Conservation Ethnobiology Field School 2012

Safety

Safety is a top concern of the Field School. Everyone must be trained in the necessary skills. All participants should, at all times, display the behavior that is appropriate for staying safe and keeping others safe.

Team Travel

All Field School travel is done with a small team (leader plus 3 to 6 individuals).

The team leader is expected to do the following:

Demonstrate all of the basic planning, risk assessment, first-aid skills demanded of all individual team members.
Show leadership skills so that the overall team functions safely and accomplishes its goals.
Articulates individual responsibilities and monitors performance regarding these responsibilities.
Confirms that all team members are fully prepared (e.g., equipment, supplies, conceptual awareness).
Files a travel plan and makes sure that it is followed.
Maintains the necessary safety standards.
Serves as the final arbiter for critical field decisions.

Individual Skills

During a field expedition, each member of the group should be able to do the following:

Account for all the members. Failing this, develop a strategy to quickly find any missing member.
Show the direction to the base station. (What is a base station? Why is it important?)
Tell how long it will take to return to the base station.
Respond to the dangers posed by extreme weather.
Estimate the time until sunset/dusk and how this might affect the current situation.
Start a fire.
Describe the procedure if separated from the group (e.g., lost off the trail).
Improvise a rain shelter.
Prepare to spend the night outdoors when this was not part of the scheduled activities.

Group Skills

During a field expedition, there should be group leadership and individual skills that allow the group to do the following:

Communicate with the base station.
Verbalize an appropriate response to an emergency involving an individual (e.g., broken leg, shock, bad cut).
Organize to shift gear in case one or more members can not carry their share.
Provide assistance to another party traveling in the same area (e.g., directions, dangers, water, food).
Find someone who is lost in an organized manner that does not unnecessarily endanger other people.
Respond to a problem associated with the loss or failure of equipment.
Develop a strategy for crossing a stream that has suddenly risen.
Create a group consensus when there is a problem (e.g., which trail to take, should someone be sent for help).

Group Emergency Considerations

Garmin Rhino "communicating" GPS systems
Each person needs to have a photo on file for emergency responders
Each person needs to have a "who to contact in emergency" file
Each location/trail needs to have an emergency plan
Emergency responder information

First Aid

All Field School participants are required to pass a standard certification course for first aid/CPR prior to the start of the Field School.

All participants should be able to handle the following situations.

Common Problems

Common Cold:
Infection:
Diarrhea:
Pain:
Inflamation:
Alergic Reaction:
Cuts:
Blisters:
Thorns/Splinters:

Note: www.wildernessmedical.com has appropriate group kits

Skills and Behaviors

Novice

Expects other people to take care of safety concerns.
Allows self confidence to be the guide.
Ignores safety advice.
Fails to gather the large-scale context of the location (is not "site aware").
Shows no concern for the safety or well-being of other people.
Communicates poorly, especially regarding group activities.
Believes that accidents happen to "other people."
Defers to other people to solve emergency problems.

Advanced Beginner

Understands that there are dangers, even in places that might be considered safe elsewhere.
Prepares for some emergencies.
Is generally prepared to handle simple health problems.
Has some knowledge of the places and procedures for taking people to emergency treatment.

Competent

Anticipates problems and knows the locations of nearby emergency resources.
Assumes a leadership position and confidently delegates responsibilities to other people.
Has a good knowledge of how to solve most common health-related problems.
Encourages other people to behave in a risk-aversive fashion.
Confirms that appropriate first-aid resources are always available.

Proficient

Plans activities that prepare people to be emergency responders.
Prepares supplies and equipment so that emergency needs are covered.
Confirms locations and availability of emergency services.
Devises emergency procedures
Requires that other people meet training standards.

Expert

Anticipates the situations that might arise and skillfully guides everyone to a safer situation.
Uses opportunities to coach safety in ways that are subtle and unobtrusive.
Develops safety procedures, sets standards, and enforces attitudes relevant to safety.
Finds acceptable alternative procedures for tasks that are safer.
Handles safety responses with maturity and in-depth knowledge of the situation and environment.
Delegates responsibilities so that other people develop higher-level safety skills.

Test Your Preparation

The questions on the link below can be used to do a self-assessment of your knowledge about safety.

Safety Questions

Last Updated: September 24, 2011.

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