Our Role at Mt Hotham
Ski Patrol operates to minimise the risk of injury and exposure to hazards for all persons in the resort and to provide assistance for injured or lost persons in the alpine region over winter. This is achieved by constant maintenance of the resort’s slopes, monitoring the ever- changing conditions in the alpine region, and educating resort visitors on safe and appropriate use. All patrollers are qualified in advanced emergency care and many are qualified and trained in various aspects of rescue in the Victorian alpine areas. Mount Hotham Ski Patrol operates with a staff of paid professional full and part time patrollers as well as a large group of dedicated volunteer patrollers.
Patrollers at Mount Hotham are easily recognisable by their uniforms. All patrollers wear red and black with a large white cross on the back and a smaller cross on each arm.
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Main Purposes of Ski Patrol
The main purposes of the Mount Hotham Ski Patrol are to:
- Minimise the risk of injury and exposure to hazards for all resort users
- To educate resort users about safe and appropriate behaviour in the Alpine environment
- Administer first aid assistance to injured persons on the snow
- Transfer those requiring further medical attention to the Ambulance Service and then onto the Hotham Medical Centre
- In conjunction with the Victorian Police and other emergency services to search for and rescue skiers lost in Alpine areas
- Serve the public with other assistance and skiing information
- Improve safety standards within the resort.
We also conduct Snow Skills programs designed to increase awareness and educate visitors about the alpine environment. Through the provision of these courses we hope to prepare people for the Alps and as a result, prevent accidents rather than cure them.