Purpose

1. To reduce bear spray incidents to zero.

Scope

1. Managing bear spray safely is crucial to safety. We’re far more likely to have an incident with a bear spray accident than we are to actually have to spray a bear.

In The Field

1. Explain the importance and need for safety with bear spray. An Evac is an Evac, whether it’s from bear spray or bear bites.
2. Explain the distance the cans work at (approx 30’).
3. Stress the importance of not removing the safety tab unless you intend to spray the can. Tell the clients you don’t take off the safety as a “getting ready” move, it’s an “it’s time to spray” move. Emphasize this.
4. When possible, the person with the bear spray positions closest to the bear.
5. Get in the habit of double-checking the safety tab and confirming the can is in Safe mode.
6. Explain the importance of wind direction.
7. You want to spray in front of an approaching bear, and right into its face.
8. A concentrated blast for 3-5 seconds creates a wall. You want this.
9. When carrying it in the field it needs to be both somewhere accessible, and somewhere it won’t get lost. This is hard to configure and there’s no one perfect method.
10. Be in the habit of double-checking before you start hiking that you have your bear spray. Every time. Role model this. Create a habit of this.
11. Bring bear spray to kitchen.
12. Some folks keep it in their tent at night, some in their vestibule. Stress the need to not accidentally discharge it, but it should be accessible.
13. SYSTEMS SYSTEMS SYSTEMS. Reiterate that good systems work better than diligence. Carry it in the same way, in the same place, and store it in the same place, every day/night.
14. Remind clients to carry bear spray with them, or ensure somebody with them has the bear spray … if you go to the bathroom or to go get a snack or for a day hike, etc, somebody there should have bear spray.
15. Bear spray is not a substitute for our own good behavior in bear country.