This chapter from the Outdoor Emergency Care: A Patroller's Guide introduces the National Ski Patrol's OEC program, tracing its evolution from basic first aid to a comprehensive prehospital care curriculum. It highlights the contributions of Minnie Dole and Dr. Warren Bowman in establishing and modernizing the training for outdoor emergency responders. Furthermore, the text outlines the objectives, resources, and key terms associated with the introductory material, including certification, legal aspects like Good Samaritan laws, consent, negligence, and the difference between the standard of training and the standard of care, providing a foundational understanding for prospective OEC technicians.

In this episode we will review how patrollers treat lower leg injuries, as well as how they do boot removals (better than most providers in an Emergency Department).

A review of what and how patrollers need to collect for patient vital signs

A discussion around becoming a member of the Hermon Mountain Ski Patrol