footprints: answers

6: river hazards

teacher's notes

  1. This worksheet is relevant to any activities that take place on, in or around freshwater rivers or lakes. Such activities might include canoeing, rafting, liloing, bushwalking or residential camping.
  2. Hazards are the physical object that create the risks. Risks — real risks, that is — are the actual danger, an act or action that could result in losing something of value. Loss is some form of damage or injury. It can be physical (e.g. bruises or breaks), psychological (embarrassment) or financial (damage to equipment).
  3. What makes this worksheet more complex than a simple "mix & match" is that it asks students to examine the relationship between 3 different things: hazards, risks & potential loss. There is certainly room for debate. Take #6 strong currents as an example. Wading or swimming against strong currents could be seen as risky behaviour. Tumbling & being swept downstream could be seen as the risk inherent in (or consequence of) that behaviour. Broken bones or bruised ego could be seen as potential losses.
    An example is be crossing a river on a slippery log. The slippery log — combined with the water & rocks underneath — is the hazard. Falling into the river is the risk. Breaking bones, developing a fear of water or smashing a watch are all forms of loss.
  4. In the loss column, there will always be a continuum of potential losses. For example, if you step on or otherwise get too close to a snake, potential loss may vary from getting a fright to fatality. The severity of the loss could just come down to chance.
hazard risk/s potential loss
e.g. manky water just entering the water in the first place becoming ill from swallowing a toxic brew
1) snakes not watching your step; putting your hands where you can't see them being poisoned
2) steep banks mucking around or being careless where you can fall getting wet or breaking bones (depending on what you fall onto)
3) submerged objects (esp. in murky water) jumping or diving into water when you cant see the bottom spinal injury (1)
4) sharp rocks or broken glass not wearing shoes flesh wounds (to the feet especially)
5) loose or slippery rocks not taking care with foot placement; not keeping low ankle sprain; cuts & bruises
6) strong currents trying to wade or swim against or across currents that are too strong tumbling & being swept downstream
7) cold water/wind-chill not wearing proper clothing/gear rapidly losing body heat [possibly resulting in hypothermia]

8) wind (in open water) paddling out or sailing when it is too windy; not staying close to the shore being swept a long distance from the shore, resulting in (at least) serious inconvenience
9) deep water getting out of your depth drowning

10) shallow water jumping or diving into the water without first checking the depth spinal injury (2)

 

© wipeout.com.au
For further support, email SOS@wipeout.com.au

back to answers | back to footprints