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There are a number of principles to follow in conducting outdoor activities. The following is a list of some things you can do to ensure your own safety and that of your party, but it is not exhaustive. You should follow the advice of professional safety and emergency organisations such as park rangers, the police, and alpine resort management when planning outdoor activities.
- Let someone know before you go. Have a home contact who knows where you're going and when you're expected back. Ensure that you tell them when you return.
- Inform land managers (park rangers, ski patrol, etc) when you're conducting activities on their patch.
- Carry a first aid kit with supplies relevant to the hazards you may encounter. For example, when travelling in sandy areas consider carrying some saline eyewash. Also maintain the skills to use your kit by having a current first aid certificate.
- Keep yourself physically fit and don't attempt expeditions beyond your party's capabilities.
- Know what hazards you are likely to encounter on your trip, and where possible practice dealing with them before the trip. For instance, you may plan a walk in the Cathedral Ranges that involves some rock-scrambling. You could take your party to an indoor climbing gym as part of your pre-walk training to practice skills such as balance and gripping rocks. Obviously this isn't the same thing as climbing a real rock with a 20kg pack on your back, but it will get people thinking about what they're likely to encounter out in the real world.
- Carry the most appropriate means of communication with you. In some areas, this might be a mobile phone or even a radio. In wilderness areas it may be an EPIRB. Mobile phones should be switched off when not in use to preserve the battery.
Many outdoor activities are inherently risky. Information contained in this web site is not a substitute for proper training and experience in the outdoors. Some of the techniques described herein are hazardous; people unfamiliar with outdoor activities should seek assistance and advice from appropriately-trained and -qualified people and organisations.
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