2. Avoiding Suicidal Behavior - Safety Tip Of The Week

[ricki]

If you have students out in an avoidable storm in a class and someone suffers a serious injury as a result. It is likely just a "freak accident," right?*

- Was the hazard fairly obvious and avoidable?
- Did you disregard the hazard and possible consequences?
- Did you use "due care" to warn your students and try to avoid the evident hazard?

It is possible that civil and maybe even criminal charges could follow.

Look at what the boat Captain is going through in Pompano after the para sailing accident in the squall. He was facing criminal charges and a civil lawsuit. Add to that what he will likely be thinking about for much of the rest of his life.

If you don't teach, you don't have to worry about any of these serious consequences in ignoring storms, right? Wrong.

The hazard is obvious as are the possible range of consequences. Some call us "dopes on ropes." If all riders, not just instructors use common sense and courtesy it should be easy avoid that handle and a lot of possible problems. Think about it.



* In kiting "freak accidents" are fairly uncommon. Most are predictable and avoidable with reasonable due care.