is centered around the interagency response to an active shooter event. The main goals are to build awareness and partnerships across agencies and disciplines. If a major event occurs, all the responsible agencies could respond as a cohesive unit with an understanding of each other’s roles and responsibilities.
Beyond the unfortunate fact that these sorts of events are something that needs to be prepared for, hosting an AAIR training holds benefits beyond response to active shooters by bringing together all the agencies that would be involved in any mass casualty event. In the case of Windham Mountain, in addition to the ski patrol and security, we had representatives from the county dispatch center, three police departments, two ambulance companies, and two fire departments who all service the area.
This training was initiated through conversations with our local Sheriff’s Training Sergeant while working together to set up active shooter training for the mountain staff. From those conversations, we identified an opportunity for multiple agencies that typically only interact while on an emergency call to come together proactively, strengthen their ties, and gain operational understanding across disciplines. Hosting this training at the resort created added benefits as all who participated gained additional awareness of Windham Mountain’s facilities, layouts, and capabilities and established professional partnerships before an incident occurred.
I would encourage any organization interested in similar training to reach out to their local, regional, or state law enforcement agencies and inquire about AAIR or similar interagency training to host at their location.
Zeke Pease
Patrol Supervisor at Hunter Mountain
Former Safety Manager & Pro Patroller at Windham Mountain
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 Dave McCoy, Snowbound Program Advisor | Nov 18, 2024 | Division News, Ski Industry News
As 50,000 winter sports enthusiasts stepped into the Boston Convention Center this weekend they were eagerly greeted by top ski and snowboard brands, big winter sports personalities, representatives from ski areas around the globe, and most importantly, the National Ski Patrol’s Eastern Division.
This year our booth was strategically located near the indoor ski hill and adjacent to the main stage where celebs including Catie Zeliff, Dan Egan, Hannay Kearney, and even Donny Pelletier, Maine’s Finest Athlete, entertained the crowds. Over the three days “America’s Coolest First Responders” handed out hundreds of fun items and met face-to-face with snow fans young and old. We also had a fun engaging video playing all day this year with added features on patrolling at Pat’s Peak, Saddleback, and the future patrollers at Sunday River’s Gould Academy.
30 volunteer patrollers in our 20×20 display booth with bright, colorful images and messaging met thousands of people from the East Coast and far beyond, making a positive, memorable, first-hand impression that cannot be bought. People interested in learning more left us their contact information so we can reach out after the show. A rough estimate puts us at a fourfold increase over last year in people signing up for more information on patrolling. That is great news and aligns nicely with the National Ski Patrol’s prime objective.
Every year Snowbound Expo is a powerful opportunity for the Eastern Division to connect with skiers and snowboarders of all ages positively, letting them know what Ski Patrol is all about. The attendance numbers keep growing and the show keeps getting bigger, clear signs that winter sports are strong and healthy.
A huge THANK YOU to all the patrollers from Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Connecticut, New York, Pennsylvania, and of course Massachusetts who helped us this weekend. You made an epic first impression that will pay us all back. Thanks to Nick Rasher and his team at Blue Hills for building, transporting, setting up, and dismantling the booth. Also, a special shout out to Frey Aarnio, Dallas Coffman, and Kathy Fitzpatrick for donating the fun swag. Everything came together in an epic NSP Eastern Division team effort that every patroller can take pride in.
See you next year!
by John Brown, ICISF Peer Counselor | Oct 14, 2024 | Spotlight Articles
It’s Thursday morning a little after 9 AM with eight patrollers at Patrol Headquarters on top of the mountain. Opening work is done, and the lifts have been cleared by patrol for the public. The patrollers at PHQ are getting coffee, a morning snack, and making small talk. I, a senior member of the patrol say “I heard you guys had a tough one the other day.”
A couple of days earlier, the patrol received a call for a skier off the side of a trail. On arrival, the size up resulted in a request for additional patrollers, a loaded toboggan, and ropes and rescue equipment, all which arrived within several minutes.
The skier had gone off trail, down the side, and struck and gone over a snowmaking pipe. He was conscious and alert but injured and could not self-extricate. The toboggan was belayed and lifted over the pipe. The skier was packaged and a route of travel was chosen that would rejoin the trail further downslope.
Once the extrication was complete, the skier was transported to First Aid Base followed by fire department ambulance transport to an area hospital. There were six patrollers involved including the patroller sitting in dispatch which operates from PHQ.
After mentioning the incident and waiting for the initial silent period, a characteristic following a serious incident, I commented “Heard the skier was in a tough spot, but you guys put together a good plan and although you had to belay the sled to him then lug it out a different way, things went slick.” Finding some positivity in a situation is key to enabling an active discussion.
From this point forward, each patroller who participated in the incident spoke of what was done and how well they worked together. I was able to guide the discussion by asking questions such as “Is there anything else you needed? Is there something you would have done differently? Or did it weigh on you after it was over?”
In the course of the patrollers sharing their stories, I was able to recognize a job well done as I assessed any need for follow-up conversations. There was no follow-up necessary, but the call was talked about throughout the day and, in fact, even lent itself to be a learning experience; difficult calls can occur on not so difficult terrain. This was a novice trail.
This story is indicative of the good use of a peer-to-peer support system, something we, the division’s PSAT, strive to achieve as we promote patroller wellness. While there are other important and often necessary ways to address critical incidents including debriefing by CISM providers, peer-to-peer support, which is not counseling or debriefing, is a helpful step patrols can offer through sensitive listening, positive feedback, and meaningful social support, all significant factors in helping to reduce stress injury.
The division’s PSAT believes in the strength of peer-to-peer support and supports developing this program division-wide so we will truly become “patrollers helping patrollers.”
If you’d like to learn more about the Stress Awareness Program, please contact Melinda Mingus, MD, Eastern Division Safety Team and Patroller Stress Awareness Advisor by email at patrollerstress@easterndivisionnsp.org or phone 646-522-1451.
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!
by Melinda Mingus, Patroller Stress Awareness Advisor | Oct 27, 2023 | Division News, Program News
Melinda Mingus, MD, Eastern Division Patroller Stress Awareness Advisor
The Patroller Stress Awareness Team (PSAT), led by Melinda Mingus, MD, is a team of highly dedicated and experienced professionals, including those in healthcare and mental health. Working together with the Safety and Medical programs, PSAT also collaborates with the NSP Wellness Task Force to help develop a national initiative on patroller well-being.
Our mission is to provide and promote continuous physical, mental, and emotional well-being for our patrollers, candidates, and staff and to support the NSP Statement of Intent on Well-Being: “National Ski Patrol is committed to creating and supporting a culture of wellness, safety, and resilience for all our members and those whom we serve. Honoring NSP core values, we will provide our community with the awareness, leadership, guidance, education, and resources needed to help ensure their emotional and mental well-being.”
We continuously research, develop, and deliver educational resources, including videos, PowerPoints, posters, wallet cards, and more – available under the Resources tab at NSPeast.ORG website.
At no cost, we provide an essential patroller stress education course, Stress Injury Preparation for Patrollers (SIPP), at patrollerschool.org. Produced and written by Ollie Neith, it upskills participants on what they need to know about the potential for stress injury, how to prepare for it, and what to do to help mitigate its impact.
Contact Melinda Mingus for more information and resources. The ED PSA Program is made by patrollers, for patrollers. We Support Patrollers.
by Ollie Neith, MSW | Oct 26, 2023 | Division News, Program News
I still wake up from time to time wondering what’s happened to John. He probably doesn’t remember me, but I’ll never forget him and that night while sweeping the mountain 17 years ago when I found him in the trees off the side of the trail.
He was wedged like a folded multi-tool between two trees, unresponsive, with very shallow breathing and a barely detectable pulse. I called in to send everything to my location and to put the helicopter on standby.
It still replays in my mind: I hear Mark, the second patroller on the scene, saying, “I can’t get his jaw open,” and I remember saying we’d need to pull him out from between the trees. I remember vividly telling Sam to try to maintain c-spine stability as we did so. But most of the rest of the entire rescue is missing from my memory. I have since learned that such partial memory is not uncommon. It’s like a movie that’s been chopped up into 15-second segments with only some saved and the rest thrown away.
That night and for days after, I replayed the rescue in my head whether I wanted to or not. I didn’t sleep through the night and was edgy and distracted.
Worst of all, I didn’t understand what was wrong with me and why this was happening to me. It was only after a Critical Incident Stress Debriefing that I began to understand that nothing was wrong with me, that what I was experiencing was to be expected given the traumatizing nature of John’s rescue.
I wasn’t ready for John. I wasn’t prepared. As a result, I was blindsided and overwhelmed by the thoughts and emotions that followed.
I have since learned that many patrollers have had similar experiences and have memories of their own that haunt them to one degree or another. Indeed, as patrollers, all of us have been or will eventually be exposed to rescues that are especially complicated, life-threatening, objectively traumatic, or that stick with us long after the “all clear” has been sounded.
Rescue events like these are potentially traumatizing for us, meaning that they can challenge, compromise, and sometimes overwhelm our capacity to cope and function effectively.
When this happens, a stress injury is sustained. Stress injuries can be mild and transitory or profound and long-lasting and can be aggravated by stressful life circumstances. They may result from exposure to a traumatic event or multiple exposures over time.
Stress injuries are characterized by common, predictable, and, most of all, normal post-event reactions—feelings, thoughts, and behaviors that we usually don’t experience in our day-to-day lives.
And while any of us can get hurt, all of us can get better, especially when we understand how stress injuries are formed and, more importantly, when we have the knowledge and tools to help us navigate the aftermath of a particularly bad scene.
That night in the woods with John is what started me on my mission to ensure that patrollers are not blindsided but instead are ready for rescues like John.
To that end, I’ve created a new course, “Stress Injury Preparation for Patrollers,” for the members of the Eastern Division.
It aims to enable ski patrollers to better understand stress injury—its MOI, signs and symptoms, formation, and mitigation—and thereby be better prepared to help themselves and their fellow patrollers respond to recover from exposure to on-the-hill trauma.
I encourage you to check the new online course called “Stress Injury Preparation for Patrollers.” It can be found on the front page of the Division’s educational event website known as PatrollerSchool.ORG.
The author, Ollie Neith, is a Northern Vermont Alumni Patroller. In 2018, he founded the Camelback Ski Patrol “Disruptive Event Response Team” (DERT) to combat stress injury after living through his episodes. Successes learned from the Camelback team contributed to the creation of a Stress Awareness Team for the entire division and helped peak interest at NSP and several other divisions.