Safety and Risk Management

As a future recreation professional, safety and risk management is something that I hold to a very high standard. The most important aspect of any outdoor event is making it as safe as you possibly can. Creating a physically safe environment is just as important as creating a psychologically safe environment. Danger can add a sense of action and get adrenaline pumping, so creating a comfortable level of perceived risk is important while maintaining a low level of actual risk. Psychological safety is important as well. The job of a recreation professional is to provide people with an adventure and keep them in the comfort, or growth zone. Expanding into the panic zone can be bad for mental health and can deter people from trying something again. Taking the proper precautions and planning efficiently for an event can make the difference between growth zone, and panic zone activities for some people. Not only is it important for the actual safety of individuals, but taking the proper precautions and having the proper paper work goes a long way for the safety of a company, legally. Being sure to inspect equipment and using the correct procedures is important for the safety of a company. One of the easiest ways to prevent injuries and keep yourself safe, is knowing what you don't know. Knowing your limitations is important for individual safety. Also being able to look at someone and get a general gauge of their comfort level is important for the safety of others.

The picture above of me mountain biking is my personal artifact for safety and risk management. Mountain biking is when I feel like am in the growth zone the most and experience the most flow. It has its risks, but it also has safety precautions to make those risks as minimal as possible. By following those safety precautions at all times, and knowing what i don't know, I am able to safely bike regularly and experience some risk. Down below is a copy of my lifeguard certification for my institutional artifact. My lifeguard certification shows my knowledge of risk management, and provides written proof from a company that I am competent in that ability.