Category:PatrolManual

Tahoe Backcountry Ski Patrol Manual

The official version of this manual is a PDF at http://docs.tbsp.org/browse.php?fFolderId=8

TAHOE BACKCOUNTRY SKI PATROL MANUAL

Dues, Grants and Commercial Sponsors

Annual patrol dues are used for administrative expenses. All NSP dues are payable by a date assigned by the Patrol Director, typically in late September, but never later than October 1.

Our patrol relies on grants to provide funds for the purchase of expensive equipment such as tents, radios, avalanche transceivers, etc. Be familiar with the organizations which provide grant money. They are great friends of the patrol!

Numerous manufacturers and retailers give special discounts to members of our patrol. Consider recommending and patronizing these companies, as they produce quality equipment and have gone out of their way to support our efforts.

RECRUITING

Recruiting and training are a top priority for TBSP. Refer likely candidate prospects to the recruiter or patrol director mailto:recruiter@tbsp.org. Patrol vests have a supply of patrol business cards for this purpose.

REPORTS AND DOCUMENTATION

Documentation of our patrol activities is extremely important for a number of reasons. Possible legal ramifications of first-aid treatment are obvious, but there are additional reasons for proper documentation. For example, the Forest Service needs to know what we are doing and how many hours we devote to patrol activities. This may help the Forest Service justify future expenditures on our behalf. Obtaining thorough information from a person reporting someone missing is critical for search and rescue operations. Patrollers should become familiar with each of the forms. [Read filed patrol reports here].

SEARCH AND RESCUE

The SAR information here is outdated

Tahoe Backcountry does not conduct search and rescue operations. Its members are not required to participate in search or rescue operations conducted by other organizations (usually the county sheriff) in areas we patrol, or in other areas. 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, the Search and Rescue Initiation Form is filled out as 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. We may conduct hasty searches for lost skiers or snow-mobilers if time and conditions permit, and we are requested to do so by the sheriff. Hasty search procedures will vary with the terrain of each area. Our primary responsibilities with regard to lost persons are to (1) report the incident to the sheriff, (2) obtain thorough information from the reporting party, (3) accurately record such information on the patrol SAR form, and (4) to turn the SAR form and the reporting party over to the sheriff.

Arrangements may be made to register interested patrollers or candidates as search and rescue volunteers with one or more sheriff's offices (Placer, Nevada and Washoe (NV) counties) or the Tahoe Backcountry Search and Rescue Team. Once registered, you are eligible for certain insurance benefits provided by the State of California Office of Emergency Services (OES) if you are injured during an authorized search or rescue operation. More information about TBSP-SAR can be found here.

U.S. FOREST SERVICE SUPPORT

The TBSP is sponsored by the USFS, and we support them with other activities at their request, such as:

• Snowmobile closure sign posting - under the direction of USFS (Materials and equipment provided by USFS) Snowmobile closure area "enforcement". We report closure violations to dispatch, and by providing visual reports.
• Census of users: especially at Tahoe Meadows (as indicated on the Daily Operations Log)
• Public outreach

COMMUNICATIONS

All patrol communications are directed through U. S. Forest Service communications networks. Even when we communicate with another patroller in the same area, the communication often goes through the Forest Service network via repeaters. Needless to say, there should be no unnecessary chatter or inappropriate language. Communication protocols and channels are set forth in Radio Protocols.

OTHER MATTERS

Matters not covered in this manual should be addressed to the Patrol Director or other appropriate patrol officer. Questions and comments will always be welcomed.