Safety ( B-aware)

B-aware!

Going outdoors is a lot of fun….At the same time, adventure has its inherent risks. Some of these are beyond human control. But most of these risks can be minimized. Adventure professionals around the world, continuously work towards making this environment safer. Below are a few suggestions we wish to make to you, so that you are safe out there.

GENERAL

• Check the credentials of your guide, that s/he has relevant qualifications and experience in the activity involved.
• It is critical that a professional has a ‘Wilderness First-Aid’ qualification. Being in a wilderness setting implies that definitive medical care (like ambulance service, hospital etc) is far off. Wilderness First Aid is a much more advanced form of first-aiding than normal first-aiding. A Wilderness First Aider is trained to save life and stabilize the condition of a patient for a long time in a wilderness setting.
• Check that the outdoor staff has experience of performing CPR and EAR.
• Check that the outdoor staff knows how to perform a search and rescue operation.
• Check on your adventure operators back-up plans. What would they do if things go wrong?
• Check that all gear used, especially ropes, harnesses and helmets are rated by international certifying agencies. Indian made gear, usually, doesn't fall in the international safety standards.
• Check that all roping systems e.g. rappelling set-up is backed up. What happens if the rope you are descending on, comes off?
• Ask about the instructor/guide: participant group ratio. The smaller the better - 1:5 is ideal.
  
  WHITE WATER PADDLING
• 
  Check that your guide has white water rescue qualifications and experience. The guide licenses issued by government agencies in India does not necessarily mean that agencies have checked on the rescue qualifications and experience of the guide!
• Check that the guide carries a first-aid kit on water.
• Check how long your life jacket can keep you afloat on water. Yes, they have a time limit and shelf-life!
• Make sure you have experienced being in water and checked the reliability of your life jacket just before you board the raft.
• Maximum capacity of a four chambered raft is 8 people plus one guide. Check that the operator does not overload.
• In cold weather, make sure the agency provides you with dry/wet suit. They keep you warm. Did you know, one can die of hypothermia (steep drop in core body temperature) in as less as 20 minutes! Shivering is the first symptom of hypothermia.
  
  ADVENTURE GEAR
  
  Avoid very cheap options. All adventure gear has a shelf life and a work life. And adventure gear is expensive. An operator providing cheap options cannot maintain a good standard of equipment or invest in staff training & updating. Watch out for these guys!
  
  Remember, your life is more important than money. marzi hai aapki, aakhir sir hai aapka ... ; )

Inputs by Tipu