BV Nordic Centre

Safety Information

BV Nordic Centre is operated by volunteer non-profit Bulkley Valley Cross Country Ski Club. The following information and equipment are for self-help and for voluntarily assisting others.

Lodge Telephone

  • A telephone is available on the main floor across from the 1st Aid room.
  • The phone number is 250-846-5030
  • The phone is for emergency or brief non-emergency calls. Long distance calls will be blocked.
  • Dial 9-1-1 for ambulance, police, SAR(Search and Rescue) or fire

All skiing is at your own risk

  • Skiing alone is NOT recommended. 
  • Don't rely on cell phones as coverage is poor on most trails.
  • There is NO First Aid Attendant and NO ski patrol on duty.
  • Trails are NOT patrolled. 
  • A Day Pass, or Season Pass must be worm at all times while skiing and/or inside the lodge.

1st Aid Supplies

  • Small First Aid kit upstairs above small sink
  • Two portable First Aid kits in right side cupboard in First Aid Room on main floor.
  • Rescue toboggan, for use with rescue snowmobile is located in #1 carport by the garage. Toboggan has blankets, basic 1st Aid kit and leg splint wrapped inside tarp.
  • Four Basic Emergency Kits out on trails – locations marked on trial map. Contains blanket, thermal blanket, thermal pad, tensor bandages and basic band-aids.

AED (Automated External Defibrillator)

  • The AED is stored left of the stairs inside the main door of the lodge.  
  • The AED is a portable device that checks the heart rhythm and can shock a heart to restore a normal rhythm.
  • Anyone can use the AED. It Talks! Should be used together with a call to 911.
  • If someone is unconscious, use the AED. It only shocks if needed.
  • Child pads located in large pocket of AED bag.

Rescue Snowmobile

  • Anyone familiar and comfortable operating a snowmobile, may use our black Skidoo Skandic snowmobile. Use at your own risk.
  • Black Skidoo Skandic is parked in open carport. 
  • Helmets are mandatory - located in the cupboard in First Aid room on the main floor of the lodge.
  • To start Skidoo Skandic:
    • Ensure key fob/tether is in ignition (small ball)
      • Key fob is located in windshield storage compartment 
    • Ensure red stop switch is in ON position (pull up)
    • Depress Orange button on left side handlebar until engine starts.
    • Depress brake lever and slide gear-shifter to Low gear.
  • Roll-over hazard increases with two people on the machine. Drive within your ability and snow/weather conditions.

Emergency Rescue Procedures

Determine if the situation involves a minor incident, a serious injury or a lost/overdue skier.

Minor Incident Rescue

If the person’s location is known and they just need help returning to the lodge:

  • Tell someone at the lodge area, a caretaker or other contact what the situation is, what you plan to do and when to expect a check-in when back. 
  • Retrieve helmet/s from First Aid room. Activate the Skidoo Skandic snowmobile and attach the toboggan to the ball hitch (hitch located on the west wall in carport if not installed)
  • Retrieve the person to the lodge and notify your check-in person.

Serious Injury Rescue

If the person’s location is known and the injury is serious, or unknown:

  • Call 911 while someone retrieve helmet/s from First Aid room. Activates the Skidoo Skandic snowmobile and attaches the toboggan to ball hitch (hitch located on the west wall in carport if not installed)
  • Enlist help from others nearby.
  • Ideally, send two people on snowmobile with toboggan to assist injured person. Bring portable AED. 
  • Leave someone at lodge to communicate with 911 and direct emergency responders if necessary. Mark known position of injured skier on a trail map.
  • Paramedics may go out on trail if they are supplied with a snowmobile driver, helmet and snowsuit. 

Search for Lost or Overdue Skier 

  1. Find out as much information as possible about the missing person (name, age, skiing ability, clothing, knowledge of trail system, fitness level, medical conditions, etc.)
  2. Determine exactly where the person was last seen, which direction they were travelling, planned route, and time elapsed since last seen.
  3. If weather and other circumstances make a rescue urgent, contact the RCMP at 847-3233 to engage BV Search and Rescue (SAR). In the interim, begin a short-duration initial search as described in 4.
  4. If there are people immediately available, begin a short-duration initial search:
  • Organize search teams of 2 people per team. 
  • Communicate information collected in steps 1 and 2 above to teams and assign priority trails/areas to search. Establish a check-in time from each team once deployed.
  • Send out two people on rescue snowmobile to speed up search on far away trails. Ensure to bring rescue toboggan.
  • If skier returns on their own, call off search with RCMP ASAP.

Biathlon Safety