Students from Northeast Normal University are trained in ski patrol and rescue at the school's teaching base in Jilin city, Jilin province. [Photo provided to China Daily]

Dong Rubing began to look forward to the possibility of being a ski patrol rescuer after graduation when the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security announced it as one among 19 new occupations recently. A ski patrol rescuer is defined as personnel who conduct safety inspections of skiers and facilities at ski resorts and provide assistance to the injured before medical treatment.

With the continuous expansion of ice and snow sports in China, new professions related to it are emerging in order to ensure the safety and enjoyment of skiing for the public.

Dong, 20, got an admission to the Department of Ice and Snow Sports of the School of Physical Education at Northeast Normal University in Changchun, Jilin province, in 2022.

In June last year, the school launched the course on ski patrol theory and practice, which covers theoretical and practical aspects such as skiing skills, snowfield culture, outdoor first aid, injury assessment, patrol systems, rescue methods and medical knowledge, aiming to cultivate ski patrol professionals with systematic theoretical knowledge and standardized practical skills.

"In February, my classmates and I took part in the practical course at the university's teaching base, a ski resort in Jilin city," said Dong. "Our university invited a group of international experts in the field of ski patrol for on-site guidance, aiming to train versatile and multifaceted ice and snow professionals in line with international standards."

During the course, they patrolled the ski slopes first and then encountered an "injured" person on the slope, she said. They would assess the injury, such as an arm injury, and proceed to bandage the arm or secure it in case of a fracture.

Then they would communicate with other patrol members for assistance and transfer the injured person to the nearby hospital promptly, if the injured person had some symptoms such as breathing difficulties, she said. "It provides more practical experience, especially for students of ice and snow sports, enabling us to use the knowledge gained during the course," she said.

New regulations

On Feb 1, Jilin officially implemented the Management Regulations for Ski Resort Patrol and Rescue Personnel, which is the first local standard in the field of ski resort patrol and rescue in the country.

The new regulations also filled the gap in the field of ski resort patrol and rescue in China, according to the Jilin Provincial Sports Bureau.

According to the regulations, ski resorts with a total ski slope area of less than 50,000 square meters must have at least two ski patrol rescuers on duty at all times.

As early as 2013, skiing was recognized by the country as a high-risk sport. With the continuous expansion of ice and snow sports in China, the demand for professional ski patrol rescuers is increasing day by day. According to data from the General Administration of Sport of China, there were a total of 2,847 ice and snow sports venues nationwide last year.

During the 2023-2024 ice and snow season, the number of participants in various ice and snow sports such as ice skating, skiing, curling and ice hockey reached 57.35 million, with a total of 109.53 million participation.

The number of participants in skiing reached 35.42 million, with 54.82 million participation.

"During the research for ski profession applications, we found that there is currently a gap of around 20,000 ski patrol and rescue personnel in China," said Liu Junyi, director of the Jilin Provincial Ice and Snow Sports Key Laboratory. "I believe that with the gradual improvement of safety regulations, standardization and systematization in our country's ski resorts, the ski patrol rescuers will become increasingly scarce and essential for ski resorts."

Furthermore, the occupation will be expanded and diversified in the future, he said.

"For example, in the summer, they may be involved in snowfield construction and summer activities at ski resorts such as summer outdoor activities and grass skiing," he said.

"The occupation can also promote the enhancement of ski safety in our country and provide support and security for the overall ice and snow economy, ensuring the economic stability and development of ski resorts."