Safety Mindset: Adventure, Risk Management, and Smart Decision-Making

Name: Handstands and Kiteboarding Private Retreats in Puerto Rico
Start: 2025-02-01
End: 2025-04-20
Location: Puerto Rico

Home | Blog | Safety Mindset: Adventure, Risk Management, and Smart Decision-Making

Raquel Hernández-Cruz

I just renewed my lifeguarding certification, and it got me thinking about why I naturally lean toward a safety first mindset in most aspects of life.

At 17, my best friend and I took on the challenge of SCUBA diving, eager to explore the underwater world independently. We completed our Open Water training, hoping to gain the skills and confidence to dive without supervision. Diving came naturally to me. I swam competitively in middle school and played the tenor saxophone – so managing my breath under stress and being underwater felt second nature to me. But for my friend, it was a challenge from day one.

She struggled with neutral buoyancy, visibility, and equalizing pressure. She got lost easily and needed constant assistance. Recognizing these challenges, we both decided to take the Dive Rescue Course. With that additional training, along with an Advanced Diving certification (because why not?), we felt much more prepared to dive on our own.

But as we started diving with others, we quickly realized how often we had to put our rescue training to use. After multiple rescue scenarios, we made a crucial decision: if a diver wasn’t trained in rescue, we didn’t want to dive with them. It just wasn’t worth the effort. Every time we did, we spent more time managing, assisting, or rescuing others than enjoying the dive itself.

Beyond the frustration, this experience left me with a sobering question:
If I need rescuing?; who will save me?

That question has shaped my mindset ever since.
The answer is usually: no one.

So I’ve built a set of tools to keep myself as safe as possible. It starts with:

Prevention

Avoiding Risks Before they Happen

When stepping into the outdoors, I set strict safety protocols to prevent accidents, even when it’s inconvenient. Prevention isn’t about being overly cautious—it’s about avoiding unnecessary risks that could lead to injury or put others in danger.

Some key preventative measures to follow:

Personal Skill Development

My friend and I were right. Building personal skills is the first step to staying safer. Make sure you have proper training, practice regularly, and continuously refine your techniques to reduce the chance of an accident. If you’re heading out with others, ensure that everyone has the necessary skills—or if you are the group leader that you have the time to facilitate skill development before jumping into an activity.
Choose Your Adventure Partners Wisely

Who you go with matters just as much as where you go. Prioritize adventuring with competent and prepared people who understand the risks and can handle themselves in an emergency. If you’re with beginners, take the time to teach them safety basics and set clear expectations so they don’t put themselves—or you—at unnecessary risk. Before heading out, establish a communication plan and make sure everyone knows their role if something goes wrong. This could be as simple as letting people know where the First Aid Kit is located or where the vehicle keys are stashed, or as detailed as handing out and discussing a full safety plan. A well-prepared team doesn’t just make the adventure safer—it makes it more enjoyable for everyone.
Inspect and Organize Equipment

Your gear is your lifeline. Make sure it’s ready when you need it. Inspect it before every use for wear, damage, or malfunctions. A small issue at home can become a serious problem in the field. Keep everything organized on your way to the adventure, during and after. And when possible, carry backups.
Familiarize Yourself With New Gear

This deserves its own reminder because new gear can be problematic. You wouldn’t race with brand-new, untested equipment—so why head into an adventure with unfamiliar gear? Before using new equipment in the field, test it in a controlled environment. Set it up, break it down, and practice using it until it feels second nature. The last place you want to troubleshoot gear is in the middle of an adventure when conditions demand your full attention.
Check the Weather

Never rely on just one weather forecast. Check multiple sources in the days leading up to your trip and again right before you go. If conditions aren’t ideal, remember: If in doubt, don’t go out.
Plan to Stay Fueled and Hydrated

Food and water are basic safety essentials that directly impact your endurance, focus, and decision-making. Dehydration and low energy levels can lead to poor judgment and increased risk. Always bring enough water for the conditions and consider a way to filter or purify more if you are headed to remote areas. Pack nutrient-dense foods that provide sustained energy, and plan meals according to the demands of your activity.
Carry Enough Money for Emergencies (or emergency snacks)

You never know when you’ll need extra cash—whether it’s for an unexpected emergency, extra supplies, or simply a snack to keep you going.
Set & Honor Boundaries

Don’t let ego or peer pressure push you - or someone else - into taking unnecessary risks. If conditions aren’t right, it’s okay to say “Not today.” Trust your instincts and stick to your non-negotiables. Knowing when to walk away is just as important as knowing when to go.
Prepare a Safety Plan

Including informing someone of your location and expected return time so that if something goes wrong, help can be sent.
Understanding Dangerous Flora & Fauna

Luckily for Puerto Ricans, no local land animal will kill us! But marine life and certain small creatures can still pose risks. Elsewhere, wildlife and toxic plants can pose serious risks. Before heading into a new environment, learn about local animals and identify toxic vegetation to stay safe.

At the core of prevention is risk assessment—taking a moment to evaluate potential dangers before starting your adventure. The best way to avoid accidents is to never let them happen in the first place. If you take the time to assess risks, train properly, and make smart choices, you’ll create a safer and more enjoyable adventure—for yourself and everyone involved.

But no amount of skill or preparation can eliminate all risks. Accidents do happen. That’s why prevention and mitigation go hand in hand—because when things don’t go as planned, the skills and precautions you’ve put in place will determine how well you can respond.

A well-prepared person doesn’t just avoid danger—they’re also ready to handle it when it comes.

Constantly Reassess the Risks

Risk assessment isn’t a one-time task—conditions change, fatigue sets in, and new challenges arise. Don’t take your initial risk assessment for granted. Ask yourself:

Has the weather changed?
Is my equipment still in good shape?
Am I more tired or distracted than I expected?
Are my adventure partners still focused and capable?

The ability to reassess and adjust plans mid-adventure is what often separates safe, experienced adventurers from reckless ones. Prevention isn’t about rigid rules—it’s about staying aware, adaptable, and proactively managing risk.

MITIGATION

Preparing for the What Ifs

Have you ever voiced a what if scenario, only to hear someone say, “Let’s not think about that”?

Positive thinking won’t prevent accidents. Mitigation starts with answering those uncomfortable what if scenarios. Lean into the discomfort and explore potential risks by asking yourself: What’s the worst that could happen? How would I respond?

By preparing for the worst, you increase your chances of handling challenges effectively, staying safe, and ensuring a faster response if something does go wrong.

Basic Life Saving and Rescue Skills

Even as 17-year-olds learning to dive, my friend and I recognized the importance of learning rescue and first aid skills. Classes like CPR, First Aid, and basic rescue techniques provide your first mitigation skills. The more you know, the more prepared you’ll be—not just for yourself, but for others around you. Depending on what activities you engage in and how far into the wilderness you go, consider more specialized training like Wilderness First Aid (WFA), Wilderness First Responder (WFR), or advanced rescue courses relevant to your sport.
First Aid Kit

Prepare and carry a well-prepared first aid kit that is relevant to your activities and the weather conditions.
Communication

Always have a reliable way to call for help. Depending on where you are you may need a cellphone, satellite device or even a radio or emergency beacon.
Local Emergency Services Number

In the USA and Puerto Rico, it’s 911. If you're traveling, research and save the emergency number for the country you're in.
Know Where to Go in an Emergency

Not all injuries can be handled by a general hospital, so it’s essential to identify the right medical facilities before you need them. For example, if you’re diving, locate the nearest hyperbaric chamber in case of decompression sickness. If you’re climbing, find the closest trauma center equipped to handle fractures and falls. For kiteboarding and water sports, know where the nearest coastal rescue service or lifeguard station is located.

When you’re in the wilderness or remote areas, you can’t always call 911. You may be out of signal range, or while you may be able to call for a rescue, help could take hours (or longer) to arrive. Knowing how to stabilize an injury and manage the situation until help arrives is just as important as knowing where to go once you can get there. Learn the location of emergency facilities in advance, but don’t get too caught up in memorizing every detail. If you do have service, you can still call 911 (or the local emergency number) to ask for the nearest appropriate medical facility.

Learning to Say

"Not Today"

I’m glad my younger self saw a challenge and rose to the occasion, not just for her own sake, but to help her friends. And I’m even more grateful that, early on, she learned to say no. Not today. Not with you. Not with these skills.

Because sports and outdoor recreation aren’t about risk-taking, they’re about so much more! There’s something bigger that makes the risk worthwhile: the view from the climb, the feeling of catching a wave, the thrill of discovering a new underwater world.

Sure, it’s fun to talk about risk we have taken. It makes for great stories and type 2 fun! But in reality, we’re all chasing real-fun-fun – the kind that comes with sweat, hard work, and just the right amount of struggle that makes it worth it.

Be dareful, be safe, and live to explore another day.

About the Author

Born and raised in Puerto Rico, Raquel is a seasoned movement educator, adventure athlete, and senior YogaSlackers lead teacher. Passionate about blending yoga, slacklining, and acroyoga, she travels the world teaching and exploring unique outdoor destinations. When she’s not upside down, you’ll find her kiting, climbing, or diving into new adventures—both in and out of the water.