"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:

1. Identify unsafe and uncomfortable situations which may occur on hikes and Club outings (within reason).
2. 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 NVHC Hike Leader's Guide and the NVHC Hiker'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

	Prevention	Preparation	Response
Club's Role	Advise leaders to avoid dangerous terrain	Train leaders Provide emergency phone #s	Keep track of incidents
Leader's Role	Avoid dangerous terrain Avoid dangerous weather	Get trained in first aid/CPR Carry first aid kit Know where to get help Carry emergency phone #	taught by first aid/CPR course (we hope!) Report incident
Hiker's Role	Notify leader of potential problems

Medical Problem

	Prevention	Preparation	Response
Club's Role	Warn hikers	Train leaders	Keep track of incidents
Leader's Role		Get trained Carry first aid kit Know where to get help Carry emergency phone #	taught by first aid/CPR course (we hope!) Report incident
Hiker's Role	Notify leader of potential problems	Carry medication / supplies

Hiker Lost, Left Alone, Or Too Far Behind

	Prevention	Preparation	Response
Club's Role	Advise leaders to keep track of hikers	Provide emergency #s	Keep track of incidents
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		Call for help Find hiker Report incident
Hiker's Role	Follow advice Keep track of fellow hikers

Dehydration and Hunger

	Prevention	Preparation	Response
Club's Role	Advise hikers to bring food and water as recommended in new sign up sheet
Leader's Role	Mention at parking lot	Recognize symptoms	Report incident
Hiker's Role	Follow advice

Hypothermia

	Prevention	Preparation	Response
Club's Role	Advise hikers to wear warm dress as specified in new sign-up sheet Ban cotton during cold weather
Leader's Role	Advise at parking lot	Recognize symptoms	Report incident
Hiker's Role	Follow advice: prepare well

Heat Exhaustion

	Prevention	Preparation	Response
Club's Role
Leader's Role	Bring extra water	Advise hikers to bring extra water Take frequent rests	Report incident
Hiker's Role	Bring sunscreen, hat Hydrate before and during the hike	Bring extra water

Hike Too Hard

	Prevention	Preparation	Response
Club's Role	Advise hikers of difficulty rating
Leader's Role	Advise hikers of difficulty rating Advise hikers of dropout points (if any) Screen hikers		Report incident
Hiker's Role	Follow advise

Car Lost

	Prevention	Preparation	Response
Club's Role	Provide sample good directions to leaders
Leader's Role	Prepare good directions Consider a "caravan"		Report incident
Hiker's Role	Follow directions

Blisters

	Prevention	Preparation	Response
Club's Role	Advise hikers to wear proper footwear (as in new sign-up sheet)
Leader's Role	Advise hikers to apply mole skin ASAP	Carry mole skin	Report incident
Hiker's Role	Follow advice