hazards

outdoors home toc =Hazards = A **hazard ** is a situation that poses a threat to life, health, property or environment.

William Shedd
 * A ship in a harbour is safe, but that is not what a ship is built for. **

This page has links to specific topics relevant to wilderness medicine and outdoor activities: Risk management Steep ground Water safety  Avalanches Lightning & sun

see page for SAFETAC approach

Zoned approach
A **zoned approach** to hazards can be helpful:
 * The zone with the greatest risk, e.g. on crag face, in water
 * A zone that is safe, i.e. people will not accidentally slip or fall into the first zone
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">An intermediate zone, where people could accidentally slip or fall into the most hazardous area. The size of this will vary according to gradient etc but will be at least 3 metres on flat ground



<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">It can be useful to get people to think in terms of red, amber and green areas. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">In the green (safest) zone, there is no heightened need for hazard awareness (though no environment is 100% free from hazards and care should always be taken). <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">In the intermedicate amber zone, people need to be told to start "switching on". In this area there is no immediate danger but a lapse in concentration can expose someone to danger. In this area "messing around" and irrelevant chatter need to be eliminated. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">In the red area people need to be focussed on the potential or actual hazards. No-one should enter the "red area" without someone else checking their safety equipment (e.g. harness and knots if abseiling).

<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">The "3 bucket model"
<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Another way of looking at risk and danger is the "3 bucket model". The buckets are self, environment and task. The danger of each is scored from 0 to 3. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Examples of things that increase the danger or risk in the self bucket are fatigue, facing time pressures, hunger, pain and stress. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">The environment bucket can be filled by poor teamwork, inexperienced party members, adverse weather, equipment problems. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">The danger of the task needs to be scored in relation to expertise of the people carrying it out - an abseil is not a major issue for an experienced climber but is to someone who has never done it before. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">If the total score of the three buckets is 6 or more then the risks are substantial - either avoidance (choosing a different route to avoid difficult terrain) or mitigation (e.g. thorough briefing) is needed.

<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">The rule of three
<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Despite the similar name to the models above, this is different. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">In an outdoor setting one might categorise conditions in three ways: <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">red: something that means you should not attempt what you were considering/abort what you are doing <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">amber: something that means you could proceed but need to be cautious <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">green: something that means it is safe to proceed as planned

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">One of these "conditions" could be weather. Walking at a height when lightning is anticipated would be an example of a red condition, while heave rain and high winds might be an amber one. The group members are another condition: if all members are experienced, well equipped and rested their condition would be green. If the planned activity was at the limit for one or two of the group that would be an amber condition, and if it was more than any of the group had previously achieved it would be a red one.

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Having considered all the relevant "conditions" determine how many are green, how many amber and how many red. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">If all are green proceed as planned. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">If any are red do not proceed. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">If one or two are amber, consider if the risks can be mitigated or avoided and if you proceed do so cautiously and with awareness that any more adverse conditions will mandate a review. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">If there are three or more ambers treat this as a red and do not proceed. This is the rule of three.

<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">Other hazards
[|Bear danger signs] [|Survive a bear attack] Skiing/Snowsports injuries: [|http://www.ski-injury.com] Caving: =<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">Emergency procedures =

<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">From ML syllabus:
<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">4.4 Emergency Procedures <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;"> a. procedure in the event of an accident. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;"> b. methods of search and evacuation. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;"> c. a basic understanding of how Mountain Rescue is organised. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;"> d. improvised mountain rescue techniques - application and limitations. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;"> e. emergency bivouac skills.

Emergency procedures
Search & rescue for outdoor leaders [|Winter essentials] [|Winter checklist (MCofS)] [|Mountain weather information service] [|Radio voice procedure & phonetic alphabet] [|Radio voice procedure] [|Wilderness survival]

<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">Mountain Rescue organisation (UK)
<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">In the UK mountain resuce are called by the police. After discussion between the police and the duty contorller for the relvant mountain rescue team, a decision is made by the duty controller whether or not, and how, to deploy. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Lost or injured people cannot call MR directly they call 999 and ask for the police.

[|Organisation in England and Wales] [|Mountain Rescue Committee of Scotland]

<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">improvised mountain resuce techniques
Search & rescue for outdoor leaders

emergnecy bivouac skills

<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">Hazardous attitudes in emergency situations
(adapted from Crisis Management is Acute Care Settings)
 * attitude || in emergency || "antidote" ||
 * macho || I can do it, I'll show you - just watch (and be impressed) || showing off is foolish & dangerous ||
 * anti-authority || don't you tell me what to do in this situation || stick to tried and tested policies & rules ||
 * impulsive || I must do something //now// - we're runing out of time fast || not so fast - think then act ||
 * invulnerable || it won't happen to me - I'm too good/experienced || it an happen to anyone, no matter how good or experienced they are ||
 * resigned || there's not point even trying, we're doomed || you can always make a difference ||

<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">Links
<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">[|An outdoor adventurer's pledge] <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Advice from Mountain Rescue <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">[|Mountain hazards] <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Emergency procedures checklist (MCofS) <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">[|Outdoor safety management] <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">[|10 questions to ask] - from HSE site <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">[|Rule of three]

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">[|"In the event of an incident" (MCofS)]

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">[|Emergency procedures - roles of leaders - and evacuations]

<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">Mastery quiz