Semper Paratus

[RossiSkier]

At Killington on Friday, an unscrupulous skier knocked over a 21 year old young lady, and kept going. He hit her hard enough to push her weight out over her left leg and she popped her knee. I found her mangled on the bottom of a trail on Ramshead, shreiking in pain. Ahead of me I saw many persons pass her before I got to her. I removed her skis, stablized her and radioed Ski Patrol. It all took about 30 minutes. S.P. took her away on a snowmobile and stretcher sled.

I was taken aback by how many people went by her without stopping before I reached her. But several people stopped afterward to offer their cell phone to call for help. It rained cell phones after that.

Doesn't Ski Patol ski and patol anymore? You used to see the guys with the red jackets with the white crosses on the back everywhere. You don't see them much anymore. I know they're out there somewhere. Probally chasing FTrain around the closed double diamonds. If this young lady had to wait for a patroller, she would have waited a long time.

Killington is so vast and crowded that S.P. depends on the skiers to call in what they've seen. The amount of persons skiing with cell phones is mind boggling. At least 1 in 5 if I had to guess.

If you have a cell with you when you ski, its a good idea to have Ski Patrol's emergency number with you.

Killington 802-422-1243 (1AID)
:beer:

 

[riverc0il]

on mountains that i usually ski (cannon, magic, burke, etc), it's not unusual to have a whole bunch of people ask you if you're okay on a minor fall that caused no pain what so ever. when i went down at cannon yesterday, before i could hike for my pre-released ski, someone was already signaling that they would grab it for me and ski it down. i've done the same on numerous occasions. i'm convinced that although good people ski at all mountains (yourself as a prime example and bravo for your efforts in helping), a different type of person is generally attracted to different types of mountains and you find a higher percentage of good samaritans type skiers at the non-corporate ski areas.

most ski patrol is volunteer, so if numbers of patrol are down it's likely fewer people volunteering i'd guess. i was at cannon yesterday and road up with a patroler and was amazed at the communications these guys had. seemed like all patrolers were radioing in their locations and being given instructions on which trails to go down to check out the mountain..

 

[BrockVond]

If you have a cell with you when you ski, its a good idea to have Ski Patrol's emergency number with you.

Killington 802-422-1243 (1AID)
:beer:

Excellent idea.

 

[teachski]

As RC said, most patrollers are volunteer.

It's getting harder and harder to get volunteers for this. The course to become a patroller is extensive. It's more, I would say, than a basic EMT course.

There is an initial charge for the course and materials that the Volunteer has to pay. After that, there are annual dues. While these are not outrageous, they are still there. You pay to volunteer.

There is also the issue of liability. In this sue happy society we now live in this is also another hugh consideration. Patrollers should have a Homestead Policy for their property. NSP has a policy that covers members as well.

Back in the day, a National Ski Patrol status would allow you to ski free at most every other area(professional courtesy). Today, there are a handful of areas that still do that, other give a $5 voucher for visiting patrollers. There used to also be family benifits (at the home area) for patrollers on duty. These have been reduced, or have disappeared at some areas.

Patrolling is a huge responsibility. There is a fairly large time committment as well. In this busy world we now live in, it is sometimes difficult to find people able to commit this amount of time. (training and actual patrolling)

I am currently trying to recruit people to take the ski patrol class and become members of the patrol at my little local area. Many of the comments I get are in regard to the time committment for the course. It has been difficult to get people to sign up. If you are interested and are willing to patrol as a volunteer at a small area in Central MA, please let me know. I need some responsible volunteers that are willing to take a course.

 

[tirolerpeter]

Helping People

The people I ski with and I NEVER pass a fallen skier without inquiring as to their situation. Unless the event occurs as I pass someone at speed as they go down I ALWAYS help individuals with retrieving lost gear. Even then, I pull up and call uphill to check on them. It is a sad comment on our society, both in terms of personal callousness and "fear of getting involved" that persons in need of assistance are consciously ignored. Beyond skiing incidents, I have come upon any number of road accidents over the years and have always stopped to assist. On two occasions, the assistance I was able to render was crucial in a victim's survival, and in a third, I was able to prevent additional injury to a trapped driver until more help arrive. Nearly 40 years ago my parents were hit head on by a drunk driver at about midnight on a major two land state road. There were two mangled vehicles, the scene was soaked in fuel, the drunk was trapped, and my mother was unconscious in the right front passenger seat. My father, who was also badly hurt, said that over the next five minutes at least 4 or 5 cars passed the scene without stopping. Fortunately, an assistant volunteer fire chief (their backyard neighbor as it turned out) was passing the scene and both assisted and (on his radio) called for help. So, this "non-involvement" phenomenon is not as new as we might think. I don't know the reason for it, nor the solution to it, but I won't look away.

 

[KingM]

I've found that people are very helpful at least in this neck of the woods. Just the other day I had what was no more than a skid out as I popped through a big drift of untracked snow and a guy was skiing over to ask if I was alright (big splash of snow, probably looked like a major wipe-out) but I was back up again before he could ask and he just gave me a grin and a wave and continued downhill.

I wonder if at a place like Killington that's so crowded if people just assume that there are so many people that they're sure you'll get help from someone else.

As for the incident in question, someone should find that guy who hit the girl and kick his butt. What a jerk to level someone like that and never even stop.

 

[BrockVond]

Re: Helping People

It is a sad comment on our society, both in terms of personal callousness and "fear of getting involved" that persons in need of assistance are consciously ignored. Beyond skiing incidents, I have come upon any number of road accidents over the years and have always stopped to assist.

Yup. When I read your post it reminded me of this thread:

http://www.killingtonzone.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=2324&start=0&postdays=0&postorder=asc

When I originally read this I shook my head in disbelief and thought to myself, "Hope I never have to rely on this guy to stop on the slopes at K if I'm down and hurt and he passes by.