We believe that working with other like-minded organizations is essential to ensure that recreationists safely enjoy their time in the mountains.
Patrollers often look to expand their spirit of volunteerism, and some reach out to the national office regarding volunteering for disaster relief in areas hit by natural disasters. One option is to volunteer with the Federal Medical Reserve Corps (MRC). Depending on what state you live in, the MRC may accept our National Ski Patrol OEC credential for those who want to volunteer. For more information and to check on the requirements for your state, go the MRC website.
The National Ski Patrol has been accepted as a “B2” member of the International Commission for Alpine Rescue. NSP was accepted at ICAR’s October 2018 meeting in Chamonix, France. Type B2 membership in ICAR is a recognition of “specific organizations who cover part of the aspects of mountain rescue. Their rescue activities should fulfill recommendations set out by the ICAR Assembly of Delegates. Type B2 member organizations have 1 delegate vote at the ICAR Assembly of Delegates.”
WBR’s primary purpose is rapid response for avalanche rescue, winter related mountain rescue, and medical evacuation incidents using trained professionals and search and rescue dogs. WBR personnel are full-time avalanche professionals from member organizations who are familiar with local terrain, snowpack, and current conditions. This makes WBR the resource of choice for initial response to winter accidents in the Wasatch ranges’s vast and heavily used backcountry.
The National Ski Patrol supports the High Fives Foundation, an organization based in Truckee, California, that “supports the dreams of mountain action sports athletes by raising injury prevention awareness while providing resources and inspiration to those who suffer life-altering injuries.”
The High Fives Foundation was founded on January 19, 2009, by Roy Tuscany, and has aided in the recovery of 104 athletes from 22 states. Members of the NSP Safety Team have sat on the board of the organization.
In 2018, NSP partnered withthe International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA) to transition their former NMBP (National Mountain Bike Patroller) program to NSP. As IMBA transitioned as an organization to focus more specifically on trail maintenance, policy and advocacy, NMBP members were encouraged to join NSP as bike patrollers and bike hosts and take advantage of NSP’s foray into the mountain bike community.
To learn more about NSP’s bike member options, click here.
The NSP works with Flight For Life Colorado on its annual Search and Rescue Conference and has donated in support of Dave Repsher, a Flight For Life Colorado paramedic who was critically injured in a helicopter accident in July 2015.
Click here to learn more about Flight For Life Colorado and its mission.
FIPS is the international organisation representing ski patrol and associated ski safety organisations with membership from throughout the world, These patrol and safety organisations comprise fulltime & volunteer ski patrollers, doctors, lawyers, engineers, teachers, technicians, ski equipment instructors, ski area managers, etc. who are involved in the multi-discplinary activities of ski patrolling and safety.