BASP

BASP

Oceanwide Expeditions is a partner with the Scottish registered organization BASP (British Association of Ski Patrollers) and benefits from their first aid training scheme that is provided to Oceanwide Expedition Leaders who receive a certificate after successful participation.
BASP is well known by outdoor enthusiasts who require knowledge of first aid in a remote environment, providing quality training in Outdoor First Aid and Ski Rescue.  BASP is also known and respected within the International ski patrol world through the International Ski Patrol Federation (FIPS). By training and grading ski patrollers in the UK and having strong links with the majority of International skiing nations.
BASP provides First Aid for outdoor users who spend their work or recreation time in a remote or hostile environment. BASP is approved by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) as a First Aid at Work provider. Courses are particularly suitable for all the British National Governing Body awards (NGB).
BASP was formed in 1987 as the British Association of Ski Patrollers; their main aim is to represent Ski Patrollers, to standardize training and grading of Ski Patrollers, and to provide rescue and first aid services to British Ski areas. In addition to this they aim to train people to be Safe, Confident First Aiders.
BASP is a member of the Federation Internationale des Patrouilles de Ski (FIPS). Every two years they send representatives to the FIPS International congress, where they share and learn with other like minded and experienced ski patrollers from all over the world.
In the autumn of 1988 BASI asked BASP to provide a first aid training course for ski instructors in their training schemes. Such was the success of these initial courses that other ski organizations and a number of outdoor activity centers, soon followed suit, asking them to provide similar courses.

In 1992 BASP was approved by the Health and Safety Executive (First Aid) Regulations 1989 to run First Aid at work courses. (Reg.No. 1195/92)
BASP has now developed a First Aid and Safety Training Scheme designed specifically for the outdoor user, drawing on the skills and experience of their Trainers, all of whom are Ski Patrollers and/or experienced rescue personnel with a wealth of mountain and first aid knowledge. Their Trainers are HSE First Aid Instructors, many of whom are qualified BASI ski instructors, Mountain Leaders or Instructors, Watersports instructors, EMT's or Paramedics, and VQ Assessors.

On 12th October 2004 BASP became a Company Limited by Guarantee - BASP UK LTD, in order to protect its members from liability and to strengthen the growing business it had become for the benefit of its members and the people who they train.

There are 135 members of BASP, of these 38 are Full members, 26 are Trainee or Probationary Patrollers and the remainders (71) are Associate members.