ToggenburgSki Patrol

Board of Directors Meeting (BOD) – January 20, 2010

Present: Beau Blair, Moira Blair, Geff Dennee,Jim MorrisonCarter Riley, Walt Shepard, & Paul Steiner

Incident Data Base

  • Moira Blair reviewed and demonstrated the versatility of the incident data collection program which is being implemented. Much useful data and various reports can be generated based on the data entered from reports. It takes about three hours per week to enter the data.Various reports will be implemented and available for review in the future.
  • A major issue with our incident reports is that many are inadequately completed. Many items which could be critical in dealing with future liability issues are either not checked (helmet worn, weather conditions, etc.), spelled out in detail (description of incident, first aid administered, patrollers involved, etc.), or either not signed by the IP or signed by underage IPs.
  • Some patrollers are consistent in filling out the forms completely. While others are consistent in not filling out the forms completely.
  • As a whole, we need to improve our Quality of reporting. Make sure you have other patrollers review the forms for completeness and accuracy.
  • Geff will issue an e-mail requesting improvement.

Candidates

  • Peter Scaffido is our only active OEC candidate.
  • S&T candidates include Kathleen Carfagno, Stan Gorman, Peter Scaffido, and Elizabeth Wengert.
  • All candidates are doing very well.

Medical Associate Presentations

  • Dr. Gene Bailey did an excellent job discussing Upper Extremity Injury issues during his presentation on January 3. His Power Point (PPT) presentation was very well done and was presented to a medical group later in the month. It is available on the TSP Web-site.
  • Upcoming MA presentations are:

Sunday, January 24, 2010

Topic: Neurological Emergencies

Presented by Dr. Paul Klawitter

Sunday, February 7, 2010

Topic: unresponsive; pelvis; hip

Presenter: Dr. Matthew Picone

Demonstration: Beau Blair will demonstrate our new “SAM Pelvic Sling II” which is being evaluated.

Fun Day

  • Fun Day is scheduled for Saturday, Jan. 30th,from 10:30am - 2:30pm. Winners will announced atabout 3:00pm. Below is a list of the events:

Coin Hunt:Moira Blair is chairing this event again this year. She needs an assistant so please contact her if you can help.The purpose of this game to familiarizeyoungsters with the members of the patrol.We need some new t-shirts to support a raffle at the end of the coin hunt.Please let Chris know if you have any.

Toboggan Rides: This is a very popular event, and we can always use help, so please feel free tovolunteer!

Hotdogs on the Grill: The "dog team" will be Andy Aiken,John Irwin, and Dave Tiedemann. We need more help here.

Snow Sculpture:Lida Suchy has volunteered to chair this event.There are 3 trophies for thewinners.

Great Chili Cook-off: Volunteers are needed to help with the sample distribution.

Music: We have the same great DJ as last year.He does announcing as well as providing music.

  • Please contact Chris Myers or Carter Riley if you can assist with the activities.

Special Olympics

Special Olympics competitions will be held at Toggenburg on February 6, from 8:30 to 2:30.If you can help, please contact Geff Dennee.

Out of Bounds

All Patrollers whether on duty or off duty should not ski in “out of bound” areas and should be discouraging others from doing so.

Policies and Procedures

It was agreed by the TSP Board of Directors to form a committee to develop a policies and procedures manual that will comport with NYS EMS standards. If you are willing to help with this please contact Beau Blair. We specifically need help from medical people and others who are experienced in this area.

S&T Proficiency Demonstrations

Our S&T instructors (Tom Campbell, Geff Dennee, Jim Morrison, and Jim Shaw) are starting our annual review of each patroller’s skill proficiency. Contact any one of them to set up a time and place for your review.

Bloodborne and Airborne Pathogens

If you have completed the Bloodborne and Airborne Pathogens self study course, please contact Beau Blair. Also, please return the CDs andVHS tapes so others can update.

Patient Refusal Form

Beau Blair reviewed our new Patient Refusal Form, which is based on the CNY EMS Patient Refusal Form.This form will be sent to NSP and Eastern Division for review.

Snowmobile Event Coverage

Our TSP Standards call for a minimum of two patrollers to cover all snowmobile events held on the premises. Geff will be soliciting assistance for this Sunday’s event.

Equipment

  • A“SAM Pelvic Sling II”has been received and is available in the Patrol Room. It will be demonstrated at the February 7 MA presentation.
  • Non-skid tape was placed in the bottom of one toboggan which is being used in S&T and OEC training.We are seeking feedback during the season on the tape’s effectiveness.
  • Many thanks to Jim Shaw for creating a very nice piece of furniture to replace the old bed on the west wall of the Patrol Room. It provides a significantamount of storage space.
  • The second set of new stainless steel handles that were purchased last year was installed on one of the toboggans servicing the triple chair. This was necessary because the toboggan handles were damaged during grooming operations.
  • Wall-mounted “Purel” hand sanitizer dispensers have been installed in the Patrol Room (2), Top Shack (1), Kitchen Area (1), and the Day Care Center(1). Refills are available on the top shelf of the east wall storage.
  • The toboggan tube at the top of Knee Knocker has been relocated to a better location and the mid-station tube was moved to prevent water from running into the tube and freezing the toboggan in place.

AED Reminder

On the very first trip of the day move the AED, located in the kitchen, to the Top Shack. Return the AED to the kitchen at the end of operations for the day. There should be no exceptions to this rule. However, if the kitchen is closed at the end of operations, leave the AED in the Patrol Room with a note on the white board or on the next day’s sign-in sheet.

Of Mice & Head Blocks

There have been two or three instances of mice damaging head blocks in toboggans. To eliminate this problem the BOD agreed to store the head blocks and spider straps in the yellow bags in the future. The transfer will be made by the candidates on Sunday.We can review other ideas in the future, but this is the quickest way to eliminate the proble.

Patroller Concerns

  • Who is responsible for shutting down the hill, the lift operators or ski patrol, and who determines the time?

Response:

Walt Shepard reviewed our concerns with Mark Graves, the head lift operator and provides the following comments:

Mark would like the clock at the bottom of the double chair to be the official time piece. If the clock is off, please remind him to change it.

An effective practice is to provide the lift operators at the triple with a radio and work closely with them to establish a closing time. If we want to close early for sweep of the trails serviced by the triple arrange the time with the operators.

Mark is interested in improving the rapport with all crews and indicated that each patrol crew as with the operators has a different dynamic.

Improve communications with all lift operators. Some patrollers seem to ignore them.

Mark has instructed the lift operators to turn the music down so they can hear what is going on around them. He asked that if we determine that the music is too loud please ask them to turn it down. If they refuse contact Mark on the COH radio.

  • There are more lights out than ever.There are many blue barrels missing.The area where Nubian and Knee Knocker merge needs additional cover.

Response:Walt Shepard reviewed our concerns with Eric Waite of the Mountain Crew and provides the following comments:

The mountain crew staffing is such that they have to prioritize their efforts. They have put in many hours making snow, marking hazards with bamboo and discs, repairing electric circuits and lighting, etc.

From personal observations the mountain crew is spending a significant amount of time over the past couple of weeks troubleshooting the lighting system, installing new fixtures, and replacing bulbs. They have brought Floyd back to assist.

The lights on Goat have been repaired.

The lighting circuit servicing the top of Nubian and Kneeknocker has failed and troubleshooting has revealed a need to replace wire in the circuit, it should be done this week.

Eric will work with Jim Morris to get ski instructors involved with replacing barrels.

Please report missing bamboo poles and discs, and replace the occasional one if we have materials available. Eric will look for a supply of discs.

This area where Nubian and Knee Knocker merge has a lot of water flow all the time. Eric will look at improving the cover or marking the area.

  • Terrain park equipment and picnic table at the bottom of the old t-bar are being used at times creating a hazard at the trail merging point between Nubian and Under the Double. Also, how do we identify the terrain park crew?

Response:Walt Shepard reviewed our concerns with Nick Mir of the Terrain Park Crew and provides the following comments:

Nick will look at the equipment and try to get it moved in the next few days.

Beginning on Friday the terrain park crew will be wearing light blue shirts over their jackets that say “Park Crew”.

  • The purchase of a second Sager Traction Splint and two addition leg quick splints were approved by the BOD last January. What is the status?

Response: Geff will check on status.

  • Someone expressed concern about the loppers.

Response: A field test was conducted with the new loppers purchased last year. Additional field trials will be conducted this weekend to determine their capabilities.

  • Need a second wall storage for the first aid and burn kit in the kitchen.

Response: Geff to request another unit.

  • An instance of cell phone use by an IP while being back-boarded created a communication problem that has potential to grow.

Response: Cell phone use by an IP should be discouraged as the distraction would interfere with timely packaging and transport. Outside of a quick phone call to inform a family member of their injury, cell phone use should be discouraged. This is a matter of patroller discretion.

Winter Raffle

  • Henry Brisman is coordinating our winter raffle again this year.
  • Prizes are available for display.
  • Tickets for each patroller to sell are available in the Patrol Room.

TSP Logo Items

  • If you are interested in obtaining TSP logo clothing items, please review the updated catalog on the TSP Web-site for product options and details ( The catalog shows the actual clothing with the TSP embroidery. Contact Evelyn Tordoff with your order ().
  • Payment, payable to ToggenburgSki Patrol,must be received prior to the order submission to the vendor.

Web Site

  • Go to the Members’ pages of the ToggenburgSki Patrol Web-site for announcements, meeting minutes, schedules, instructions & procedures, etc. at:
  • If you have suggestions for improving the Web-site contact Walt Shepard at: .

Next BOD Meeting

  • 6:00 pm,Thursday, February 18, 2010 at Toggenburg.

Walter O. Shepard

Secretary, Toggenburg Ski Patrol

January21, 2009

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