Safety

The safety of our students and staff are paramount on every Costa Rica Outward Bound course. One of the reasons we do not guarantee that specific rivers will be rafted or beaches will be surfed is because our highly trained instructors are charged with making decisions based on existing water and weather conditions.

Naturally, there are perceived and actual risks inherent to any outdoor adventure activity or program. Costa Rica Outward Bound has established proven risk management systems based on Outward Bound International standards, which are incorporated into staff training, evacuations and program policy.

Each course is accompanied by at least two instructors, a Lead and an Instructor, equaling a minimum student to instructor ratio of 6 to 1 when engaged in risk-bearing activities. In most cases one of your instructors will be a Costa Rican National who brings a vital cultural and linguistic element to the overall experience. They are well versed in the identification of local flora and fauna, and in most cases literally grew up in the course area.

Generally, a student will return with a few bumps, scratches or blisters, but very rarely with anything beyond that. In the unlikely event of a serious injury, the student will be evacuated by an instructor either on foot, horse, stretcher, 4x4 or in the most extreme cases, helicopter, to the nearest hospital. When logistically feasible, preference is given to private hospitals and physicians.

Students cover the costs of the actual evacuation and are responsible for any hospital or physician’s treatment, as well as any medication purchased that is not available from the instructor's medical kit. When necessary, Costa Rica Outward Bound would front these costs and bill the participant after their return home.

Every Costa Rica Outward Bound Instructor is required to have training and certification in several areas – both general training and training specific to their areas of expertise. Some of the certifications we require of our instructors include:

Wilderness First Responder (WFR)

Wilderness First Responder is an advanced version of the 48-hour Emergency Response Certification most US police officers, firefighters and athletic trainers are generally required to earn. The WFR course adds several more hours of curriculum and practice for application in the wilderness setting. Certification from American Red Cross and Costa Rica Outward Bound is valid for 3 years. All Costa Rica Outward Bound instructors hold a WFR certification. Read more in this blog article.

CPR For the Professional Rescuer

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is an emergency medical procedure for a victim of cardiac arrest or, in some circumstances, respiratory arrest. The American Red Cross has set the industry standard for this certification, which must be renewed each year.

Open Water Lifesaving

This course is designed to prepare those who take it to safely manage groups while swimming, surfing, body surfing, snorkeling or other activities at a beach with wave action. Initial training is 30-40 hours and subsequent annual training is 16 hr minimum. Certification is required annually. We use the required course curriculum from the United States Lifesaving Association for Open Water lifesaving. Read more in this blog article.

National Association of Underwater Instructors (NAUI)

The National Association of Underwater Instructors is an internationally recognized SCUBA training and certification body. Our NAUI-certified SCUBA Instructor teaches all of our beginner-level Open Water Diver courses. Many of our outdoor instructors are certified divers, which makes them more proficient at a number of water activities. Read more in this blog article.

Swift Water Rescue Technician

Rescue 3 International is the organization that has set the industry standard for swift water rescue training and indeed is the premier organization for such training. Just like all of our river staff, many firemen and rescue personnel are required to have the Swift Water Rescue Technician training, which is valid for three years.

Technical Rope Rescue

Rescue 3 International also provides certification for a 3-day Technical Rope Rescue course to ensure safety on any climbing or rappelling activities.

Whitewater River Guide License Class III

The International Rafting Federation has developed a standardized curriculum for training whitewater river guides. This course involves at least 20 days of guide training in order to become certified to guide participants on class III river sections. This is the premier certifying entity worldwide. Costa Rica Outward Bound’s lead river instructors are required to have at least a class III certification, if not a class IV or class V. Read more in this blog article.

Costa Rica Outward Bound Land Training

Outward Bound instructors are trained in both hard and soft skills. All instructors go through a rigorous 15–20 day land training course designed to prepare them to deliver high-quality, safe multi-element courses. Land Training prepares experienced outdoors people to teach and transfer skills needed in the outdoors. Rainforest education, technical skills, local knowledge, evacuation routes, communication methods and group dynamics and initiatives are all covered. International Institutional climbing protocols, expedition planning and camp craft, all receive considerable focus.