Potential risks on adventure tours
Any human activity has potential risks, which can turn into hazards without adequate preparation and preventive measures. Adventure tourism activities such as trekking in the jungle, exploring caves, river crossings, and swimming in dark caves...,will be much riskier than other activities. The risks and dangers that could be encountered are floods, insect bites, snake bites, unexpected accidents or illness, and so on. Therefore safety in adventure tourism has always been an issue to be concerned not only by the customers but also by the tourism company itself.
Many people are wondering, questioning and even believe that it is a dangerous journey to go on an adventure tour. They also care about safety when traveling with Oxalis Adventure. It is a proper caving tour indeed, however, if the guests are prepared ahead both mentally and physically, these adventure tours will be a safe and unforgettable journey. The preparation also includes an acknowledgment of the dangers or risks that may occur on the tour. Good preparation is the key to a successful and enjoyable tour among the travel safety tips in general.
Potential risks jungle activities include:
The adventure level of the tour has been undervalued.
Oxalis is the only company that has the authority to organize tours to the Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park and to Tan Hoa - Cao Quang (Tu Lan - Hang Tien) area. After many years of adventure tourism activities, Oxalis Adventure has created a Level of Adventure system. These levels are based on several years of collecting information from guests, cave experts and Oxalis management staff. This scale is not to be applied to other companies or tours with different conditions and terrains. The easiest level (level 1) anyone can join, and the most difficult level - 6 requires regular exercise and some trekking experience. The adventure Level system is to help guests to visualize and choose the adventure tour most suitable for their fitness and health.
An overview of the physical requirements of the adventure tours, customers need to be aware of and acknowledge the potential risks and hazards of any adventure activity.
It is a combination of many activities such as jungle trekking, river crossing, swimming in the caves, rocky terrain, steep trails up and down, rocky scrambling, rope climbing, ladder climbing, and so on…. Therefore, during the consultation and tour registration process, Oxalis strictly asks the customers to be honest when filling out the fitness declaration on the booking form. This is not only to make sure all customers have the best preparation for the tour, and experience the expedition to the fullest but also to help Oxalis properly assess their physical fitness and advise on appropriate exercise programs. Customers must be honest about any medical conditions. It is very unlikely that any condition would prevent a customer joining the tour, but again Oxalis can advise safety tips for travelers and the customer on how to prepare to have the best and safest experience.
If the application form is not truthfully filled or the customers are not physically fit, it could cause exhaustion during the tour. In these cases, guests would be forced to stop the tour. They not only will not be refunded but may also have to pay the incurred expenses to take them out of the jungle. Better preparation means more enjoyment on the tour.
Itchy Plants (Nang Hai)
Apart from the above subjective risks, there are some other manageable risks such as: poison ivy/itchy plants (Nang Hai); insect, snake and centipede bites and incidents of heavy rain or floods. Accidents or illnesses can also be considered a risk of joining any adventure activities in the jungle.
This plant normally grows along the banks of the river, it has very tiny hairs on its leaves. If you accidentally touch the leaves it would cause itchiness and burning for 5 days to a week. In order to limit the risks, one of the outdoor adventure safety regulations of Oxalis are: regularly clears the path and cuts down any overgrowth. Additionally, Oxalis’ tour guides and safety assistants (mainly local people who are extremely knowledgeable about the jungle) will be leading the way, and warning the customers if walking near these plants. Besides, customers will be asked to wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants during the trek. If the customers touch this leaf by accident, the guide can give first-aid treatment to relieve itching and burning.
Itchy Plants (Nang Hai) normally grow along the banks of the river.
Bite from insects, snakes, or centipedes
Even though this situation rarely happens, it must be understood that this is one of the potential risks on the adventure tour. Following safety rules and trekking rules, Oxalis’ staff always lead: will be at the front and stay at the back of the group, this will avoid the group from being separated or getting lost. Should anyone spot any hazard, they will immediately warn the rest of the team. Guests are required to wear proper closed shoes, long and thick socks, long pants, and long-sleeved shirts to avoid such hazards. If you accidentally step on a snake or are attacked by a snake, layers of long pants and thick socks will prevent and reduce the amount of venom transferring into the body.
Guests are also required to wear gloves (provided by Oxalis) to prevent their hands from touching branches, bushes, or rock holes in which snakes potentially live and there is a risk of being attacked. If one of the group is bitten by an insect, a snake, or a centipede, the guide will immediately act. This might mean they activate the emergency response protocol, this procedure includes first-aid, a satellite phone to call for help from the office, organizing an ambulance, the doctor will quickly be moved into the location of the accident to give the first aid. Depending on the situation, the rescue team can evacuate the casualty on a specialized stretcher (available at Oxalis’ camps and offices) to move the casualty out while waiting for the emergency team to come.
Guests are required to wear proper closed shoes, long and thick socks, long pants, long-sleeved shirts and gloves to avoid hazards during the trek.
Accidents, illnesses, and other medical incidents
All of Oxalis' staff including guides, cave safety experts, and safety assistants are well-trained in first aid, rescue techniques, and hauling systems. Guides and safety assistants will be trained and evaluated every year by British Cave safety experts. If there is an accident/incident requiring medical or hospital treatment, the guide will activate the emergency response procedures and call for a rescue team including doctor, first aid equipment, and ambulance to be available, whilst evacuating the casualty out of the cave or jungle to the road.
Incidents of sudden rain or floods
In order to have a backup plan/backup route/safety route, Oxalis has always taken into account unexpected floods and considered this when designing the tours. For example, Son Doong campsites are located on high ground to avoid flooding or can be easily evacuated when flooded (Hang En campsite is one example). Or back-up campsites and alternative paths for tours in Tu Lan and Hang Tien area. Emergency food is stored at campsites in case guests have to stay a few more days to wait for the water to go down. Oxalis always monitors weather forecasts in order to prepare for any rise in water levels.
Alcohol and stimulants/drugs
Adventure activities always have potential risks, drinking too much alcohol, or beer or using stimulants/drugs will affect the safety of the customers themselves and the other team members. This could be considered as one of the hidden risks. As safety is one of the first priority factors in adventure travel, Oxalis has a strict regulation that using stimulants/drugs and bringing alcohol is forbidden. If a guide, cave expert or safety assistant detects that a guest has brought alcohol or recreational drugs, the guest will be required to end the tour without receiving a refund for the amount paid.
Oxalis Adventure has established procedures to avoid risks and to ensure safety on adventure tours as well as limit the risks in our tours. This includes "safety rules" that apply to all customers and employees. In order to meet the Safety Statements above, all visitors and Oxalis staff are required to comply with these safety rules and regulations. These rules, if followed strictly, are also considered as adventure safety tips for customers to enjoy the trip to the fullest. Additionally, guests will be required to sign a "Release Form" which contains strict safety terms and conditions.
Some of the Oxalis’s adventure tour is not considered to be easy for all, however, if customers are committed to following the rules and regulations, being honest about their physical fitness declaration, ensuring they have good physical preparation and take responsibility for their own safety as well as the safety of their companions, the difficulties of the adventure tour in general would be greatly reduced and make the expedition much more enjoyable.
The Oxalis Experience.
Whether you prefer long treks, camping in a cave, sleeping under the stars in the jungle, swimming underground in river caves, explore the huge dry caves or just taking an exploratory day trip, Oxalis Adventure Tours can provide the right amount of adventure just for you.