Describes a 10-step process for analyzing danger as a way of reducing the chance that an accident will happen, or minimizing its consequences to acceptable and recoverable levels. Factors that can inhibit the process include inappropriate attribution, relaxed concentration, rushing to maintain a schedule, group or peer pressure, and poor judgment.…

A group of outdoor teachers camping in the snow on high ground was caught in a blizzard at night. Their tents were ripped and they were forced to descend in the dark. Analysis determined that they had been caught unaware, they had improper equipment, and a lower-risk option for the descent would have been more prudent. (TD)

The Accident Frequency-Severity Chart (AFSC) is a tool for correctly assessing and appropriately coping with risks inherent in adventure programs. The AFSC helps to measure risk frequency (likelihood of loss) and severity (amount of loss) of specific outdoor activities. The AFSC can also be used to compare safety records of outdoor activities and…

Analyzes the actions taken by an instructor when a student fell while climbing a gill (a gorge cut into the mountainside by a fast-flowing stream). Stresses the importance of instructors making quick decisions and remaining calm during a potentially dangerous situation. Suggests using a hand line in the future to alert students of risk involved.…

On a canoeing trip with a group of 8 14-year olds, the leader was faced with a paddler who floated away from the group, a capsizer, and a reluctant participant. Subsequent analysis of the situation suggests that a briefing on signals prior to the experience and an experienced assistant in two locations were needed. (KS)

In 1994, an outdoor adventure company was the first British company to be found guilty of corporate manslaughter. General principles of criminal law, including the difference between recklessness and gross negligence, are reviewed to provide those in the outdoor industry a rough guide as to their possible criminal liability. Discusses U.K.…

Analyzes a situation in which a group of adolescents on an outdoor adventure trip experienced emotional distress after a participant became ill, was evacuated by the group, and was taken to the hospital. Recommends strategies for the instructor that would have prevented emotional distress, including maintaining a proper perspective of the…

Explains licensing regulations applicable in the United Kingdom to commercial providers of adventure education programs that offer caving, climbing, trekking, and water sports; provides information on license applications, including licensing standards related to risk assessment and safety management procedures; and addresses issues related to the…

British legislation requires that Outdoor Activity Centres ensure the safety of employees and everyone who may be affected by their activities. Required risk assessments are more effective if they consider low-risk as well as high-risk activities and consider all incidents, including near misses, thus compiling a broader database from which to…

Safety qualifications for adventure education are not intended to prevent the enjoyment of adventure. Good training enables participants to avoid basic errors and tackle greater adventure sooner. Discusses the need to balance individual freedom with responsibility, and how the Lyme Bay canoeing deaths prompted increased concern in Great Britain…

Discusses Alan Hales's model of safety management in the context of caving. When two sets of hazards, human and environmental, are present together, risk occurs. Objective risk is uncontrollable and should be avoided in educational settings; subjective risk is controllable. Presents positive and negative strategies for engaging or avoiding…

Describes duties and responsibilities of outdoor instructors under British criminal and civil law. Discusses elements of negligence under civil law including damage, duty of care, standard of care, in loco parentis, students' duty of care, foreseeability, and employer's legal duty. Presents risk management in terms of primary, secondary, and…

Discusses a college fieldtrip experience in Pembrokeshire, United Kingdom, in which an extreme event at an oceanside blowhole nearly resulted in injury or death. Relates this to other dynamic and chaotic situations along coastlines. Recommends sensitization to potential risk factors. One of series discussing incidents in which no injury occurred…

The (British) Adventure Activities Licensing Authority ensures that adventure activities are run by competent people who follow good practices. Discusses how the technical competence of technical advisors is determined, and how their role varies in different situations. Legal responsibility remains with the provider, who must ensure that someone…

Suggestions for meeting licensing requirements for adventure education programs in the United Kingdom include identifying risks that could result in death or disabling injury, determining whether these risks are being adequately controlled, documenting appropriate supervision of instructors, developing a safety policy that addresses staff…