Risk Management for Outdoor Education Activities

“Take risks: if you win, you will be happy; if you lose, you will be wise.” –Unknown-

“Man must exist in a state of balance between risk and safety. Pure risk leads to self-destruction. Pure safety leads to stagnation. In between lies survival and progress.”- Unknown-

“There is no security on this earth. Only opportunity.” - Douglas Macarthur

The Principles

• RISK IDENTIFICATION
• RISK ASSESSMENT
• RISK REDUCTION
  - Avoidance
  - Reduction
  - Retention
  - Transference
  
  

Outdoor Activity Instructor Supervision

Facility & Field/Area Supervision

• Provide for overall facility supervision,
• including the safe arrival and departure of participants as well as a safety check of the field or facility.
• Keep an eye on the weather and don’t play during unsafe weather conditions.

Activity Supervision

• Recognize the hazards and potential injury
• Always try to have a good ratio of coaches to players for every activity.

Gender-Sensitive Supervision

• Learn how to prevent abusive situations from occurring.
• Establish procedures to handle cases when a player is stranded after an activity.
• Consider doing background checks on all coaches and volunteers in your organization.

Emergency Supervision

• Train coaches and volunteers on basic emergency procedures, how to handle an injury and how to get help
• Establish set procedures for your team and communicate them to your coaches.