Outdoor Emergency Care® is the NSP’s award-winning training program for patrollers and others in the recreation community who deal with emergency situations. This nationally recognized program is designed to help you manage the toughest emergencies, in all seasons.
Developed for the members of the National Ski Patrol, Outdoor Emergency Care is a training program that is tailored to the nonurban rescuer. Over the years, OEC has evolved to address the needs of other outdoor-based emergency care providers too, including wilderness medical technicians, river rafting and mountaineering guides, members of search and rescue groups, mountain bike patrollers, and parks and recreation employees.
Today, OEC is considered the standard of training for emergency care in the outdoor environment and is recognized by resorts and recreational facilities in all 50 states. Outdoor Emergency Care provides students academic content, hands-on training, and practical skills to render them competent to provide emergency care in outdoor settings.
In an OEC course, you will learn about many aspects of outdoor care, including:
performing safe and effective stabilization and extrication of injured persons in the outdoor environment
scene safety (identifying hazards to both responders and visitors)
safe and efficient use of outdoor emergency care skills to prevent further injury to visitors
The OEC curriculum contains applicable baseline knowledge and skills identified in the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) National Standard Curriculum necessary for the nonurban environment. The training of OEC Technicians has been accepted and utilized by ski areas and in other outdoor environments throughout the country as the level of training of individuals who respond to accidents and deliver essential emergency care in the nonurban environment. In addition, the information and skills contained in the OEC curriculum exceed the knowledge and skill level identified in the U.S. DOT’s Education Standards for Emergency Medical Responder (EMR) training.
OEC is designed to prepare candidate patrollers without previous first aid or EMT training to handle the emergency care problems seen in the outdoor environment. An individual who completes the course will be prepared to manage a wide range of emergencies dealing with the injured and ill patients, regardless of the setting or environment.
OEC for EMTs and Paramedics: Current EMTs, advanced EMTs, and paramedics now have a fast-track to receiving an OEC technician card and joining NSP. Patrollers and candidates who are also a current EMT, advanced EMT, or paramedic may receive an OEC technician card by passing the Modified Challenge course, comprised of the practical portion of the OEC exam.