Chapter 06: Reports and Documentation

Tahoe Backcountry Ski Patrol Manual

Patrollers must be familiar with each of the following forms, which must be carried while patrolling, and are carried in the Forms Module. It is the responsibility of the Mountain Manager to see that Patrol Leaders are supplied with the proper forms.

1. Patrol Leader Checklist Contains area specific information the Patrol Leader needs, including a check list of all Patrol Leader procedures, important telephone numbers, helicopter landing zones, sunset table, etc.

2. Patrol Report This form is filled out by Patrol Leaders and records information related to the patrol activities of each area on a particular day. The original is kept in the patrol log book, and copies are mailed to the Patrol Director and Operations Officer in pre-addressed envelopes. A copy is also provided in a timely manner (ideally on the following Monday) to the appropriate National Forest Ranger District Office. The Patrol Report is also used to record training and instruction activities for a particular day, to both assist the Operations Officer in keeping track of patrol day counts, and enable the Training Officer to monitor training status of patrollers and candidates. A separate Patrol Report should be used for this purpose, with the comment “Training in subjects XXX, YYY, ZZZ etc.” and identification of instructors versus students.

3. Incident Report This form records information concerning contact with the public, and is to be used to report all injuries. The original is attached to the Patrol Report, and a copy is mailed to the Patrol Director. Completion of the Incident Report is noted on the Patrol Report.

4. Search and Rescue Initiation Form Patrollers do not supervise or conduct search and rescue operations, and do not participate in such operations without USFS approval. However, whenever someone reports a person missing, this report is filled out a completely as possible with information supplied by the individual(s) reporting the missing person. Those individuals should be asked to stay until the Sheriff arrives, but in the event the reporting individual leaves, we will have the necessary information for the Sheriff. The original is given to the Sheriff, and a copy is attached to the Patrol Report. Examples of these forms are attached. The most current versions of these forms will be found in the Forms Module.