Everything's Fine Until It Isn't

Jake is a bit crook this week, so Avian Sandercock and Sam Turner are joined by Richard Prideaux to talk about something everybody assumes they have covered until it all goes wrong: staying safe outdoors. Richard spent years working in mountain rescue, outdoor safety and risk training, but this isn't about turning a day's fishing or shooting into a special forces operation. It's about working out what can realistically go wrong, what actually matters and what you can do about it before you leave the house. They get into the difference between likelihood and consequence, why experienced people can become more complacent than beginners, the idea of thinking "left of bang", telling somebody where you're going, first aid, group dynamics and why sometimes the safest thing you can do is tell one of your mates to stop being an idiot. There is also a beater who is specifically told not to go near a mine shaft and promptly goes to look at it, 25 people and 17 dogs wandering over to have a look, spaniel emergencies solved by mars bars and Richard explaining why the last time he nearly died was on a boat and definitely wasn't his fault. In this episode: Why experience can sometimes make you less safe Likelihood, consequence and how we actually judge risk Thinking "left of bang" before something goes wrong What to think about when shooting, stalking or fishing alone The mine shaft incident and the problem of secondary casualties First aid for people and dogs in the field Why group dynamics can make sensible people do stupid things Near misses, shortcuts and learning from other people's mistakes Useful links: - Support SideCountry on Patreon Part of the SideCountry Network. DISCLAIMER Views are those of individual speakers and do not necessarily represent SideCountry, its presenters, contributors, partners or sponsors. For general information and entertainment only. Laws, seasons, access and guidance change; check official sources, obtain permission and act within your competence.