RUNNING SAFETY GUIDELINES

All club members must take personal responsibility for their own safety.

  • Where different run groups are offered, choose the group best suited to your ability or preferred pace.

  • Keep within sight of your group and alert another runner if you feel at risk of getting left behind. Faster runners will either wait at appropriate points or loop back at regular intervals or when requested to by the Run Leader.

  • If you need to leave the run for whatever reason, notify the Run Leader or ask a member of your group to notify them for you.
  • Look out for other members within your running group, particularly new members. If someone is struggling, make sure they are not left on their own and/or alert the Run Leader.

  • When running in low light or poor visibility, wear hi-viz, fluorescent and/or reflective clothing and/or lights so that you can easily be seen by drivers and others. Avoid dazzling fellow runners or members of the public and do not use a flashing light setting as this can cause problems for any runner or member of the public with light sensitivity.
  • All members should dress appropriately for the conditions during the run particularly paying attention to the likely weather conditions, and wearing appropriate footwear for the terrain. In the event of hot weather, runners are responsible for ensuring that they have adequate access to water and take appropriate precautions (e.g. use of sun cream/hats etc.)
  • Warn other runners around you of impending hazards such as obstructions, low–hanging branches, vegetation, unsafe surfaces, damaged pavements or other members of the public, including cyclists.

In case of Emergency

  • Please carry accessible identification and emergency contact information as well as details of relevant medical conditions in a visible place on your person (e.g. your parkrun barcode or wristband)
  • Update your Emergency Contact details with the Club Secretary if they change (including updating your phone contact numbers) by emailing us at covejoggers@live.co.uk

Road Safety

  • You are responsible for your own safety, so approach roads/junctions with caution and do not blindly follow other runners across roads/railway crossings. Always check it is safe to cross first and use pedestrian crossings where possible.
  • When running along roads without footpaths:

           - Keep right to face any oncoming traffic (move left if the road bends or when approaching the brow                 of a hill if forward visibility is limited)

           - Be prepared to run in single file and keep close to the side of the road.

Run Leaders

  • These are experienced club members, but they do not necessarily have any formal training. They are reliant on the assistance and cooperation of the members of the group to ensure the safe completion of club runs.

Sunday Morning Club Runs

When you are in the classroom:

  • Be careful when lifting the Urn when it contains water and/or the box of cups and use 2 people to lift these items if necessary.
  • Use equipment correctly and follow instructions provided.
  • Please let other club members know if you go for a shower during the club hire of the classroom on a Sunday morning.


Medical Conditions

  • Do not run if you are feeling unwell or displaying symptoms of any transmittable illness (e.g. Covid)
  • Where relevant, runners with pre-existing medical conditions are strongly advised to carry accessible relevant health information with their ICE data.
  • If you have concerns that illness or injury may impact your ability to complete a session, please let your Run Leader know what adaptation may help you.

Reporting Accidents or incidents

  • Members are encouraged to alert Run Leaders of any accidents or incidents they may be unaware of.
  • Accidents should be reported via the UK athletics club portal by the run leader or a club committee member

Accidents vs Incidents

  • Accident is defined by HSE as an event that results in injury or ill health and for our purposes this definition is extended to include unintended damage to property.
  • Incident is a near miss or dangerous occurrence which has/had the potential to result in injury or damage

Communication of Safety warnings

  • Safety information is communicated using a number of different methods: via the Run Leader at sessions, via the club Facebook group page, via the club weekly newsletter and in the club application form.

© Cove Joggers