Managing risk in an emergency situation primarily involves minimising the chance of harm occurring to the participants involved. This should always be the priority for a group leader and for the individuals involved and should be central to any decision making.
The decision making at this time can be very fluid in response to ever changing circumstances. However, as with route planning, foreseeing risky situations and predicting potential dangers is the essence of the risk assessment procedures that were undertaken before the trip started. Having this document on hand and referring to it when faced with such as situation will reduce the stress levels and allow for a more effective decision to be made. For more information on this process, click here.