What is FIPS?

Fédération Internationale des Patrouilles de Ski (FIPS) is a corporation made up of ski patrol organizations representing ski patrollers and ski safety in their respective countries.

These organizations are comprised of ski patrollers, physicians, lawyers, engineers, technicians, ski equipment instructors, ski area managers, etc., who are involved in the multi-disciplinary activities of ski patrolling.

Why FIPS?

Over 25 years ago there were many ski patrols in existence at that time, however there was very little communication between them.

No doubt each patrol thought their organization to be the best, in all aspects. Ski patrollers who had the opportunity to ski in other countries noticed some differences in procedures relative to their own. Accident prevention programmes were being utilized in some countries.

Thus, there seemed to be a need for ski patrols to meet and communicate the latest techniques available. There was a need, and FIPS was created to fill that need.

Who?

An administrative Board overseas the framework and is Chaired by Bruce Lochhead. Committees are struck for specific needs or subjects brought forward by the members, officers are elected at each Congress. There is one elected officer from each country on the Board.

FIPS is not an individual effort - by person or country - but rather the combined efforts of many individuals and ski patrols. Individual patrollers make up the membership. All patrollers are welcome at the congresses and all meetings are open. With their help, FIPS will continue to grow in size and stature, and will continue to provide the best services possible to the skiing public.

Fun?

When you stand at a check in desk on the other side of the world and asked "Would you like your luggage checked all the way through to Inverness?" The excitement generated when you hear this question crystallises the adventurous, exotic and unique qualities attached to these congresses. It is fresh for each venue!

These meetings have amplified the welcoming nature of the people hosting these events, treating visitors to local specialities, flavours, and attractions. Lasting friendships, deep relationships, warm memories and great stories have grown from these meetings. This is the reason why we go. You feel that you belong to a vast International group of friends, who learn and grow from each others knowledge and experience.

(Text courtesy of Bruce Lochhead)www.fips.cam.org

FIPS Conference Tignes April 2005

The 15th FIPS Congress (Federation Internationale Des Patrouilles De Ski) was held in Tignes France this year from the 23rd through 30th April. This year for the first time Fiona and I, and our family of three, thought we would take the opportunity to attend the congress. I sang for my supper by giving a couple of lectures, Fiona gained insight into the workings of the event abroad and was focal point for administrative issues relating to BASP, and the family got skiing for the first time in an alpine resort.

FIPS has representatives from all the major ski nations on its board, and meets every two years, inviting delegates from the ski nations to discuss and disseminate information on new ski rescue techniques, avalanche rescue, search and rescue, medical management of ski injuries, legal issues, and ski safety and accident prevention. As well as professional and voluntary patrollers in attendance, there are ski area managers and many folk involved in mountain search and rescue. Many of the issues covered are inter related and this explains the attendance of folk who are both from search and rescue groups, as well as nordic ski patrol. For example Marie Nordgren head of the Swedish delegation attends both ski and search and rescue calls, as in Sweden it is the same voluntary group working on behalf of the Swedish police who undertake both types of duty. The same is true of both the Australians and New Zealanders, and in some way also us Scots.

This year's congress was hosted by France in Tignes. Jean-louis Tuaillon of ADSP director of securite des pistes Tignes was the event organiser. The Tignes ski patrol organised a vast array of training events and were superb hosts. On the first day we were high in the mountains doing crevasse and snow creep/fracture rescue on the Glacier de la Vanoise. We don't get crevasses in Scotland but we do get creep holes and the lads at Nevis Range had undertaken just such a rescue this season, as I have done in Glencoe in the past. Later that day we covered the problems and pitfalls of avalanche rescue. This was rather poignant as many of the Tignes patrollers had been at a large avalanche the day before when two British boarders tragically lost their lives on the North face of the Grande Motte. The Glacier training was filmed for French television and on the National news that night. Later we had a lecture from Dr Claude Hebette from the Hospital in Mouttiers on Hypothermia and rewarming using heated oxygen systems. The treatment of hypothermia is always relevant in the outdoor world and this was very interesting.

The following day we met with a civilian search and rescue helicopter contracted to rescue in the Tignes/Val d Isere area. We looked at handling and packaging with the helicopter crew and Tignes ski patrol and also ran a mock rescue "off piste" below Toviere which was very interesting, not least because we took out six year old daughter down her first black run to get to it. She acquitted herself well in true Scottish skiing style, i.e. ski anything, and if in doubt revert to a racing snow plough.

That afternoon we covered the use of Defibrillators in ski areas and looked at training issues from around the ski rescue world, including an interesting lecture on analgesia from Terry Abrams a ski patroller and ambulance Paramedic trainer from Calgary, Canada. Our own Andy Dalton also gave a fine talk on the management of major incidents. During the open discussion forum it was apparent that Scotland's emergency medical technicians lead the World in the administration of pain relief on the slopes and mountains by non Doctors.

Day three we looked at new equipment designs such as splints and rescue stretchers with the Italian delegates producing some new and innovative kit such as a special knee brace and powered rescue toboggan. After a free ski we met up for an afternoon workshop on the treatment and packaging of spinal injuries, followed by a lecture on both patroller and skier litigation. This lecture was presented by Ed Gassman who is the FIPS legal advisor. It was both humorous and very enlightening. Later Dr Chung from Korea gave an interesting talk on Frostbite and cold injury with some of the most graphic pictures of Frostbite I have seen, and that is saying something!

Later that day we had an informative and humorous session on "lifting and handling" by the lads from "Falls Creek" ski patrol, Australia.

Day four there was an option to go on a trip down the valley to do a bit of sightseeing and a cruise on Lac du Bourget, but most of us stayed and just skied our butts off. Doc MacLaren sent a minibus round from Val d Isere for us so we had the run of the circuit from the word go. The sun was out, the snow was good, and after another less than perfect Scottish season it would have been rude not to. Ian had the need for speed, so it was off the blocks from the word go. After several thousand meters off and on piste, many of us were knackered that night - but what a day to remember. Thanks Ian.

Day five was a visit to the snow making centre at Val Claret then a visit to the securite des pistes HQ at Tignes le Lac to look at the set up then back for lectures and sessions on Snow Park Controls in Sweden and also at training issues of patrollers.

Day six was an avalanche training day where we attended a big avalanche scenario set up by the staff and patrollers from Tignes. This was a very big event involving both the patrollers and dog handlers from the valley. These were probably the best trained dogs I have ever seen. They found victims who had been buried deep in specially constructed holes hours earlier. The way that the trainers ensured a non contaminated zone and scent free burial was very clever but too much to explain in such a short article as this. The dogs searched with a speed and accuracy that I have not witnessed before - even in Switzerland. We were shown through the various steps in the training of these dogs. It's fair to say that these dogs work at rescue every day of the year and are true canine professionals. We also had demonstrations on the air bag safety system (ABS) built into rucksacks which are a standard issue to patrollers in France www.absairbag.com The statistics have shown increased survival rates in victims who use this system, and many of us who attended are considering buying one.

We then met at the Col du Palet with a team from the PHGM (gendarmerie) Modane who came in on the new EC145 dedicated rescue helicopter. What a superb machine this is. Specially customised for mountain work and well laid out. With computerised pre flight checks it can be in the air within 3 minutes from the press of a button. Response times had shortened by 20 minutes since it's introduction apparently. The EC145 also sports has a 120m winching capability. After a training and familiarisation session with the EC 145 we then skied to "The ARVA Drop In Centre" at the bottom of the Col de Ves. This is a new idea in the Alps where a drop in centre provides information on "off piste" conditions and short workshops on safe travel techniques and transceiver use. These are provided free - with a coffee, to groups or individuals who want to ride off the piste. It seems like a fantastic idea and one that seems to have worked well.

We left with ideas on ski safety which we could adapt to our own areas, including Scotland where boarders in places such as Glencoe have run into trouble "off piste". Education is by far the best tool, and with the right environment and a free coffee it can be fun. Before supper that evening we had an interesting talk on remote medicine from Dr Lucien Cadoz medical advisor to the ANPSP and Tignes/Val d'Isere ski patrollers. We also had an open session on critical incident stress debriefing and post traumatic stress disorder. This is a subject taken quite seriously in most countries including France.

Personally this was one of the most interesting and empowering weeks I have ever enjoyed. Regardless of ski or mountain rescue, the issues and volume of information and dissemination of new techniques and ideas is tremendous. I would urge any BASP member who can to attend as it is open to the members. In the mountain rescue world I can think of nothing similar where both hands on practical training in a high mountain environment is complemented so well by appropriate lectures. I should also add that I have never before enjoyed such fine company as the delegates. Many lasting friendships were forged and the Whiskey tasting night we Scots thought was a good idea will live with me forever. I am not sure the Korean delegation had ever come across such a fine dram as the vintage Edradour, but the results were spectacular. When accompanied by the images of "down under" humour from the Australians via the digital projector we had a night to remember. My stomach muscles still ache.

I am amazed at the level of respect such a small nation as Scotland is held in the ski and search and rescue world. I knew we were good, but was totally unprepared for the esteem that BASP especially is held in the ski rescue world. We are seen as world leaders in the provision of medical care on the slopes and gullies of our small, but perfectly formed mountains, and are envied because of the trainer development program and quality and variety of first aid training provided. I guess we forget that everyday we empower those whom we train to save a life. This was brought home in an email Fiona received from Indonesia where a chap who had completed a course only the week before his holiday thanked the association for giving him the skill to provide basic life support that saved a life on the day of the Tsunami. We are indeed privileged to be able to make that happen. This is now a role model that the other ski nations see as being of benefit to the community at large out of ski season. Who else can teach first aid best but those who have personal experience of providing it, and who take the opportunity to self develop through a well planned training system. I believe Scottish Mountain Rescue is fortunate in having strong links with BASP, and vice versa, as this allows a lot of cross fertilisation both from the BASP trainer's development program, and MR rescue seminars. This also allows new information on medical techniques and rescue issues to disseminate down to clientele on courses.

One big thing did stick out at the congress. Unlike most of the other ski nations we have no major sponsorship, and as a small association we struggle financially to attend such events. This does not go unnoticed by the FIPS board and delegates, and the respect engendered in by the sheer effort put in by such a small but pro active association is held in high esteem. Scotland is seen as a role model in some areas and a success story in the provision of care when an accident occurs. A real success story for a small nation. FIPS would again like Scotland's input at the next conference in North America 2007. If you were to ask me, would I go again? My answer would be an unequivocal yes, yes, yes - I will sell the car and extend the mortgage if that's what it takes - that's how much I learned, and how strongly I feel!

Written by Davy Gunn MBE, BASP member, Trainer and member of Glencoe Mountain Rescue Team

FIPS President address:
Bruce Lochhead, FIPS
34 Brock Avenue South
Montreal West
Quebec
H4X2E5
Canada
email: bruce@lochhead.ca

BASP UK Ltd
+(44) (0)1855 811 443
20 Lorn Drive, Glencoe, Argyll
PH49 4HR
firstaid@basp.org.uk
skipatrol@basp.org.uk