This is provided as an aid to others planning to run bat walks but we
recommend that each prospective site for a bat walk be carefully assessed for any
additional hazards not listed here.
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Hazard
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Precautions
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Slips
/ trips / falls
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Make
a daytime planning visit to select the route for the walk to as far as
possible avoid paths that are any combination of narrow, muddy, dark, or
have significant trip hazards such as tree roots. Where these are
unavoidable, ensure that someone stands next to the identified hazard
while people pass and clearly illuminating the hazard with a torch.
Advise
participants to bring a torch, and try to ensure that those that do are
evenly distributed among participants.
|
|
Bites
from insects
|
Advise
use of insect repellent as the risk is highest at dusk when bat walks
take place.
|
|
Poisonous
plants
|
Ensure that walk avoids areas with poisonous plants (such as
giant hogweed) or that these are clearly pointed out to participants.
|
|
Excited
children
|
Advise
parents or guardians to ensure that their children stay with them at all
times and that they are responsible for them. No unaccompanied children (under 16)
should be allowed on the walk.
|
|
Drowning
- falling into rivers or ponds & lakes
|
Ensure
that participants are made aware of where banks etc. are located. Route
walk away from any particularly narrow or hazardous areas.
|
|
Hypothermia
from exposure or becoming wet
|
Abandon
walk if weather is poor at start or during walk.
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|
Toxocariasis
|
Risk
from contact with dog faeces, particularly to small children. Try to
ensure that walk avoids areas with serious contamination.
|
|
Weils
disease
|
Only
likely to be a risk to those who accidentally come into contact with
potentially contaminated water. Anyone who does so should be warned to
watch for flu like symptoms within a few weeks and report them to their
doctor immediately.
|
|
Lyme’s
disease
|
This
can
be contracted from infected ticks that may be present in vegetation on
sites where deer in particular are present. The walk should keep to open
paths and never cross over areas of thick vegetation.
|
|
Problems
with dogs
|
London
Bat Group recommends that dogs should not be permitted on bat walks as they
may prove to be a distraction especially to children. If any participants
bring any dogs ask them to leave them in their car or that they must be
strictly kept on a lead. Watch out for any stray animals near to group.
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|
Physical
assault
|
Try
to ensure that no one becomes separated from the main body of participants
and that those who leave early do so in reasonable numbers. If possible, a
volunteer should act as back marker while the group is on the move.
|
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Accidents
& sickness
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Ensure
that the nearest A&E hospital is known. Make note of the location of
the nearest public telephone, or that there is access to a mobile phone
and that the emergency services could be reliably directed to the location
of the walk.
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