Patrollers - Final Chances to Help Out at OEC This Year

Patrollers - 

Yep, three more chances:

1. Mass Casualty Simulation night.  Next Wednesday, Nov. 3 , 6:30 PM  The culmination of our class - the candidates apply all their skills, and do so in a stressful environment that we create.  At our class location @ Putnam Mazda.  We'll need Patrollers to monitor & proctor a broad variety of situations we set up.  Sign up here: https://teamup.com/ksbbcadac8c015e175

2. Final Practice Session.  Saturday, Nov. 6.  9:00AM  John Wiser will be leading a final practice session as the candidates "peak" for the practical final on Nov 13.  We'll need Patrollers to help out with this final instruction.  Sign up at:  https://teamup.com/ksbbcadac8c015e175

3. Final Practical Exam.  Saturday, Nov. 13.  8:00AM  Concord, CA.  And speaking of that final exam, we'll need many Patrollers to assist.  Once again, Mark Galicia will be out Chief Judge.   To help out, Contact him at heelsfree@yahoo.com to sign up!

Hope to see you at one or more of these events.  Thanks again,

Bill

Schedule Change - MCI Night!

 All - Per discussions at class, we'll hold MCI night on Wednesday, Nov. 3.  Start is still at 6:30.  Details in the post below.  No class on Thursday, Nov. 4.  

This Year's Practical Exam Evaluation Sheet

 

Candidates - 

Here's a generic version of the evaluation sheet that the examiners will be using in this year's practical final exam.

We'll review in class.  In the meantime, download here.

Mass Casualty Simulation Event - Nov. 3 - Need Volunteers!

[Edit - MCI night now Wednesday, Nov. 3.  6:30PM]

The culmination of our class, mass casualty simulation night, has proven to be the most engaging, most instructive, and probably the most fun class of the entire course.  Great fun for patroller candidates & volunteers alike.

What's Mass Casualty Night?

We simulate an event where we have multiple patients in need of care.  Each patient acts out a unique injury.  The patroller candidates assess each patient and then provide the appropriate care by themselves or by leading a team to do so.   Pictures from previous year's event below.

Why is it unique?

The event is unique in that it requires the candidates to bring to bear all the skills they've learned in class, and do so in a stressful environment that we create.  It's also a great opportunity for friends, family and others interested to see what this Outdoor Emergency Care is all about.

We need your help

To make this happen, we need a large number of volunteers.  This year, we're looking for around 40.  Young and old, we want and welcome all.  We'll provide you some coaching on your "injury".  In some cases, we'll also apply some moulage to better simulate the injury.   And you'll get to act it out as you like, being as high or low maintenance as you like to your patroller-rescuer and their team.

Location

This year, our Mass Causality Simulation will take place at our usual class location: Putnam Mazda, Burlingame. located at: https://oecsouthbay.blogspot.com/p/corse-location.html

How to Sign-up

If you're joining us, please sign-up. To do so, click on the link below and go to Nov 3. Sign up as a "MCI Night Patient Volunteer". Link here:  https://teamup.com/ksbbcadac8c015e175

No doubt this year will once again prove to be very instructive to candidates, and very fun for the volunteers. 

Thanks in advance for your support!

NSP's New CEO

Interesting listen for your next run/ride/workout:  https://nationalskipatrol.libsyn.com/a-conversation-with-chris-castilian-nsps-new-ceo

VacMat Tips

Candidates - 

As we discussed in class, many resorts are increasing use of vacuum splints.  Vacuum Mattresses, aka VacMats, are also becoming more prevalent, and require a new process to apply.  

Here's a write-up I did last year that may be helpful.  As always, refer to your local, resort protocols for your proper procedures.

Download here.

Ski Season Fitness: Ski Season and Your Candidate Year, Approaches

As we noted in class, the better shape you're in, the better your candidate year will go.  There are, of course, a huge number of programs to help you get ski-fit.  

Here's a good one from my friends at CMH Heliski.  Link to article here.

Our advice - Start now.  Find a good program.  Hit it hard.  Now.

Keep Your Skills Fresh!

 

As we get into more complicated scenarios & treatment protocols, it's common for baseline skills to tail off a bit.

Keep 'em fresh.

As we discussed, practice them often, on any willing "patients".

(Thanks Chris &  Anna for the great example!)

Written Final Exam Test Bank

As we discussed in class, the final exam is 100 questions pulled from a test bank of 1200 questions.  Click here for the test bank.  

Head Trauma/Concussion

 Garrett discussed this subject in class.  Here's a great visual that captures the mechanics:

via GIPHY

Lower Extremity Splint Selection

 

Sager Splint Process

 

Thanks to Lucy for putting this together!

Backboard SMR 1-Pager

 

John Wiser put together a great one-pager on SMR/Backboard process.

Download your version here.

Big thanks to John for his leadership in putting this together.

Heart Attack - Men's vs Women's Symptoms

 

Last week we discussed heart attacks, and reviewed the different symptoms male/female.  Thanks to Mike Nealon who pointed out this instructive article on the topic.  Thanks Mike.

Link here.

Plan for Midterm & Backboard Sunday

 Here's the plan for this coming weekend:

Midterm: Oct 9 

• Start at 09:00
• Bring your own patient
• Bring your own snack
• End appx. 14:00
• Location: Start at the Mazda dealership, then move to the Jeep dealership for the scenarios

Backboard Sunday: Oct 10

• 07:45 Coffee, 08:00 Start
• Morning: Skills instruction
• Afternoon: Practical application in a variety of situations
• Dave R. is organizing lunch
• Wear old clothes, bring knee pads
• End appx. 16:00-17:00
• Location: Mazda dealership

Splinting Week & Next Steps

 Nice job this week on splinting!  And big thanks to Dave B & Jeff for taking the lead!

Looking foward, a few updates:

- As you discussed in class, there will be no bandaging & splinting practice this weekend.  Instead, we'll meet at 5:30 next Tuesday for some additional practice.  And if necessary, we'll do a bit more of this in class as well.

- Line up your guest patient for the midterm on Saturday, Oct. 9.  Start at 9:00 at the Mazda dealership.  We'll do the skills evaluation first, and your guest patients will be done by 11:30 or so.  They can take off, or hang around to observe the mock-final exam scenarios.   After the skills evals, we'll take quick break and then roll into 3-4 scenarios that will mimic the exact final exam protocol & evaluations.  We'll likely move down the street to the Jeep dealership as it has a bit more room to accommodate the scenarios.  As we discussed, these scenarios will be great feedback for us all.  We should expect to wrap up around 2PM.

- Then look forward to Backboard Sunday on the 10th.  We'll start at 8:00 promptly.  Get a good night's sleep and be there a bit early & be ready to roll.  We should wrap up around 4PM.

For now, more practice this weekend, and we'll see you all next Tuesday.

- Bill