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The patrol
In Val-d'Irène, the St.-John's Ambulance Ski Patrol is a reassuring presence.
In case of an emergency, immediately contact Val-D'Irène staff who will communicate with the patrol.
You want to join the patrol? contact us!
The Security Code
Source: ASSQ / maneige.com
| The Resort's Code of Conduct establishes the rules that aid in injury-avoidance and help make the trails an enjoyable shared area for everyone on the Mountain. The Code is posted at ticket outlets and lift line-ups. The mountain operator may specify other rules that must be respected, in addition to the Code. |
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You should choose trails that correspond to your level of experience and ability. All trails are rated according to the following scale: Easy, Difficult, Very Difficult, and Extreme.
PARKS & PLAY AREAS
1- Keep it under control!
Remain in control of your speed and direction. Make sure you can stop and avoid any person or obstacle. The skier or snowboarder is responsible for his manoeuvres. He must choose trails that correspond to his ability level and stay alert, in case rapid reaction is required to avoid a collision.2- On Trails, Yield To Those Below!
3- Don't Hog The Road!
Stop on a trail only if you are visible from above and if you are not obstructing the trail. To avoid placing oneself needlessly in danger, it is preferable to stop only on the side of a trail.
4- At Intersections, Yield To Those Above!
5- Give The Ski Patrol A Hand!
If you are involved in or witness an accident, remain at the scene and identify yourself to a first-aider. Whether or not you were involved in the accident, you must help the injured party. You should also assist members of the Ski Patrol in gathering information.6- Hold On To Your Equipment !
At all times, use and wear at all times a proper device to prevent runaway equipment. Users must use safety mechanisms that, in the event of a fall, prevent their equipment from getting away from them and injuring another person. In the case of skis, this would consist of a braking system built into the bindings, while for snowboards, one uses a leash.
7- No Alcohol Or Drugs!
Keep off the lifts and trails if your ability is impaired by the use of alcohol or drugs. These substances weaken mental capacities and affect a person's ability to react rapidly and remain in control of their movements. Alcohol and drugs do not go along with safety.8- Respect Signs!
Obey all directional signs and warnings and never venture off 
The Helmet
Source: Canada Safety Council
Downhill skiing has evolved into a faster sport than it was in the past, and snowboarding has become increasingly popular in recent years. According to the Canadian Ski Council, in 2004 about 3.8 million Canadians aged 12 and over participated in skiing, (alpine or cross country), snowboarding or a combination of those sports. Skiboarding is also gaining popularity.
More and more skiers and boarders recognize the need to protect themselves by wearing a helmet. It is no longer as rare to see people wearing helmets on the slopes as it was in the 1990s. A Vermont survey found that about one-third of skiers and snowboarders wore helmets on the slopes in the 2004-2005 season.
A study of skiers treated for head injuries at a Colorado trauma centre in the October 2002 issue of The Journal of Trauma found that collisions with trees were the most common cause of fatal and severe injuries. Snowboarders were three times more likely to suffer a head injury than skiers.
Blows to the head are among the most devastating and lethal types of injury. Although head injuries are quite rare, an estimated 60 percent of skiing fatalities involve a head injury. Even if it is not fatal such an injury can have lifelong consequences.
A Norwegian study published in February 2006 in the Journal of the Americal Medical Association found that using a helmet was associated with a 60 percent reduction in the risk of a head injury.
Helmets for Young and Old
An unhelmeted five-year-old girl was killed when she skied into a tree at Aspen, Colorado in the spring of 2001. One month later, a helmeted five-year old boy had a similar crash in the same area survived with a dented helmet and a concussion.
The day after the second incident, the Aspen Highlands Skiing Company mandated that all children six and under at its ski school must wear helmets. In the 2002-2003 season the requirement was extended to age 12. In September 2002, the National Ski Areas Association launched its Lids On Kids Web site to promote ski helmets and slope safety education.
Downhill operators in Canada rent helmets, usually for around five or six dollars a day, and some require children to wear helmets for classes. Most require people entering the half-pipe to wear a helmet. The Canadian Ski Patrol strongly supports the use of helmets by children and by all snow sliders participating in competitive events.
Parents must teach by example. If they want their children to wear a helmet and ski or board safely, they should do the same. It's also important for professional skiers and boarders to set a good role model by wearing helmets.
While children are the most likely to wear a helmet, the recent surge in helmet use on Canadian ski hills is reflected in all age groups. Today's ski helmets are so light, comfortable and stylish that many skiers consider them not only a safety device but also a fashion accessory.
The older you get, the harder it is to recover from a concussion. Increasingly, research is discovering long-term effects from head injuries. For example, a study by the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota, published in the May 2003 issue of Neurology, linked head injuries to Parkinson's disease. Just one head injury can quadruple a person's risk of developing Parkinson's disease. Symptoms started an average of 20 years after the incident.
Helmets Don't Replace Personal Responsibility
Wearing a helmet can prevent or reduce the severity of a head injury. However, a helmet does not make a speeding skier or hotdogging boarder immune from disaster.
Never think you can take more risks because you are wearing a helmet . Always ski responsibly and within your ability. Even if you are a good skier, skill alone will not prevent a crash if the skier behind you loses control.
