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Safety Policy
"In all our outings we will strive to make every hiker safe and
comfortable."
Notes:
1. The policy only attempts to assure safety; it does not guarantee it.
2. Actual safety and the hiker's perception of safety (comfort) are both
addressed. I think that hiker perception of how safe he or she is on a hike is
very important.
Planning
The following steps are used to implement the above policy:
- Identify unsafe and uncomfortable situations which may occur
on hikes and Club outings (within reason).
- Determine what (1) the club, (2) the leader, and (3) the hiker can do to
(a) prevent, (b) prepare for, and (c) respond to these situations.
This analysis will result in action items for the club, the leaders, and the
hikers, some of which are included in the JC Hike Leader's Guide and the
JCHiker's Guide. As appropriate. If we need to address a new unsafe
situation in the future, we go through the same steps as above.
Leaders in our club enjoy a lot of freedom, and the safety policy should not
interfere with this freedom to the maximum extent possible.
Unsafe Or Uncomfortable Situations
- Injury: Has happened many times, including serious injuries.
- Medical problem: Has happened a couple of times - and serious ones
too!
- Dehydration/hunger
- Hypothermia/Heat exhaustion
- Hike too hard: This used to happen a lot more prior to the rating
system.
- Hiker lost, left alone or too far behind: This has happened and it
is uncomfortable.
- Car lost: (lost while driving to trail head) Happens many times.
- Leader lost
- Insect bites
- Blisters: Occur often.
- Unusual hiker
Following is the Club's analysis of some of the above problems.
Injury
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Prevention
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Preparation
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Response
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| Club's Role |
- Advise leaders to avoid dangerous terrain
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- Train leaders
- Provide emergency phone #s
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| Leader's Role |
- Avoid dangerous terrain
- Avoid dangerous weather
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- Get trained in first aid/CPR
- Carry first aid kit
- Know where to get help
- Carry emergency phone #
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- taught by first aid/CPR course (we hope!)
- Report incident
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| Hiker's Role |
- Notify leader of potential problems
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Medical Problem
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Prevention
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Preparation
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Response
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| Club's Role |
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| Leader's Role |
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- Get trained
- Carry first aid kit
- Know where to get help
- Carry emergency phone #
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- taught by first aid/CPR course (we hope!)
- Report incident
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| Hiker's Role |
- Notify leader of
potential problems
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- Carry medication / supplies
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Hiker Lost, Left Alone, Or Too Far Behind
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Prevention
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Preparation
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Response
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| Club's Role |
- Advise leaders to keep track of hikers
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| Leader's Role |
- Keep group together: wait at trail junctions
- Advise hikers of rules/regrouping points
- Use arrows or signals to mark right trail
- Use sweeps
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- Call for help
- Find hiker
- Report incident
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| Hiker's Role |
- Follow advice
- Keep track of fellow hikers
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Dehydration and Hunger
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Prevention
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Preparation
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Response
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| Club's Role |
- Advise hikers to bring food and water
as recommended in new sign up sheet
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| Leader's Role |
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| Hiker's Role |
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Hypothermia
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Prevention
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Preparation
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Response
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| Club's Role |
- Advise hikers to wear warm dress
as specified in new sign-up sheet
- Ban cotton during cold weather
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| Leader's Role |
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| Hiker's Role |
- Follow advice: prepare well
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Heat Exhaustion
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Prevention
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Preparation
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Response
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| Club's Role |
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| Leader's Role |
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- Advise hikers to bring extra water
- Take frequent rests
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| Hiker's Role |
- Bring sunscreen, hat
- Hydrate before and during the hike
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Hike Too Hard
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Prevention
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Preparation
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Response
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| Club's Role |
- Advise hikers of difficulty rating
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| Leader's Role |
- Advise hikers of difficulty rating
- Advise hikers of dropout points (if any)
- Screen hikers
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| Hiker's Role |
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Car Lost
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Prevention
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Preparation
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Response
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| Club's Role |
- Provide sample good directions to leaders
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| Leader's Role |
- Prepare good directions
- Consider a "caravan"
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| Hiker's Role |
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Blisters
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Prevention
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Preparation
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Response
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| Club's Role |
- Advise hikers to wear proper footwear
(as in new sign-up sheet)
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| Leader's Role |
- Advise hikers to apply mole skin ASAP
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| Hiker's Role |
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