Participating in any outdoor activity carries some inherent risk of injury. This sense of danger can be very attractive and is a major reason for the growth of outdoor education in Australia, particularly as we become increasingly urbanised.
It is important to know how to manage these injuries and medical conditions. Some examples are:
- cuts and abrasions
- burns
- shock
- bleeding
- poisons, bites and stings
- fractures and dislocations
- sprains and strains
- neck and spinal injuries
- environmental illness, including hypothermia, hyperthermia, heat stroke and dehydration
- cardiac conditions
- asthma
- diabetes
- choking and breathing hazards