Timber Ridge Ski Patrol Keeps Michigan Slopes Safe

Timber Ridge Ski Area, located in Southwest Michigan, boasts the Timber Ridge Ski Patrol. This remarkable unit was named the 2007-2008 Central Division Outstanding Large Patrol. The group of care providers on the Timber Ridge Ski Patrol is a closely knit group of dedicated volunteers who are committed to providing excellent medical care and helpful instructions to all the skiers at this location. While patrollers can come from any profession as long as they complete the required trainings, many ski patrol members work in health care as a doctor, nurse or emergency medical technician. The Timber Ridge Ski Patrol is a member of the National Ski Patrol, which includes more than 28,000 volunteers and professionals nationwide.

Included in the Timber Ridge Ski Patrol are six toboggan instructor/trainers and 18 instructors. Each of these individuals participates in a regional training and evaluation in order to remain in the patrol each year. They work not only at Timber Ridge, but also at ski areas and clinics throughout the region. Most of their days on duty are spent training and instructing skiers on safety precautions and techniques. Other times are spent doing administrative work, coaching prospective patrol members, marking off dangerous areas or obstacles and coordinating instructor schedules.

In addition to their instructors, the Timber Ridge Ski Patrol also boasts five outdoor emergency care (OEC) instructor/trainers and 30 OEC instructors. These individuals provide education and training for rescuers who deal with emergency situations on the ski slopes. They cover trauma, first aid and CPR in all courses, and provide rescuers with the tools and skills they need to care for a victim when ambulances may be hours away. In addition to ski areas, OEC rescuers may also work with mountain climbers and river rafters, search and rescue groups or wilderness medical technicians, all of whom require the same skills to deal with an outdoor emergency situation.

Timber Ridge is proud to have its own ski patrol with a large number of dedicated volunteers. This successful group has helped in keeping the areas ski slopes safe for skiers and snowboarders. The patrol has also helped to create a vast number of qualified individuals to keep other outdoor settings safe and to provide emergency outdoor care when needed.