Springer Preventing Fatal Incidents in School and Youth Group Camps and Excursions: Understanding the Unthinkable (International Explorations in Outdoor and Environmental Education)

This book approaches the prevention of fatal incidents in outdoor education and related fields through detailed study of past tragedies. Although safety in many fields is built on accumulated lessons from past incidents, tragedies on school or youth group camps and excursions are so infrequent and so widely scattered that knowledge from previous incidents can elude those who would benefit. Nevertheless, the emergence of unlearned lessons from the past weighs heavily when those affected by a tragedy judge whether an incident should have been prevented. This book provides a foundation for a detailed and comprehensive understanding of fatality prevention in outdoor education, and in youth camps and excursions. It compiles, examines, and analyses information on fatal incidents that have occurred over many decades, involving many kinds of groups and endeavours, from around the globe. No previous work has attempted this task. Review “This is a book that should sit dog-eared on the desk or shelf of everyone who claims to be involved in outdoor education: instructor, tertiary educator, school teacher, youth group leader and trustee/board member. It is a book that needs to be read and reread and the learning digested to ensure that avoidable fatalities from the past are not repeated.” (Mike Brown, Journal of Outdoor and Environmental Education, December, 2019) “I am familiar with Brookes’ previous work on fatality prevention, this book has been influential partly as refresher, and partly due to the new insights which situate fatality prevention within wider safety discourses. … There is no one who has worked to this end so comprehensively and with such dedication. Brookes has inspired others, including myself, to make changes to our practice. This book continues the trajectory of this project and its impact may well provide a small solace to those grieving.” (Chris North, Journal of Adventure Education and Outdoor Learning, December, 2018) From the Back Cover This book approaches the prevention of fatal incidents in outdoor education and related fields through detailed study of past tragedies. Although safety in many fields is built on accumulated lessons from past incidents, tragedies on school or youth group camps and excursions are so infrequent and so widely scattered that knowledge from previous incidents can elude those who would benefit. Nevertheless, the emergence of unlearned lessons from the past weighs heavily when those affected by a tragedy judge whether an incident should have been prevented. This book provides a foundation for a detailed and comprehensive understanding of fatality prevention in outdoor education, and in youth camps and excursions. It compiles, examines, and analyses information on fatal incidents that have occurred over many decades, involving many kinds of groups and endeavours, from around the globe. No previous work has attempted this task.