The Regional Certified program has been working hard to train new candidates for the March exam. We currently have four patrollers who are in the program, four that are studying hard to hone their skills so that they can be successful in the program and two who have expressed an interest. This is way up in comparison to the days when there was no local training available. So, what takes so long to prepare? Some of the things that the candidates are required to do are:

• Learn 8 knots so that you can tie them anytime, even in the dark.
  (this is a prerequisite before you can go onto the Low angle rescue station)
• Set up a 1:3 low angle rescue in less than 20 minutes.
  (We have one candidate that can do it in 12 minutes)
• Lift Evac – the process (from alert to completion) – the protocols (types of rope, harnesses, belay methods) – Understanding lifts and how they work (brakes, towers, sensors and even how the haul rope is constructed) What is a haul rope? Come and find out!!!
• Management Interview – Do you know how to staff a patrol, how much equipment you need on the hill, how much that equipment costs, how much lift evac equipment is required, and a whole lot more!!
• Hill Safety Interview – Why do we use bamboo? What are the protocols for closing a trail? Why do we close for grooming? What are the requirements for snowmobiles on the hill? Interested??
• Find an avalanche beacon in less that 3 minutes, obviously, learn how to use them.
  Sounds easy doesn’t it
• OEC – practical – 3 patients, seriously injured – 20 minutes – triage
• OEC bystander – One patient – two bystanders – a scenario you cannot do without their help, oh by the way, they do not know any first aid. Your patient may need CPR – think about it – no patrol help
  for 20 minutes
• OEC written – 100 questions
• Avalanche written – 50 questions
• Skiing and Toboggan – another story for when the snow flies