On any given year, the Dartmouth Ski Patrol consists of roughly 10 community patrollers, and 60 student patrollers. All patrollers are members of the National Ski Patrol, and are certified as Outdoor Emergency Care (OEC) Technicians. OEC is based on the standard EMT-Basic Curriculum. Dartmouth Student Patrollers will undergo an average of 200 hours of training before they are qualified for first-response to emergency calls.
First Years
Fall OEC: Each Fall, roughly 30 first-year students are selected through a formal interview process for participation in the Patrol’s apprentice program. The apprentice program includes a full Outdoor Emergency Care course of ~80 hours duration and healthcare CPR certification. Ultimately, 15 students are invited to shadow patrol during a full season of hands-on training, including toboggan handling, and assisting on emergency calls. They receive on-the-hill training under the direct supervision of experienced patrollers. The patrol officers endeavour to select a group of candidates who have have demonstrated a high level of motivation, and who are likely to succeed as ski patrollers, both as individuals and as members of the team.
Sophomore Year
Candidate Training: Before their second season, apprentices, now Patrol Candidates, participate in 4 days of intensive on-the-hill training dedicated to OEC, toboggan handling, and rescue, as well as combined scenario training.
Once completed, candidates, take the “Vest Test”: demonstrating their ability to react to critical situations, first-respond to emergency calls, handle a toboggan, and perform basic patrol tasks. Once vested, patrollers are qualified for first response to emergency calls.
Junior & Senior Year
Shift Super: Upperclassmen patrollers can step up and assume a leadership role as a shift super. Shift supers ensure that shift and trainings go according to plan, and are a role model to the rest of Ski Patrol, helping to direct the future of the organization.
Senior Training: Vested patrollers are able to register as a senior patroller, attending advanced courses and clinics to increase their knowledge and experience. Some components may include: toboggan handling, advanced OEC, and avalanche training.
