Final answer:
Altitude sickness is the potential health risk associated with a ski patrol lowering a rescue device, resulting from the low level of oxygen at high altitudes.
Step-by-step explanation:
The potential health risk associated with the ski patrol lowering a rescue device, such as a sled, is altitude sickness. This condition can occur when someone is quickly taken to a high altitude, especially under physical stress, leading to low blood and tissue levels of oxygen. Symptoms may include headaches, disorientation, fatigue, nausea, and lightheadedness. Although the question refers to a scenario involving the ski patrol, the potential health risks seem unrelated to the physics concept of work done by forces during the lowering of a sled on a slope. However, if we take into account the context of a high-altitude environment, acute mountain sickness is a plausible concern.