ORM

As a patroller, you've received training and been involved in providing emergency medical care and transportation to injured and ill patients. But what about all those other activities you may perform that are less about patient care and more about preventing the need for care?

The Outdoor Risk Management (ORM) course provides a baseline of general risk management concepts and addresses topics specific to the risk management duties and activities that patrollers may perform as part of their daily patrolling responsibilities.

This course is available to all active NSP patrollers. The course is not available for candidates or hosts. It is also recommended that patrollers have at least one season's experience as a patroller so they better understand the context in which the program content is to be applied. The ORM course is an elective and there are no prerequisites required other than having active NSP patroller status. Patrollers interested in this course do not need any formal risk management training prior to participating.

Greetings Far West Patrollers! Hope everyone has had a good summer and is actively preparing for the upcoming ski season. I am! Watching the weather…Wearing my boots around the house…Smelling that bar of wax from my patrol pack. Yep, its almost here.

There are lots of good things happening all around the NSP Nation!

As a part of this year’s OEC Refresher, we’re highlighting Outdoor Risk Management ORM as our recommended learning activity for all patrollers. You will find this course auto-populated in your learning center, once you complete the refresher. The big thing to know: ORM is NOT Required for this year’s refresher. As ORM is becoming known as The Third Leg of the NSP operational stool, getting the insight and information contained in the program will be very helpful for all Patrollers.

Packed with practical insights, ORM explores key principles for identifying and managing risks in the ski area environment.

From dynamic terrain conditions to guest interactions, you’ll gain practical tools and decision-making strategies that support safety, preparedness, and professional judgement on the hill.

Whether you’re a seasoned pro or just starting, we encourage ORM for anyone committed to elevate patrol performance and fostering a culture of risk awareness.

Our goal, as Volunteer or Paid Patrollers, is to support the success of Ski Area Management. Management folks set the operational policies and practices for each ski area. ORM does not set practices or policies. The program will give all patrollers a solid base from which to work with area management to achieve risk management goals!

For those Patrollers who are in need Continuing Medical Education hours, ORM has been approved for 2 CME hours through a partnership with CAPCE (the Commission on Accreditation for Pre-Hospital Continuing Education). To find out more, go to the NSP main website, and check out more information under the Education tab!

As always: Please look into ORM and complete the course. A few hours is all it takes! Please let us know what you think. Just like all of Risk Management, ORM is being updated as we go along. We are all chasing the same goals, so let us hear from you at ORM@nspserves.org.

Contact the ORM Program Advisor with any questions