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On this page you will find links and recommendations to help you
understand more about managing risk related to orienteering activities.

​Why is this important?

AOA and all affiliated member clubs must encourage their members to review the General Guidelines and Safety Rules and Recommendations information yearly.

• Orienteering is an outdoor activity that carries a risk of personal injury due to natural and man-made hazards, animal encounters and environmental conditions. While the participants acknowledge these risks, the organizers of orienteering events must have rules and recommendations that cover how to reasonably minimize these risks and what to do in case of injury or if a competitor is overdue. Please read the General Guidelines and Safety Rules and Recommendations educational materials.

 

• There are general safety rules and recommendations which apply to all orienteering events and there are event-specific plans which should provide sufficient details for specific actions  to deal with unique situations. Make sure you follow the event organizers guidelines  and notices.

Educational materials
Click on the links below 

• GENERAL GUIDELINES 

​                 provided by Orienteering Canada

• SAFETY RULES & RECOMMENDATIONS   provided by Alberta Orienteering​​​​

• CONCUSSION  BASICS

                  visit our Concussion In Sport page​​
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Living with wildlife

​Visit the WILDSMART Website to learn about how to reduce negative human - wildlife interactions.
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​When orienteering in bear country, the best strategy to avoid an encounter with a bear is to make a great deal of noise (talk loudly, sing!), stay in a group (eg. when training) and be alert for signs of bear activity (look for scat). In the rare case of an aggressive confrontation, bear spray is your best defense. Please see the link below:
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Carry bear spray and know how to use it!