
Crisis Management
for Outdoor Center Staff
There is a constant draw to the outdoors. Nearly half of the U.S. population (ages six and up) took part in an outdoor activity in 2017 at least once according to the Outdoor Industry Association’s 2018 Outdoor Participation Report. That’s over 13.5 million individuals, many of whom are participating in an outdoor activity for the first time or returning after time away.
Places like recreation centers and outdoor hubs provide access points to the wonders of the wilderness. Newcomers arrive seeking guidance and a gentle hand to lead them through the first exhilarating steps into the wider world beyond their front door. Other enthusiasts come for access to new skills and deeper knowledge to excel in their fields. From recent graduates following the call to become whitewater guides to veterans seeking new thrills in their civilian lives, outdoor recreation centers draw a vast crowd from all walks of life.
Even with activities being offered close to home and the utmost care put into managing risk, our beloved outdoor enters are not immune to traumatic events. As students progress from indoor climbs to real rock, the consequences of an improper belay increase. A raft guide in training may perform to peak standards, but the frothing river does not pause just because the toss of a rescue line goes askew. The time and effort that goes into mitigating risks and preparing for an emergency helps to stave off the worst-case scenarios, but sometimes things go wrong beyond anyone’s control. This is where Anchorpoint Response can help.
Is your instructor team current on their CPR and First Aid skills? We bet they are. What about their emotional first aid? Serious injuries may be managed with the use of splints and bandages, but what about the mental trauma of facing a season without the use of that arm or leg? Are your responders trained to assist those who survive the fall but are now struggling to live with the aftermath and grief that a critical injury or the trauma or a near miss can cause? Is your team emotionally and psychologically prepared for the tragic times when best efforts are not enough to save a life? Wait-and-see is unacceptable when evidence has shown that first responders are capable of developing resistance and resiliency to critical incident stress and that crisis interventions reduce the potential for negative outcomes when delivered by individuals with the proper training. Whether your market is the car-camper or seasonal thrill-seeker, we know that you invest time and resources into providing the very best experience for your clients and guests. Protect the people on your team and the guests they serve by investing in them- -in their psychological, emotional, and physical well being through crisis intervention planning, preparedness, and response.
Contact us – we’d love to hear from you!
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Training from the BACK of the Room comes to Anchorpoint
Over the last week, our training manager, Katja Hurt, has been braving the sweltering east coast temperatures to bring Training From the BACK of the Room to Anchorpoint Response and the Pacific Northwest. Training from the BACK of the Room, or
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Making Resilience Skills Accessible to Children
Dr. George Everly is a highly respected author and researcher with groundbreaking work in resilience, crisis intervention, and disaster response. Dr. Everly's impressive biography draws the attention of many in the mental health world, especially in caring for the first