In his book “Wilderness Secrets Revealed ” (p. 255, 2013), author Andre-Francois Bourbeau expresses the view that it helps to answer the following pessimistic scenarios before undertaking an outdoor activity: (1) What happens if departure is delayed for some time?
Three outdoor youth tragedies that changed things . . .
Since 1978 (a little more than a generation ago), there have been three outdoor event tragedies involving school-age youth, which were cause for reflection in the outdoor recreation industry – one was a 1978 canoeing incident (13 fatalities), one was
BSA’s “Safety Pause” slogan
BSA’s “SAFETY PAUSE” slogan is a convenient manner by which to address risk management during the planning and conduct of an activity: PAUSE before you start, ASSESS possible hazards, UNDERSTAND how to proceed safely, SHARE your plan with others, and EXECUTE
“Barrier analysis” . . . standard of care by another name?
“Barrier analysis” is a concept which originated decades ago with government and industrial accident investigations and accident prevention efforts. While the barrier analysis concept has not routinely been associated with risk management in the outdoor recreation field, extensive discussion of
Common outdoor risks and controls
There are industry-recognized and experience-based risks commonly associated with outdoor activities. As white water rafting, canoeing, kayaking, snow skiing, and snowboarding are common outdoor Scouting activities, reference is made, by way of example, to the Victoria, Australia state government’s below
Causes of accidents in the outdoors
The causes of accidents in the outdoors are many, but have generally been characterized as being related to one or more of GEAR, PEOPLE, and ENVIRONMENT. UNSAFE ACTS, UNSAFE CONDITIONS, and ERRORS IN JUDGMENT also contribute to the occurrence of
The “Rescue Curve” . . . self-rescue, or call for help?
In the wilderness, whether on land or on water, reported incidents make clear that rescue of one or more participants may be necessary. Whether the desired rescue is ultimately possible or successful depends on a number of factors, including the
Risk vs. the mission of Scouting
The potential for significant risk during a Scouting activity is generally not something that a parent would find comforting, if not disagreeable, particularly if such potential is significant. There are several Scouting stories on the web which suggest that one