Safety Considerations
While it is of utmost importance to facilitate a safe learning environment, it is equally important for the student to be aware of safety considerations and that they themselves feel safe and secure. If a student does not feel safe (even if you have taken every step to ensure that is the case), that fear may become a danger in itself. For example, if students do not feel safe, they are unable to focus on the activity, become tense and therefore may be unable to perform fluid movements. Each is a common factor in causing accidents.
Accident Prevention
Preventing accidents is of great importance to Big Sky Resort, the Mountain Sports School and you the instructor. Although accidents do occur, we make prevention a primary concern. The following policies are set in place to guide you in preventing accidents.
Students with faulty or incorrectly adjusted equipment, including bindings, should be directed to the appropriate repair/maintenance shop for qualified adjustments/repairs. Instructors should not adjust the release or size settings on bindings.
On cold days instructors should watch students for signs of frostbite, which show as white spots on exposed skin. Necessary steps should be taken immediately in the event of frostbite.
On sunny days, sun protection in the form of sunglasses or goggles should be recommended to students. Sunscreen is also available in the Mountain Sports School office.
Measures of safe skiing shall be implemented. This includes, but is not limited to, proper terrain selection (adjusting to the lowest level of the group), awareness of snow conditions, proper use of lifts and proactive group handling.
Instructors should have equipment that is in safe working condition, well maintained and have proper understanding of appropriate use.
Be familiar with the names and locations of trails and lifts. Knowing how to describe your location in case of an emergency may be critical. Have a physical or electronic trail map at the ready.
Know the locations of important buildings and departments on the mountain, e.g. Patrol/Medical Clinic, hotels and front desks, Mountain Services office, as well as the patrol phone 406.995.5880
Teaching and putting into practice the seven points of the responsibility code will go a long way to help prevent accidents.
As the instructor, a lot of responsibility is in your hands. Your decisions impact the experience and safety of your students. When evaluating a decision, consider the mental, physical and emotional state of your students as well as the group dynamic.
ACL Injuries
The ACL is a ligament that helps to stabilize the knee. ACL injuries are the most common ski injury, and are more common in women.
The best way to prevent an ACL injury is to strengthen the surrounding muscles.
Please refer to these helpful resources for more information:
6 Week prevention program ACL_prevention_program.pdf (southshoreorthopedics.com)
Preventative exercises KneeACL.pdf (nhsportandspine.com)
Ski-specific information and exercises ACL Injury Prevention in Skiing (www.summitchiroandrehab.com/blog/acl-injury-prevention-in-skiing)
PSIA’s ACL Strong course https://lms.thesnowpros.org/product/acl-strong-snow-course-nrm/
Concussions
All instructors receive CDC Heads Up training to recognize and respond to concussions.
Concussions are a type of traumatic brain injury caused by sudden movements of the brain inside the skull from bumps, jolts, falls, or hits to the head or body, among other things.
Properly fitted helmets can help protect from concussions and other head injuries.
Signs and symptoms of a concussion can include clumsiness, forgetfulness, confusion, change in mood, headaches, nausea, and more.
Following a concussion, an individual should take a rest from activity and seek medical attention.
If you suspect you or your student has a concussion, please seek medical assessment.
Snow Immersion Suffocation
A deep snow or tree well immersion accident occurs when a skier or rider falls into an area of deep unconsolidated snow and becomes immobilized and suffocates.
Be aware of recent snowfall and the depth of the loose snow and check local resources for snow conditions.
The easiest ways to avoid an immersion accident are to remain on groomed areas, maintain proper group awareness and avoid deep snow and tree wells.
If venturing into ungroomed terrain, ski or ride with a partner in sight at all times, ski or ride in control, and give tree wells a wide berth. Consider carrying safety equipment including a cell phone, transceiver/beacon, avalung, whistle, shovel, and probe.
In the Case of an Accident
All instructors are recommended to carry a pair of rubber gloves as a precaution. These gloves will be issued by the Mountain Sports School and should be put on in the event of or involvement in an accident where you may be exposed to blood or bodily fluids. Ski gloves do not work as an effective barrier, so put rubber gloves under ski gloves if needed.
In the event of an accident during a lesson you should follow the following procedure:
Secure the accident area by placing crossed skis or laying a snowboard (binding down) in the snow where visible from above.
Do not move the injured person; however see to it that the person is as comfortable as possible.
Notify Ski Patrol 406.995.5880 or 406.995.5881 and the Mountain Sports School - Mountain Village 406.995.5743 or Madison Base 406.993.6062, immediately via cell phone or by sending another skier or competent student to:
A lift station (to make call).
Mountain Sports School if it is in close proximity (to make call).
Provide the following information:
Exact location of the accident including:
Name of slope.
Upper, middle or lower area.
Side of slope.
Tower number.
Document the facts (not opinions).
Nature of Injury: leg, back, arm, head etc.
Name of instructor and student.
Do not leave the injured person until you have been released by the Ski Patrol. Whenever possible, you will stay with your injured student and a supervisor or another instructor will take over with the rest of the group.
Do not let a group of students leave without a patroller or another Big Sky Resort instructor.
Provisions should be made with other students for loss of lesson time. Re-schedule lesson or make up lost time.
After the accident or lesson, contact the Mountain Sports School office and the Ski Patrol regarding completing an accident report. Follow up with the injured student and family in the First Aid center or at their accommodations at an appropriate time to express your concern.
Lost Student Procedures
Students participating in Mountain Sports lessons are the responsibility of the Mountain Sports School as well as the assigned instructor. Care should be taken to keep each student within eyesight of the instructor. Many best practices exist to assist in maintaining the line of sight contact with each student:
Instructors stopping and regrouping where trails merge or diverge.
Frequent counting and recounting of students.
Having the last student in the line act as “Ski Patrol” indicating if another student has fallen.
Utilizing the buddy system to pair up students within the group.
Utilizing colored vests for Mini Camp aged students.
Follow terrain guidelines for Harbor’s Half-Pipe and Lois Lane:
Set up rules and expectations before entering, including where to stop/meet up.
It is your responsibility to lead your students through these areas and keep the group together and at an appropriate pace.
Sending students ahead without supervision is not acceptable.
Prior to leaving the base area, instructors:
Create a complete class list with the names of each of their students.
Be sure you and all your students are scanned by a supervisor.
Introduce themselves to the class, helping the students to remember the name of the instructor they are with, as well as additional identifying elements (helmet color, height, skis, etc.).
Designate a meeting spot in case a student is separated from the group.
Adult instructors will make a plan with their group.
Mini Camp Students should stay where they are if they cannot see the instructor.
Ski Camp instructors will choose one of the following tactics:
Student returns to the assigned flag in the Kids’ Bowl.
Student returns to the bottom of the lift the group is skiing.
Student stays where they are.
If a youth becomes separated from their instructor, the following procedures are followed:
Instructor uses a cell phone or nearest lift shack phone to call the Mountain Sports School as soon as possible.
The Mountain Sports School will contact the Children’s Program Supervisor.
Children’s Program Supervisor will dispatch other supervisors to the Kids’ Bowl, bottom of the chair the group is skiing off of, to the last seen location of the youth, as well as any other likely areas depending on the last seen location.
If other supervisors will not be able to get to these locations within 10 minutes the Program Supervisor will call Ski Patrol to assist in reaching these areas.
If child is not located within 15 minutes of total time Ski Patrol will be called.
The Mountain Sports Director will be debriefed and approve the follow-up action when incidents hit the 15 minute threshold or in any other appropriate incident of a child being separated from their class.
