Refresher 2009

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Sometimes we have to come down off the mountain and spend time in a classroom. That doesn’t mean we don’t have fun doing it. Lost Valley’s refresher for 2009 went great, thanks to the hard work and dedication of many instructors, “patients” and finally the most important element, our patrol volunteers and candidates. As part of NSP’s annual requirement for Outdoor Emergency Care Technicians we refreshed a variety of first responder, evacuation and transportation methods.

This year’s NSP recruitment campaign motto is, “We’re a different breed, join us.” Refresher every year is an affirmation of that for me. So please join us. If you like being outside and helping people in the winter, that’s what we do.

At one point on Saturday I stood in awe of the collective experience in the room — somewhere in the vicinity of 140 years of patrolling experience.

We were working on standing back-boards and helmet removal and while I was the so-called “instructor” I was learning as much as I was teaching.

Working on hips and backs practice at Lewiston High School.On Sunday we took to the slope and the chairlift to practice our evacuation methods.

On Sunday we worked on our chairlift evacuations. It was a good time.

Some people had never been on the belying end of a figure-8 friction device, for others it was old hat, but even those of us with years of practice, were refreshed on some key elements and were able to inspect ropes.

We were even treated to an ascension by one instructor who warned us all to, do try it at home.

Refreshing our skills each season is a good mental stretching exercise as we gear up for another fun season on the slopes.

Ron shows us how to use the sling shot launcher, from inside out. Why?

This Sunday we refresh our “pump and blow” skills or as some call it CPR and AED.

Hope this message finds all of Maine’s ski patrols doing well and here’s wishing to a safe season.

We will be back after our first tracks.

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