Fall 2015 Outdoor Emergency Care Course

This site covers the National Ski Patrol's Outdoor Emergency Care (OEC) training course that's held in the San Francisco South Bay area each Fall. Details on registration, materials, preparation and location are located on the tabs above. Course updates are posted below as they are published.

Outdoor Emergency Care® is the National Ski Patrol’s award-winning training program for patrollers and others in the recreation community who deal with emergency situations. This nationally recognized program is designed to help you manage the toughest emergencies, in all seasons. Developed in the late 1980s for the 26,000 members of the National Ski Patrol, Outdoor Emergency Care is a training program that is tailored to the nonurban rescuer. Today, OEC is considered the standard of training for emergency care in the outdoor environment and is recognized by resorts and recreational facilities in all 50 states.

Friday, September 27, 2013

Plan for Next Week, Midterm & Backboard Sunday Preparation, Studying Guidance

As we discussed in class last night, a few updates re: next week:

- We'll meet both Tuesday and Thursday night:

          >On Tuesday, we'll cover Spine anatomy & injuries and do more scenarios.  We'll also cover some introductory slides re: Backboard Sunday.

          >On Thursday, we'll cover Traumatic Brain Injury.  We'll also cover Helmet removal.  PLEASE BRING YOUR HELMET.

- For the weekend of Oct 5 & 6:

         > Saturday is midterm day.  We'll start at 9AM and you'll demonstrate & be evaluated on every bandage, splint, & airway adjunct you've learned.  You'll also demonstrate boot & helmet removal.  Bring your boots & helmet and don't forget to BRING YOUR PATIENT (as well as your camera for great social media pics).  This should take about 2 hours.  Saturday afternoon, we'll do a select set of scenarios on which you'll be graded per the final exam protocols.   We should wrap up around 2PM.  Bring your own lunch or snacks.

         > Sunday is Backboard Sunday.  Coffee at 7:30 and start promptly at 8:00.  We'll cover techniques in the AM and then do a variety of backboard scenarios in the afternoon.  Dave R. is arranging lunch.  The day will go through 4-5PM.

- Finally, as we discussed in class, the best strategy, and arguably the only way to succeed is to dedicate substantial time to study & practice. Specifically:

         > Dedicate the time to read the book & take the chapter end practice exams.  Yes, this is tough going, but you'll need it for the written exam.  As we discussed in class, a best practice is to dedicate some time on a regular basis to work on this.  Bite at a time.  In addition, I'm still working on getting past written exams/test banks. I will distribute as soon as I have definitive information. 

         > A senior OEC examiner once said that there is a direct correlation between practice exam success and number of scenarios that a candidate does.  To this end, we do a lot of scenarios.  In addition, to reinforce this, we'd like everyone to make time this weekend to do the full assessment flow - scene safety through radio call - 5 times.  On Tuesday AM, we'll ask each of you for a report, and maybe a demonstration.

         > Finally, a few students are organizing practice days - practice assessments, skills, bandaging, splinting, etc.  This is very helpful.  I encourage all students to do this extensively.  If you organize the practice days, we'll work to see you have a patroller or two to help out.

Thanks all.  Keep up the good work.
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