TERRACE — They’ re am-
‘bulance attendants, rescuers,
tand direction-givers all rolled
into one,

» And if you're a beginning

Skier, chances are someday

“you a be looking for the blue.

-and-gold uniforms of the Cana-

‘dian Ski Patro! for help.

* With Shames Mountain how

“up and running, ski patrol shifts

are on the mountain at all times

On the busy weekends and holi-

‘day season,

Barry Franzmann, Canadian
5ki Patrol zone president and a
full-time local ambulanice atten-
dant, said the organization has
“32 local volunteers patrolling
the slopes at Shames, ;

They’re divided into three
shifts of seven weekend patrols,
with the remaining patrollers
‘Floaters’? who aren't schedul-
ed for specific times.

Another 10 or so patrollers

. from Prince Rupert’s Mount

Hayes organization are to pitch

in with ‘the Shames patrol

duties.

The system is designed to
have 10 patrollers on the hill at
all times during the peak
weekend periods and statutory
holidays, Franzmann said.
There are also three “pro
patrollers’? hired by Shames
that are on staff there.

The patrollers are supplied
with season passes, but the ski

‘patrol isn’! simply about free
- skiing.

Franzmann said the patrollers

had to buy equipment, -the

patrollers learn basic” on-hill

first aid, accident management,

rescue toboggan handling; and

lift evacuation techniques.’
“When we first got the book,

it seemed like so much — like.

we'd never get through it all,”
said patroller Mike Christensen,
Their duties include the final

sweep of the runs.at the end of -

the day, to make sure nobody is
stuck somewhere on the moun-
tain. Radio ‘communication
means the patrollers should be
able to quickly respond to
reports of injured skiers.
“We see. lots of minor: in-
juries — ankle twists and
sprains and broken’ thumbs

right. up to broken. legs,”” he.

said, ‘‘but the majority of the
stuff is fairly minor.”

And although Franzmann
said the patrol isn’t specifically
responsible for scenarios like
carrying out a search for a miss-
ing skier in an out-of-bounds
area, it’s certain they would be
involved, “If somebody does
get lost, we'll be out there.’’

Because the ski patrol is often

the most visible group .

associated with the ski hill’s
operation on the mountain, he
said the patrollers had to learn
some basic public. relations
skills to act as liaisons between

the general public and Shames ;

management. po

. patrols trademark blue-and- Age

gold jackets, and go through an: :

intensive training course on first. ~

_aid and emergency procedures..° ©

“We're trained in just about
every initial on-the-scene ski
'_ emergency procedure,’’ he said.

The patrol. started getting.

fs organized more than three MON: a
” ths ago,he said. They're‘ niade'

up.of.sa mix of experienced

-patrollers from: Rinstitkaluni’ ©"

and rookies learning the pro- -

cedures for the first time,

“There isn’t any one.type of

" person who is a ski patroller,”’

Franzmann said. ‘‘We’ve got:
office workers, housewives, you ‘
name it. It’s 4 real wide range of :

people that are out there to help
out.”’

The only requirements, he
said, were that the patrollers be

at least 18 years old, fairly com- -

petent skiers, and willing to

learn the necessary first aid ©

skills.
The 30-hour two-night-a-
week course saw the new

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