According to China National Radio’s “CNR News,” looking back at 2011, there were as many as 100 outdoor safety incidents. What is there to think about behind these numbers?
In recent years, outdoor sports accidents have increasingly come into public view, and how to ensure the safety of outdoor activities has become a focal point of our discussion. In 2011, all kinds of outdoor sports accidents occurred one after another — getting lost, falling off cliffs, going missing, human-caused issues... Almost every weekend saw an incident. According to statistics, there were over 100 outdoor accidents in 2011. Whether travel and safety can go hand in hand is worth our reflection.
Currently, four sports activities — “ice climbing,” “rock climbing,” “high-altitude exploration,” and “mountain outdoor sports” — have been listed as high-risk sports under the “National Fitness Regulations.” The incident where hikers were trapped in Mount Siguniang during the National Day holiday is still fresh in memory. Some media commented that “adventures paid for by society can only be called recklessness.” How can we avoid such incidents to the greatest extent? Here, we have compiled experiences from some countries where outdoor sports are well-developed abroad, which may offer us some useful insights.
In New Zealand, formal degree education in mountaineering has begun to develop. In addition to some universities, it is mainly undertaken by outdoor sports centers. The training methods include short-term courses, certificate programs, as well as three-year outdoor academic education and outdoor degree education, among other diverse educational formats.
In the United States, almost all mountains are designated within different parks. The scenic areas are equipped with comprehensive mountaineering infrastructure. In addition to clearly marked hiking trails, there are sturdy hiker huts at regular intervals, stocked with sufficient supplies.
Additionally, both the United States and Japan encourage the development of civilian rescue organizations. In the U.S., mountain rescue associations have rescue teams in various locations that handle local rescue operations, ensuring the fastest response times and the highest levels of safety.