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Whenever women have insisted on absolute equality with men, they have invariably wound up with the dirty end of the stick. What they are and what they can do makes them superior to men, and their proper tactic is to demand special privileges, all the traffic will bear. They should never settle merely for equality. For women, "equality" is a disaster.

Robert A. Heinlein


Haxardous Situations

This is one is best suited for an evening around the fire after a day's activities. Failing that, use a meeting.

Tell me about winter travel.

Get the kids to descibe the scene, Tell some stories of previous trips in winter.

Ask now what the special winter dangers are. The discussion will get dramatic and free wheeling.

Key points to bring out:

Unknown footing -- snow hides holes, roots, fence wire. Slippery surfaces -- ice, crust on snow, snow on tarps. (like grease...) Slush on ponds. -- overflow saturating the bottom of the snow pack above the ice. Thin ice Hypothermia talk briefly, but tell them there's a whole course on that. Dehydration.

Lesser things:

Putting stuff down or dropping, and having a hard time finding it. Clumsiness in doing anything with mitts on. Everything takes longer. Some things don't work well when cold. Compasses get bubbles, peas freeze in whistles, electronics have invisible screns.

What's your reaction:

Go over each point individually, but stress the importance of a safety mindset. Accidents aren't accidental. Almost always the result of someone doing something really dumb.