麻豆社区

Ski patrol teams from Alberta converged onto Mount Sima on Saturday for a first aid training competition.

Patrollers from Edmonton, Jasper, Calgary and southern Alberta attended the event, which pitted their skills against their Yukon counterparts.

The 2013 Mountain Division First Aid and Toboggan Competition included the completion of first aid scenarios to test the ability of ski patrollers to rescue and treat injured skiers and snowboarders.

"All patrollers were given the same first aid scenario to deal with,鈥� said Tim Sellars, zone president of the territory's Canadian Ski Patrol.

The hypothetical scenario included finding a diabetic skier with a broken leg, who is suffering from both insulin shock and hypothermia. As patrollers arrived on the scene, the handle on the toboggan hypothetically broke, preventing a standard evacuation.

"Every team dealt with the scenario in their own way,鈥� Sellars said. "Some used the toboggan for a shelter, while others rigged up a make-shift toboggan which would be belayed down the hill.鈥�

A rescue toboggan race followed that event, in which competitors raced down the mountain through slalom gates while towing a sled loaded with 150 pounds of sand bags.

Meant as a competitive, fun event, the patrollers piled the weight into the rescue toboggan and completed a slalom course down one of the steepest runs on the mountain.

Teams of three patrollers needed to exchange the sled at established changeover locations.

Despite the tight slalom gates, several teams made it through with clean runs.

"The competition was enjoyed by all,鈥� said Sellars.

He thanked all of the volunteers and corporate sponsors that made hosting the event possible.

Whitehorse previously hosted the annual competition in 2003.

Nordic patrollers also traveled to the Yukon capital, and an orienteering-style cross-country ski race featuring local ski patrollers occurred at Mount McIntyre, simultaneous to the event at Mount Sima.

An awards banquet was held at the High Country Inn following the day's events.

In the first aid category, Yukon's Nordic ski patrollers won the rookie award (first and second year patrollers), Mount Sima's patrol won the Mountain award (one rookie and two veterans), and Edmonton won the Open award (professional patrollers).

As for the toboggan race, Southern Alberta's team won the rookie award, Calgary took the Mountain award, and Edmonton topped the Open category.