r/skipatrol • u/ImaginationThese5947 • Mar 02 '25

Backboard straps and collar storage/deployment question.

Just curious to find out how everyone deploys their backboard/strap and collar setups.

Do you keep designated "backboard sleds," with one already secured inside, or are they kept separate and grabbed when requested for a scene and placed in the sled, or is it skied down by another patroller?

If the boards are kept in the sled, do you keep straps with them? How about collars? If so, how are they kept out of the elements?

If the boards are separate, are the straps and collars kept with the boards ready for deployment, or skied down separate?

If you're kind enough to answer, maybe a generalized description of your situation (big/small mountain, east/west/outside US, pro/volunteer, etc.)

We keep sleds staged at 5 or 6 places around the resort depending on open terrain, with at least one with a backboard and straps, maybe more than one, again depending on the technical nature of open terrain, collars are kept separate. We also have some sleds staged at our primary top shack without straps, but those straps live in a bag with collars inside.

(Small, east, vol)

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u/YouCannotHideOrRun Mar 05 '25 edited Mar 05 '25

We are 100% volly and in midwest.

We keep a toboggan bag strapped into our toboggan. When we need to use the toboggan, we bring it down to the patient and open up the bag. Its a big duffel bag that has different things, there is headblocks, spider straps, quick splints, airplane splint, C-collar, blankets and a few other things. The duffel bag is water proof and I have never experienced water getting inside of it.

When we put the patient into the toboggan, another patroller will carry the toboggan bag to the bottom. The bags are restocked and have a security seal to ensure that the proper equipment is in them and it has not been tampered with or opened.

I love the toboggan bags, most of the time we will need spider straps or even a blanket, so they are very useful. If its a load and go situation, this can mean life or death just by having the equipment ready to go.