2024 Wilderness Risk Management Conference

This presentation will be about how risk is communicated to participants pre-trip, media relations immediately following a critical incident, and overall crisis communications to participants, family members, and internal within the organization post-incident. There may be a false belief, reinforced by subtle choices of language, that an instructor/guide is there to keep clients safe. Dealing with the media after a critical incident is a fine line to walk balancing safety with residual risk and explaining risk management in 15-second soundbites. Lawyers have historically advised their clients – “Don’t apologize, it can be construed as an admission of guilt in litigation.” With the advent of apology laws, it is now possible. This presentation will argue, controversially to some, that communicating – rather than circling the wagons, building firewalls, and saying little if anything at all – with those affected helps in healing, resolving conflict, and restoring relationships.