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Mike
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IMBA Bike Patrol
10/05/09 at 3:20pm
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Chris/Mutt--

I thought your introduction to the IMBA Bike Patrol and what you've done to start that locally was very interesting at the club meeting last week.  Are we going to hear more about that on the forums as well?

I think people will be interested in that ambassador class, as well as the regular one that included first aid certificaiton.  Time commitment will be the big question for many people.  Is this something that you envision having scheduled coverage on specific trails, or will it be more ad hoc just depending on when and where people ride?

Mike
  
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TheMutt
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Re: IMBA Bike Patrol
Reply #1 - 10/05/09 at 6:56pm
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Thanks for the push Mike.   Cool  I’ve had a pretty busy weekend, including today.  However, I did plan on posting up on here about this. 


As some of you know, I made a presentation at the last Trailblazers meeting regarding the IMBA National Mountain Bike Patrol.  I also spoke to SORBA Uwharrie last month about it as well.  I wanted to speak to both clubs in person before I posted up on this site.  Some of you have probably also seen myself or my wife Kellie out on the trails with our patroller jerseys on.  Initially, we’ve been working at some of the bigger races put on by Neal Boyd, and I’ve also attended the last few kid’s rides as a patroller.  In addition to those events/rides, I’ve gone out a few times on my own.  The interest in the patrol has been incredible.  I am hoping to have people patrolling all of the trails in the Charlotte area, and also Uwharrie.  It’s really just a matter of performing patrol duties on the trails we normally ride.  There are no time commitments, and no schedules.  However, the more we are out on the trails, the more successful this can be.  To save myself a little more typing, here is the text from the flyers I have been handing out.


Tarheel Trailblazers Bike Patrol

IMBA's National Mountain Bike Patrol (NMBP) program organizes and supports more than 60 volunteer bike patrol groups throughout the United States and the world.  No patrol group existed to cover Charlotte and the surrounding area, until now.  I am proud to introduce the Tarheel Trailblazers Bike Patrol.

The Tarheel Trailblazers Bike Patrol (TTBP) follows the NMBP guidelines and is dedicated to partnering with land mangers, land owners and emergency personnel, to assist, educate and inform all trail users in order to enhance their recreational experience. 

As a patroller you will:  
      Assist in medical emergencies (assisting injured trail users, etc.)
      Provide or assist with routine trail-side bike repair
      Educate trail users of proper etiquette
      Perform trail sweeping for downed trees, fallen rocks, and other potentially dangerous obstacles
      Inform land managers, owners, and trail users of trail conditions through monitoring efforts

If you like riding your bike, helping other people, and being involved in the management of your local trails, then the TTBP is for you!

You can participate with the TTBP two ways:

IMBA/NMPB Patroller Membership – Requires current certification in basic first aid and CPR

IMBA/NMBP Ambassador Membership - The Trail Ambassador program provides the same services as a patroller, but without the expectation of trailside CPR or first aid.




For more information, please go to (You need to Login or Register to view media files and links) 

or contact Chris Muddiman, TTBP Director(You need to Login or Register to view media files and links)

Of course, questions can be answered here on the forum, or you can PM me.  
  
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linus
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Re: IMBA Bike Patrol
Reply #2 - 10/06/09 at 2:15pm
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Chris, Thanks for running with this prog. I was looking at the Trail Ambassadors route:
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Trail ambassadors are required to:
1. Work directly with local NMBP group
2. Pass a basic orientation training with either local NMBP group or land manager
3. Pass the NMBP online certification exam

What is the NMBP online cert? Looks like one could sign up to take this immediately on the IMBA website, (You need to Login or Register to view media files and links)

Now the reason I looked at this path vs the Patroller membership, is due to the requirement:
Hold current CPR/first aid certification or equivalent

What does it take to get CPR/First Aid certified?

Thanks
  
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TheMutt
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Re: IMBA Bike Patrol
Reply #3 - 10/06/09 at 3:12pm
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Thanks for your questions.  As far as the online exam, you can take it at any time after you sign up.  When you submit it, they will keep your information until you submit your membership.  There is also a study guide available online at the IMBA site, or from me if you want me to e-mail it to you.  It is a test regarding basic knowledge you will need on the trail while performing duties as part of a Patrol.

The orientation training is not a requirement at this time, since our patrol has only two members thus far.  I have plans to create a training program when the membership grows a little.  This can be a collaborative effort amongst the patrol members.  Also, I am scheduled to become a certified patrol instructor here in the next few weeks.  We can all work together to create a training program that best suits the needs of our local riding area. 

Even thought this one wasn’t a question, I’ll cover it anyway just in case.  Working with the local NMBP group simply means that when you join, you should join a local NMBP group if there is one available.  In this case it is the Tarheel Trailblazers Bike Patrol.  I am currently tracking the volunteer hours for the Patrol, as well as submitting them to IMBA.  So far we have 25 hours of patrolling, even though the Patrol is only two months old.  We can do so much more with more members.   


Finally, regarding the first aid/CPR certification, it is obviously not required for an Ambassador membership.  To become a Patroller however, you will need to either be currently certified, or plan on taking a course.  I am certified through the local Red Cross, and my wife is through Presbyterian Hospital (it is a job requirement for her.)  You have to have your certification card before you submit your membership application to IMBA.  If you are a current IMBA member, you can contact Spencer Powlison at (You need to Login or Register to view media files and links), and he will assist you in converting your membership.  I was a current member of IMBA, and I just faxed a copy of my CPR/First Aid cards to him.  I didn’t even have to pay any additional money, since my membership was up to date.

You can contact our local Red Cross at (You need to Login or Register to view media files and links)

Or, you can visit them at: 

Charlotte Headquarters:
American Red Cross
2425 Park Road
Charlotte, NC 28203
(704) 378-4638

If there are any forum members here that are EMT, Fire, etc., then please feel free to let us know of any other ways to become certified.
  
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Re: IMBA Bike Patrol
Reply #4 - 10/06/09 at 5:21pm
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can i carry a taser and must you respect my authoritah?

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Re: IMBA Bike Patrol
Reply #5 - 10/06/09 at 8:39pm
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The NMBP group emphasizes emergency medical response, responsible riding education,
mechanical assistance, environmental concerns, trail user etiquette, local expertise, and interaction with land management agencies. Enforcement is NOT a function of mountain bike patrols.  

We're not the trail police.  This is just a way to portray a positive image of mountain biking to our community, and to help out riders and other trail users.

So sorry, no tasers.  Although that would help with the runners and their Ipods.   Wink
  
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Re: IMBA Bike Patrol
Reply #6 - 10/13/09 at 1:13pm
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Will be glad to help any way I can. I have covered many of the races including cowbell and  Octoberfest for the past few years as a medic and have been a IMBA Bike Patrol member and also certified through IPMBA as a EMS Cyclist. Will also be glad to help set up training as needed or requested.
« Last Edit: 10/13/09 at 1:15pm by dtacmed »  
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JimShoe
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Re: IMBA Bike Patrol
Reply #7 - 10/13/09 at 4:49pm
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Gramps told me you were getting a Charlotte Bike Patrol group together. Music to my ears. Several years ago some attempts were made to get a group together and it just didn't grow any legs. 
Due to the nature of my employment my employer provides CPR/AED training and I took the first aid course from the Red Cross. Also bought several books and started "self educating" myself on wilderness first aid, etc. Unfortunately my interest started to wane as it seemed no one in the Charlotte area was interested in a Bike Patrol group and I was ready to give up my IMBA Bike Patroller status.
For a time I would don my jersey and patrol out at the WWC. It is an ideal location due to the nature of the place with visitors from all over and many folks out on the trails hiking or biking for the first time. I administered some first aid and handed out a few trail maps and answered questions. But with the opening of SB I have tended to stay on this side of town.
It would be wonderful to get a large enough group together where we can receive training here. The nature of my employment prohibits me from taking a couple of days and heading to the Natahala area where courses are available. 
Anyone else interested in this please go to the IMBA website and check it out. Minimum requirements can be met through courses available from the Red Cross.
  
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Re: IMBA Bike Patrol
Reply #8 - 10/13/09 at 4:51pm
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TheMutt wrote on 10/06/09 at 8:39pm:
  
We're not the trail police.  This is just a way to portray a positive image of mountain biking to our community, and to help out riders and other trail users.

So sorry, no tasers.  Although that would help with the runners and their Ipods.   Wink


Could we carry AED's and mentally think of them as tasers? Wink
  
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Re: IMBA Bike Patrol
Reply #9 - 10/15/09 at 8:18pm
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dtacmed wrote on 10/13/09 at 1:13pm:
Will be glad to help any way I can. I have covered many of the races including cowbell and  Octoberfest for the past few years as a medic and have been a IMBA Bike Patrol member and also certified through IPMBA as a EMS Cyclist. Will also be glad to help set up training as needed or requested.



Awesome!  Somehow I thought you would be a big help!  I've actually met you before, at some of the summer series races (my wife is the one that used to be the medic.)  I'm open to any and all suggestions.  We can pretty much mold this in the best way we see fit.  Althought I'm the Patrol Director, it is by no means a one-man rule.

And Jim, do you still have your patroller status?  I've patrolled at the WWC a few times as well, but I don't ride out there as often as I'd like.  I'm really looking for people to cover all of the trails, basically wherever you normally ride.  I usually ride Sherman and North Meck, and I have been known to venture down to Beatty from time to time.   

I really appreciate you both responding to this post and offering your assistance.  I made the small effort to start this patrol, and now all it takes is some volunteers.   Cool
  
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Re: IMBA Bike Patrol
Reply #10 - 01/06/10 at 12:54am
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Hey there, I just came across this thread and was wondering if you had anyone else express interest, and where you stand on membership at this point.  I am interested in becoming a patrol member, however I am in the military and will be overseas until mid summer 2010 so I won't be of much help until then.  I am both first aid and CPR certified as a requirement for my military job.  Typically we ride USNWC trails and Anne Springs.  Let me know and I can take care of as much as I can online and hopefully take care of the rest when I return after this deployment.   

Ryan
  
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Re: IMBA Bike Patrol
Reply #11 - 01/06/10 at 9:17pm
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Thanks for the interest Ryan.  I sent you a PM with more details.

Hopefully we can have a successful patrol and provide a much needed service to our local trail users.



Chris
  
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Re: IMBA Bike Patrol
Reply #12 - 01/07/10 at 3:43am
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Sorry for taking so long to respond. I see you asked about my patrol status way back on Oct. 15. Yes, I have maintained it but was seriously considering giving it up. My employment requires me to be CPR certified and all that. However I want to be further educated but all the training courses would require me to take vacation time and travel to get to them. I have bought several books on wilderness first aid, survival, etc.. but find myself wandering away from them for long periods of time. So hopefully we can get enough bodies interested where we could get some training done locally.
With that said, Sherman Branch is my "home" trail and about the only one I ride at the moment. But just don't feel comfortable patrolling "officially" without a local group behind what I am doing.
  
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