Safety

Useful tips for a fun and safe event

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  • Risks associated with The Possum Night Trail Run

    Taking part in the POSSUM includes taking on risks. With preparation and care these risks can be minimised so that you have a fun and safe event experience.

    Key hazards

    HAZARD: Trips and falls on rough terrain causing injury.

    MANAGEMENT: Take care with where you place your feet and the pace at which you run. If it is technical, slow down to pick your path.

    HAZARD: Hypothermia from the cold.

    COMMENT: Symptoms include shivering, cold fingers and toes and skin colour change.

    MANAGEMENT: You need to take enough gear to stay warm while running or walking and enough gear to keep you warm if you stop and cannot continue. Take all of the compulsory gear and put it on BEFORE you are cold or wet or both!!!

    HAZARD: Traffic collision.

    MANAGEMENT: Treat all roads as public road. Take care, run on the shoulder, heads up and watch out for traffic. When entering and exiting the event from the car park, you must use the tunnel under the road, and must not cross Wairakei Drive!

    HAZARD: Burns from Geothermal activity

    MANAGEMENT: Stay on the marked course at all times. Avoid any geothermal activity. Parents to monitor children.

    Other hazards include:

    Bridges/ steps/ barriers / board walks

    Chemical sprays, poison baits, predator traps

    Cliffs/ banks

    Dehydration

    Fatigue

    Flooding

    Getting lost

    Heat stroke / Hyperthermia

    Hikers / cyclists / mountain bike shuttle buses

    Hyponatremia

    Low light conditions

    Medical problems

    Poor fitness

    Renal shutdown

    Steep slopes

    Vegetation spikes, prickles, sharp leaf edges

    Vehicles/ public roads / competitors/ spectators hit by traffic

  • We could have a fire, earthquake or similar emergency.

    Follow all instructions from staff who may hold you at locations or lead you to safety.

    What to do if you are injured / ill or just cannot continue to run/walk:

    Stay calm.

    Contact one of the two phone numbers on your race bib. Or;

    Stop the next runner going past you and ask for help.

    Apply first aid to yourself.

    Put on all of your clothing.

    If you are in an exposed position, but can still walk, try to get out of the wind. Often you will only have to move 5-10 metres to be in a more sheltered spot, but make sure you are not so far off the track that staff cannot find you.

    Wait for assistance.

    We have event Medics who will get to you as soon as they can.

    Once the medic has assessed you, you will either be assisted out by the medics to a road end or a rescue helicopter MAY be able to extract you.

    What to do if you are lost.

    Stop.

    Think, can you retrace your steps to the last known track marker? If yes then do so.

    If you cannot retrace your steps then stay put.

    Follow steps 1-7 above (excluding steps 3-4)

    1. I have read and understand the information regarding this event and understand that I participate in this event at my own risk.

    2. I acknowledge and accept that this event involves an inherent risk of injury, illness and in extreme cases, death.

    3. I hereby attest and verify that I am physically fit and have sufficiently trained for this event.

    4. I understand that competing in this event may involve running and walking on wilderness trails with hazards including, but are not limited to; rocks, roots, streams, geothermal activity, motor vehicle traffic, slippery surfaces, soft sand, weather conditions, heat exhaustion, hypothermia, actions of spectators, other competitors, general public and the event organisers personnel.

    5. I will be drug and alcohol free for this event.

    6. I acknowledge that although the event has medical personnel and resources, the inaccessibility of much of the trail will make it difficult or impossible for medical assistance to reach me immediately and extractions may also take a period of time.

    7. I agree to allow event medical staff to treat me as they see fit.

    8. I will stay on the marked course at all times, unless instructed by event staff.

    9. I will obey all course marking.

    10. If race management indicate that compulsory gear is needed in this year’s edition of the race, I will wear or take the compulsory safety equipment required by the event.

    11. My support crew and I will obey the instructions given by event staff.

    12. I accept that I may be pulled from the course at any time with the discretion of event staff primarily for, but not limited to, safety reasons.

    13. I will complete the entire course under my own power.

    14. I will not light any fires.

    15. I will be respectful of other trail users such as recreational walkers and mountain bikers.

    16. I will not litter.

    17. Smoking and vaping is not permitted at any of the checkpoints along the trail, at the bus stop or on the bus or at the event headquarters by participants, staff, spectators or supporters.

    18. If I wish to withdraw from the event, I will either inform the nearest event staff, or text the Race Communications Manager (see rear of race number for phone numbers).

    19. If I need assistance, I will ask a staff member or call the Race Communications Manager (see rear of race number for phone numbers). If none of these options work and I have cell phone coverage and it is a true emergency, I will call NZ emergency services by dialing 111.

    20. Participants who leave the course/event without informing staff of their race number will be classified as “missing”. The participant will be contacted on their mobile phone and their emergency contact will be called. If there is no response from either party or the emergency contact does not know the status of the runner, a search will be activated. Any search related costs will be charged to the participant.

    21. I hereby allowing aerial filming of myself, including use of drones, as part of this event.

    22. I hereby allow the use of my name and image to be used in the media and for marketing purposes.

    23. I accept that The Possum event may be run on an alternative course if the planned courses are not able to be used on race day.

    24. I accept that the refund policies, as stated on the official event website at the time I entered, are not negotiable. I understand that the Organisers may have to cancel or postpone the event and consequently my entry fee may be partly refunded or not refunded.

    25. I agree to comply with any Covid-19 requirements that may be imposed by the Government at the time of the event.

    26. I hereby acknowledge this waiver, agreement, release and indemnity discharges all persons, corporations, associations and bodies involved or otherwise engaged in promoting or staging the event and their servants, agents, representatives, officers and employees from loss, injury or damage to my person or property.

    27. I understand that my contact details will be added to the Element Events NZ database, and that I will receive emails directly from Element Events NZ. I understand that Element Events will not distribute this database for any reason and that I can unsubscribe from this database at any time.

  • The Possum event may be run on an alternative course if the planned courses are not able to be used on race day.

    Please keep an eye on the website home page, Facebook page and your emails for any possible updates.

  • There are currently no Covid-19 requirements for the event. However the event will comply with any Government imposed requirements that may exist at the time of the event. ie Face masks may be required to be worn in the indoor spaces used for Event Registration. We will continue to monitor the situation and update all event entrants.