Ski Season Is Here!! Great Time for Using ICE

Whether you are going downhill on skis, boards or any winter sport or you are managing a ski resort operation, using ICE has never made more sense! ICE can benefit both the winter sport enthusiast as well as the businesses that provide the fun!

Being in a remote location, away from medical facilities and what we are normally accustomed to can increase your risk in an emergency. Using ICE and being prepared can reduce that risk and help others better serve you in an emergency. It also makes perfect business sense.

We are all on the slopes to have fun and getting sick or injured is not usually part of the thought process when arranging our day out. As safety professionals, we recognize that all too well and have provided ICE as a part of the solution to this potential problem. Being prepared in any venue that can be risky is simply being smart. It might also mean the difference between having a great time or a totally ruined vacation.

Ski managers can use ICE as a Safety Icon throughout their facilities - people can be trained in seconds to recognize the high visibility symbol that can represent safe areas, emergency equipment, communication centers, first aid stations and preplanned evacuation sites. Strategically placed posters can reinforce this message alerting downhill folks about ICE. These can be placed at lift sites, ticket kiosks, locker rooms, entrance ways and at the end of the lift so everyone gets the message. It works for seniors, juniors and staff.

This is really too easy - and for you managers facing tough economic times because of the weather, relax because this system won't bankrupt you or your customers.

Ski Patrols can sponsor safety programs by distributing ICE Stickers and ICE Cards to skiers and boarders (and patrollers) at their ski shacks and at the lodge when people are picking up lift passes. You can even integrate ICE into your ski pass system using 2D Barcodes or RFID and scanners can become a part of the emergency equipment and lift setup.

You can even mail them out ahead of season to schools using your facilities so when the inevitable injury occurs (not to you of course!) ski patrollers can respond more effectively and quickly in helping you. If you were a school risk manager and had to recommend a slope with a good safety program.....wouldn't you pick one that used ICE and insisted upon more than ski etiquette or the traditional adult left in the lodge carrying the emergency contact list.

What is your backup plan? ICE even has a workplace Emergency Action Planning Tool and weatherproof posters that can mean locating the information around your facility so everyone can become familiar with what to do in a mass evacuation or disaster.

ICE information and hyperlinks can be placed on your mountain website to show your commitment to safety and that you are taking it to a really personal level by providing your customers with more than simply a piece of mind!

ICE is truly international in scope, using the non-language dependent E.123 Standard http://www.ice4safety.com/unstd.html can help first responders recognize emergency information anywhere around the world. ICE is even linked from the well respected ski-injury.com website at http://www.ski-injury.com/

We won't get in to the various logistics and communications (not to mention LANGUAGE)challenges each ski area faces but you can be certain that getting information and making contact with someone who knows you and can help is one that can always be improved upon!

Managers - ICE can be as high profile as you like, it is inexpensive - but effective, the tools are easily adapted to your site in minutes, they are free (now you are listening) internationally recognized, easily understood, can be great for promotional events like Helmet Safety or Race Days and can be used by your employees, ski patrollers (their families too!) as well as your patrons. Your mountain can sponsor the distribution of this safety program for increased public recognition. Integrate ICE into your written safety program - we have that.

Customers will take this safety system with them off season as well - in their car, their wallets and to their friends and relatives.....that might mean more repeat business!

Did we mention you can place your logo or website address on the ICE items your distribute (free)? Yes, that too! Need a fundraiser for the patrollers? Use ICE in that event.
Designed by a skier, paramedic, public and industry safety professional, we know this works.

It has been a public service for over 3 years. Our hand is not in your pocket. We still provide free ICE Tools for those sending a SASE to us. If you want to sponsor part of the giveaway program - let us know and your business can benefit by free advertising on the ICE websites.

Skiers - This just makes great common sense - and the ICE Sticker on your board, skis or helmet with your Medical Info Form or ICE Card in your bibs or jacket ski pass window can be in addition to your cell phone being programmed with emergency contact information.

Be prepared - and have a really great ski trip! See you out there.....

Prep Tip - Auto Safety Kit - Road Flares

If you decide on using 30 minute road flares instead of/or in conjunction with the electronic flares then you might consider making your own road flare container or buy one from safety or auto parts store.

You would be surprised on how many people DO NOT have any form of emergency road signals in their vehicle.

Using some thin wall 4 inch PVC Pipe you can create a suitable container that allows you to store 9 flares inside. End cap, scrap pipe, threaded female adapter and a male threaded cap and an application of a high visibility plastic paint (Yellow or Orange recommended).

Some excellent options are to apply labels and DOT Reflective Tape (not shown) as well as one of the new Large ICE Stickers. Have those work gloves nearby as well - molten burning flares can wreak havoc on uniform wool pants or your bare hands.....trust us on that one.

This will protect the flares from damage due to shifting loads in your vehicle and you won't have to smell the obnoxious fumes from the chemicals in the flares.

A rope handle tied onto the tube might make it easier to carry around - commercial versions have a handle built in.

You can get a commercially made one for $11 online at Gall's - http://www.galls.com/style.html?assort=general_catalog&style=HS208&cat=3145

Learn how to use these flares BEFORE the need arises because in an emergency you will not be able to read the fine print instruction on the side of the flare - learn how to fold over the wire stands that holds them in the air. Don't get the spike tip flares - you'll have problems either spiking yourself or making the mistake of punching them into the pavement when lit and burn yourself or your clothing.

Just don't forget to get the flares!

ICE Vehicle Emergency Info Kit

As mentioned on the website blog....we now have 2x2 inch UV and weather resistant ICE Stickers to enhance your use of ICE as a Vehicle Emergency Info Kit.

This is too simple and for free (one per family) you can have your vehicle outfitted with ICE. No, the stickers won't dial out for you when the airbags deploy.... but you can purchase OnStar for that.

What this simple method does is make it even easier for responders to notice that you have emergency information on board. You won't be able to do this with those medical bracelets or the phone stickers that no one recognizes....but the bright safety colors used in the ICE Sticker will attract attention. We had it on a dozen cars the first day and we must say it does actually look good!

You just cannot miss the sticker.....suggest lower driver side rear window and driver side back window lower left corner(toward front of car).

The theme here is redundancy...we will continue to use the word to pound that message home.....never rely on any single tool for your safety preparations. You can use multiple cards and forms in various locations if you are an active person and ski, boat, hike, camp, run, bike, roller blade, surf, snowmobile walk the mall......or go off roading.....the list goes on....you're covered.

That way when you get out of your vehicle....ICE is still with you.

Here's the Drill...

• Place large sticker(s) on the front and rear exterior of your car (optimally) - don't place them in the arc of your wiper blades or where it will obstruct your view and violate traffic codes as that would prematurely wear out the sticker. (One free by SASE)


• Outfit your glove box with completed ICE Cards and self sticking clear Card Holders. (Free by SASE)


• Keep a completed ICE Card (Basic Contact or the new Medical Info Card) in your wallet. (Free by SASE)
  
• Program your cell phone (if you have one) with contact info using the E.123 Method. (Free)
  
• Affix the smaller ICE Sticker on your cell phone. (free by SASE)


• Complete a Medical Info Form (free online)

See our previous blog about vehicle emergency kit contents...it is never too late. Yes, snow will cover up the stickers under some conditions, so clean off the snow before you travel. If you remember that nothing is perfect, your life will be less stressful.

Ok, that was pretty simple.....now see if you can get this setup for free anywhere else. We will be reporting on the various other uses for this sticker in subsequent blog articles and on the website.......this will make it much easier to organize and be prepared.

Public safety agencies take note.....this will be a great tool for your community safety programs.

Thank You OnStar

On Star advertisements on the radio recently were heard to say that "cell phone based" emergency contact systems were not reliable or useful in the event of an emergency.

There is some element of truth to that OnStar, so thank you very much for the free support of what we have said here all along...which is that basing your entire personal safety plan around (a cell phone or car based system) one single safety measure is foolhardy.

So, unless you live in your car or next to the refrigerator in your house - OnStar and Info Vial programs aren't going to serve all your safety needs. Both of these programs were meant to serve one purpose - increase sales of cars or prescription drugs.

GM is going bankrupt right now so maybe they felt it time to take a swipe against those folks who might not be able to afford the pricey $500-600 a year on vehicle based safety program - or the new car they come in either. What is the company's public service message? Buy more OnStar. (How does that work when you decide to travel in someone else's car anyway?)

Maybe the government initiated vehicle VIN# based ICE notification project started 4 years ago isn't moving along fast enough (or at all) now for GM - who knows and who is waiting anyway.

ICE4SAFETY's public service of providing a simple, yet effective emergency contact and info system (DIY) method is working - RIGHT NOW.

No, it is not satellite based but you don't have to purchase a car to get it either!

We also noticed Verizon Wireless Service being mentioned on the OnStar website.....reminds us about that old adage of doing something unpleasant where you eat.....Verizon is the only mobile service offering "cell phone based" ICE on their phones. Oh well.

Thank you for lending support to the idea of redundancy - even if that was not the original intent. And hey, there is nothing wrong with having OnStar on board.....like we said - don't make it all you count on in an emergency.

Purchase ICE Stickers/Cards Using Secure PayPal

We decided to allow people to purchase stickers and cards directly from us in smaller quantities that are convenient and based on prior requests.
You can do this safely using PayPal online payment services. Personal quantities are still FREE.