Ice & Snow Season: The life of a ski resort emergency response worker
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Ski resorts are all fun and games when enjoying the slopes with friends and family. But all that joy can be erased in a split second, in one single fall. That's why ski resort rescue workers are integral to ensuring a safe environment for all. Zheng Yibing takes a look at their efforts which aim to ensure that winter sports continue to thrive across China. 

One could call them the guardians of the slopes, overseeing skiers and snowboarders as they come racing down through the fresh powder. 

We've come to Yunding Snow Park here in Hebei Province, to see exactly what they do. 

SKI RESCUE COORDINATOR "Guozhi, we have a skier with an injured arm. We need backup."

ZHANG GUOZHI Emergency response worker "Copy that."

ZHANG GUOZHI Emergency response worker "What happened to you, bro?"

SKIER "I can't move my left arm."

ZHANG GUOZHI Emergency response worker "I am Zhang Guozhi. I have been on the Yunding rescue team for eight years. I served in the Beijing Winter Olympics and world and national championships. We serve in the sports events, and we assist amateurs during the winter season."

Just like any sport, skiing is fascinating – but it comes with its risks of injury. Sometimes, those injuries can be minor. But in other cases, they could be severe or even life threatening. 

ZHANG GUOZHI Emergency response worker "During a race, if someone gets hurt, we're able to identify quite quickly how the injury occurred. We'll carry out a rapid assessment of what transpired. We use rescue sleds to transfer the injured person to a proper medical site for further treatment. We work in pairs to avoid any secondary injuries, especially since we're using a sled to transfer the patient."

During his spare time, Zhang trains with his teammates and helps newcomers hone their rescue skills, like transporting injured skiers. 

ZHANG GUOZHI Emergency response worker "This is the brake chain for our rescue sled, and if we're on a steep hill, we'll put the brake chain over here, and then the sled won't slip or slide down. When the slope is relatively steep, how do we pull the sled? First, get the safety buckle up and locked. Take one hand and hold the rail. Take another to lift this part up. Then, we can move."

During the three-month-long ski season, close to 400,000 skiers come to this ski resort. Zhang Guozhi and his teammates are busy and work from eight to 14 hours a day. They say that they value this job and will remain dedicated to the task. 

Zheng Yibing, CGTN, Zhangjiakou, Hebei Province.