Current Topics at Ontario Division

In recent years, there seems to be increasing attention paid to infectious diseases, including Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), and Bill 105, which amended the Health Protection and Promotion Act to require the taking of blood samples to protect victims of crime, emergency service workers, good Samaritans and other persons.

The CSPS policy stays the same. Prevention is still the best method. This includes the basic step of using gloves, washing hands frequently, and the vaccine for Hepatitis B is also recommended.

Bill 105 received Royal Assent on December 15, 2001 and became law on September 1, 2003. Medical Officers of Health have been in meetings to decide how to best implement this new act.

Keeping up to date on these and other infectious disease concerns can be frustrating. Here are a few websites that will help to keep you informed:

Bill 105 added s. 22.1 to the Health Protection and Promotion Act . The text of s.22.1 of the Act can be found at:

The Regulation to Section 22.1 of the Act (Orders under section 22.1) can be found at:

Ontario Division Skills Competition 2003 – The Results

Overall Champion - Blue Mountain (Central Zone)

First Aid Champion - Hidden Valley (Muskoka Zone)

On Snow Champion - London Ski Club (Western Zone)

Congratulations to the nine teams that competed in the 2003 Ontario Division Skills Competition!

Each team consisted of three CSPS members working together to treat the injuries found, and transport the injured patient off the hill.

A special thank you is extended to the scenario patients who joined us from a Grade 10 Drama class at North Bay’s Widdifield High School.

This event would not be possible without the dedicated help of the many CSPS members from across Ontario Division who acted as marshals, patients, examiners, and set up and tear down crews.

A Big Thank you to…. Algonquin Zone, Central Zone, Frontenac Zone, Kawartha Zone, Superior Zone, Sault Ste. Marie Zone, Muskoka Zone, and Western Zone.

The purpose of this protocol is to assist the Canadian Ski Patrol System - Ontario Division in the appropriate management of their members who have had a potential significant exposure to blood or body substances. This is not intended to take the place of qualified medical advice, only as a supplement to provide some clarification. Please refer to the CSPS First Aid Manual Chapter 3 - "Infectious Diseases and Universal Precautions" for further information.

CSPS Patrollers Now Protected by Ontario's Good Samaritan Act

The Good Samaritan Act, 2001 became law in Ontario on April 27, 2001. The Act protects health care professionals or other persons from liability for negligence when they provide voluntary emergency medical or first aid services at the scene of an accident or emergency to persons who are ill, injured or unconscious as a result of an accident or other emergency.

The full text of the law is available here.

Ski Patrol Harassment Guidelines

Below, you will find the two documents (in Microsoft Word format) that refer to the Harassment Guidelines for Ontario.

Link to HarassmentPolicy.doc
Link to HarassmentGuideline.doc

Emergency workers win Round 1
Commons vote sends Blood Samples Act to Committee

Ottawa - Good Samaritans, police officers, firefighters, paramedics, prison guards, and health care professionals won a battle yesterday, but there is still another round ahead.

The House of Commons voted yesterday (152 to 73) to send Fraser Valley MP Chuck Strahl's Bill C-217, the Blood Samples Act, to the Justice Committee for review and public hearings.

"Today is an important victory for Front Line Emergency workers," Strahl said. "These folks work hard on our behalf, and it's good to see Parliament legitimize their concerns by passing this legislation at second reading."

Bill C-217, which Strahl has been pushing since 1999, compels any person who either accidentally or deliberately contaminates a health care, emergency or security professional or Good Samaritan with his or her bodily fluids, to submit a blood sample for analysis to determine if HIV, Hepatitis C, or Hepatitis B is present.

"In a world that is growing more insecure, we need to support our Front Line Workers," Strahl said. "They deserve the right to know if they have contracted any disease when they have been exposed to someone else's bodily fluids - to ease emotional trauma and make better health and medical decisions."

Strahl also pointed to the strong lobbying efforts by different emergency organizations, like the Canadian Police Association, which helped Bill C-217 reach this stage.

"The will of Parliament to send Bill C-217 The Blood Samples Act before the Standing Justice Committee for study proves that this issue is worthy of the legislative process and the effort to craft legislation that can address all concerns and interests," Canadian Police Association President Grant Obst said. "For our members, access to this information is extremely important. We look forward to hearing the views of all interested and concerned parties before the Justice Committee and the opportunity to contribute to the process."

Strahl noted the joint efforts of the past will be required in the continuing fight to make Bill C-217 into law.

"I want to thank the CPA and all the other organizations and individuals for their support," Strahl said. "This victory is their victory. C-217 would not have reached this point without their help. We'll keep up the pressure on the government -- it's time to win Round 2."

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The Ontario Ski Council

The Ontario Division - CSPS is one of eight members who make up the Ontario Ski Council (OSC). The OSC and its member organizations have had a long and successful history as both a collective voice for snow sliding in Ontario and for their individual disciplines. The OSC is a group of member organizations whose design is to be a collective voice providing leadership, advocacy and counsel for the enhancement of snow sliding in the Province of Ontario.

The OSC annually applies for and is fortunate to receive financial support from the Ministry of Citizenship, Culture and Recreation of the Ontario Government. Last year, the Ontario Division - CSPS was extremely pleased to have received support in the amount of $27,760.00 to assist in four projects that forecasted a total expenditure of $75, 810.00. These four projects were: Promotion of Safe Snow Sliding in Ontario, Ontario Division First Aid Competition, Support for the CSPS First Aid Instructor Collaterals, and Support for the annual Ontario Division (Zone Presidents) Strategic Planning Meeting held each August.

The additional funds needed to make up the shortfall between the total expenditure and the government funding came from a variety of sources including fund raising and Zone contributions. Ontario Division intends to focus its projects on areas that provide direct benefit to patrols and patrollers in Ontario.

If any patroller is interested in participating on a committee to further develop these projects .... or to suggest and develop proposals for others, please contact Vivienne Ball, VP Communications & Safety Promotion at cspsondiv@yahoo.ca or any member of the Ontario Division Executive or your Zone President.

The Ontario Ski Council is affiliated with the Canadian Ski Council and receives information from the Snow Sliding industry that is shared with the Zones as received. The members of the OSC work together as well to seek ways to enhance, complement and strengthen each other's organization and operation. Together, the members of the OSC will continue to work together to make the snow sliding industry in Ontario a vibrant, thriving industry where snow sliders participate in safe, enjoyable sliding at all levels.

Royal & SunAlliance Canada dates back to 1710. The Royal & SunAlliance Group provide a comprehensive range of insurance and financial services to customers world-wide.

Now, why would we provide this information the Ontario Division Web page? Royal & SunAlliance are much more than just an insurance company. Royal & SunAlliance has a long tradition of supporting and contributing to the communities in which they live and work. They are dedicated to making a difference through providing financial and volunteer support with a focus on injury prevention. They have made contributions to:Red Cross International, Women in Insurance Cancer Crusade and "Smartrisk" (a national non-profit organization whose aim is to prevent injuries and save lives).

The Ontario Division executive submitted a proposal to Royal & SunAlliance to support our "Promotion of Safe Snow Sliding" ("Psss" for short) program that we launched last ski season. You will hear more about this soon.... if you haven't already.....you know..."Psss, pass it on"!

We were more than pleased to receive word that Royal & SunAlliance saw value in our proposal and provided us with $7,000.00, which was our entire request, to support our project! Funds have been and will continue to be used to purchase resource materials to be used in the Psss program by patrols across the province, like those cute little Tony the Toque beanie babies…..

We continue to appreciate the support provided by Royal & SunAlliance. It is a pleasure to "partner" with organizations who share our interest in promoting injury prevention throughout our "community".

If you have the opportunity to meet or do business with any representatives of Royal & SunAlliance, please pass on our appreciation for their contribution!

Current Topics at Ontario Division!