SHAH ALAM, Sept 10 — Setting age limits for extreme hikes and activities is not the right approach to keep children safe, said Forestry Mountain Guides Association (PMGP) chairman Mohamad Azuan Abdullah, who instead urged parents to take greater responsibility and assess risks involved.
He added that age should not be the primary consideration when it comes to outdoor activities such as hiking and climbing, as greater emphasis should be placed on proper preparation.
“Setting an age limit is not the right solution because it focuses on the wrong factor. Outdoor recreational activities and climbing are generally open to the public, but the freedom to make decisions must be accompanied by responsibility for their own safety and the safety of those under their care,” he told Media Selangor yesterday.
On Tuesday, Perak Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) director Datuk Sayani Saidon recommended that authorities review the age limit for children participating in extreme activities and hiking expeditions along challenging mountain routes.
She said this would minimise risks associated with high-risk activities, following an incident involving six climbers, including two children, who went missing during the Trans Gerah Expedition in Gunung Gerah, Kelantan, on August 29.
The hikers were found safe on Monday. It was later revealed that the closure and obstruction of long-unused hiking trails had caused their delay.
The six victims involved were married couple Wan Ahmad Aslam Wan Zairudin, 39, and Siti Zulaiha Norizan, 39, and their children 13-year-old Diya Raisha and nine-year-old Ahmad Raef, as well as mountain guides Shafiee Sidek, 49, and Hazman Mamat, 43.
Proper prep
Azuan stressed that risk management around children’ participation in outdoor activities is more important than age restrictions, and that this should start at home.
He advised parents to ensure safety preparations start long before their children ever set foot on a trail.
“Choose a location that suits the child’s stamina and age, not according to parents’ wishes or ego.
“Parents should also ensure children wear appropriate footwear, comfortable clothing, and bring water, high-calorie food, and a first-aid kit. In fact, extra batteries are essential for telecommunications systems like radios.
“Also, make a detailed study of weather conditions and climbing profiles before starting the trip,” he advised, adding that parents must inform relatives of their travel and contingency plans.
Azuan also recommended hikers hire certified mountain guides when attempting extreme trails.
