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| Accidents | First-Aid | Insurance |
| Pioneering | Risk Assessments | Leaders |
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Accidents
Despite the best of planning and preparation, accidents
do happen. Walking is not risk free. Every effort will be made to
ensure that any casualty is treated as quickly and efficiently as
possible, according to the circumstances on the day.
First-Aid Members are strongly urged to
always carry in their backpack, a basic first-aid pack (and know how to
use it!). It is hoped that you never need to use it, but as Robert
Baden-Powell famously said more than a century ago: "Be Prepared!"
The club arranges basic / intoductory first-aid courses from time
to time. It is a sad fact that club members have not fully supported
such initiatives.
Insurance Although the Club's Public
Liability insurance policy protects walk leaders and members from
third-party claims, accident cover is not provided. Members are advised
to check their own personal insurance to determine the level of cover
their policy provides.
Pioneering The relevant walk leaders are responsible for ensuring that individual walks are pioneered (walked beforehand).
The
walk leader is responsible for advising participants beforehand of
difficulties that will be faced on the walk. Any difficult route
points, obstructions etc should be identified and steps taken to reduce
or eliminate the risk.
In the case of blocked rights-of-way, the
leader should report the precise location (preferably quote the O.S.
Grid Reference) of the obstruction to the club's Rights of Way Officer.
Risk Assessment The essential objective of a Risk Assessment is to identify hazards en-route and - preferably - eliminate the resulting risk, or at least reduce the amount of risk.
Providing the entire route is walked beforehand, the physical act of pioneering will constitute the Risk Assessment
However,
members who are contemplating leading walks at night, in extremely
isolated areas or over terrain higher than 660m / 2000ft are strongly
advised to complete a written Risk Assessment at least two weeks in
advance of the planned activity.
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Walk Leaders Each walk is led by at least one
competent leader who will have pioneered the route beforehand. The
leader is in complete charge of the walk and his / her instructions
must be obeyed.
The leader will take account of the composition of participants of
the walk to determine the pace of the walk, which should be reasonably
comfortable for all.
The leader will decide upon suitable refreshment places and the length of stop.
The leader has the right to refuse to allow any person to attend a
walk who the leader reasonably believes is not properly equipped or
prepared for the walk.
It is recommended that there is a co-leader (more
acceptable terminology than backmarker!) to provide assistance on all
walks. This is especially necessary when walk participants exceed 16 in
number or if the distance between the tortoises and the hare becomes
too stretched out.(This can quickly occur if a number of stiles are
met!)
The co-leader may be appointed at the start of the walk or at any time during the walk.
Walk etiquette dictates that walkers should always 'follow the leader' and not go storming on ahead, unless agreed.
Weather Conditions The Club prides itself on
walking in all weathers! We have enjoyed walks in snow, skated on ice
(metaphorically), survived gales and obviously got soaked to the skin
on many occasions. But we are not fool-hardy. Obviously, weather
conditions and local forecasts will be taken into account - especially
if hill-walking. We will also take into account driving conditions, as
we want to arrive and return safely.
Remember the old adage:
"There is no such thing as bad weather - simply a poor choice of clothing"