This document outlines safety expectations and liability boundaries for Keep Calm activities. Everyone participating should understand these before joining.
The Fundamental Principle
You participate at your own risk.
Keep Calm is a volunteer-run community that connects people for sports and social activities. We are not a professional sports organisation, and we do not provide insurance, medical support, or guarantees of safety.
By participating in any Keep Calm activity, you accept responsibility for your own wellbeing.
Your Responsibilities
Before Participating
Assess your fitness:
- Be honest about your physical condition
- Consider any injuries, health conditions, or limitations
- Consult a doctor if you have concerns about participating
- Don't push beyond what's safe for you
Prepare appropriately:
- Wear suitable clothing and footwear for the activity
- Bring water and stay hydrated
- Eat appropriately before physical activity
- Check weather conditions for outdoor activities
- Know your limits
Understand the activity:
- Know what the sport involves before signing up
- Ask questions if you're unsure about anything
- Start at the appropriate skill level
- Be aware of the physical demands
During Activities
Take care of yourself:
- Warm up before playing
- Rest if you feel unwell, dizzy, or overly fatigued
- Stop immediately if you experience pain
- Stay hydrated throughout
- Be aware of your surroundings
Take care of others:
- Play within the rules
- Don't take unnecessary risks that endanger others
- Alert someone if you see a safety hazard
- Help if someone is injured (if you can do so safely)
Respect the environment:
- Follow venue rules
- Be aware of weather conditions
- Leave if conditions become dangerous
- Don't damage facilities or equipment
What Keep Calm Provides
We Do
- Connect people with shared interests
- Coordinate bookings and scheduling
- Provide information about activities and venues
- Create a friendly community environment
- Set basic standards for behaviour
We Don't
- Provide insurance coverage
- Guarantee the safety of venues or equipment
- Provide medical support or first aid
- Take responsibility for injuries
- Certify the competence of participants
- Verify the health status of participants
Liability Boundaries
Keep Calm Is Not Liable For
Injuries:
- Sports injuries during activities
- Accidents at venues
- Injuries caused by other participants
- Pre-existing conditions aggravated by activity
- Injuries from equipment (venue-provided or personal)
Property:
- Lost or stolen belongings
- Damage to personal equipment
- Damage to vehicles at venues
Third parties:
- Actions of venue staff
- Conditions of venues or facilities
- Other participants' behaviour
- Transport to/from activities
Decisions:
- Weather-related decisions to proceed or cancel
- Skill level matching
- Team or court assignments
Venue Liability
Venues have their own liability policies. Keep Calm is not responsible for venue conditions or policies. If you're injured at a venue, that's a matter between you and the venue.
Participant Liability
If you injure another participant through reckless or negligent behaviour, that's a matter between you and them. Keep Calm may remove you from the community, but we don't mediate legal disputes.
Injuries and Emergencies
If You're Injured
Minor injury (can continue or self-manage):
- Stop playing and assess
- Apply basic first aid if needed
- Decide whether to continue or stop
- Seek medical attention if needed later
Significant injury (needs attention):
- Stop the activity immediately
- Ask others for help
- Call emergency services if needed (112 in Spain)
- Get to a medical facility
- Inform the organiser after you're safe
If Someone Else Is Injured
- Check if they're okay
- Help if you can do so safely
- Call emergency services if serious (112)
- Don't move someone with a potential spine/neck injury
- Stay with them until help arrives
- Inform the organiser
Emergency Numbers
- Emergency services (Spain): 112
- Police: 091 (National) / 092 (Local)
- Ambulance: 061
After an Incident
- Inform the organiser what happened
- If at a venue, report to venue staff
- Document what happened (for your own records)
- Seek follow-up medical care if needed
Specific Activity Considerations
Padel / Tennis
- Courts can be slippery when wet
- Risk of racket-related injuries
- Eye injuries possible from balls
- Ankle and knee strain common
- Arrive early to warm up
Volleyball
- Beach surfaces can hide hazards (glass, rocks)
- Sun exposure and heat risk
- Diving injuries possible
- Finger and wrist injuries from blocking/setting
- Stay hydrated in hot conditions
Ping Pong
- Generally lower injury risk
- Watch for trip hazards around tables
- Outdoor tables may have uneven surfaces
- Sun exposure for outdoor play
Hiking
- Higher risk activity due to terrain and isolation
- Proper footwear essential
- Weather can change quickly in mountains
- Bring sufficient water and food
- Tell someone your planned route
- Stay with the group
- Turn back if conditions deteriorate
- Organiser decisions on safety are final
Social Events
- Lower physical risk
- Be aware of alcohol consumption
- Plan safe transport home
- Look out for each other
Weather and Conditions
Outdoor Activities
Heat:
- Bring extra water
- Wear sunscreen and a hat
- Take breaks in shade
- Watch for signs of heat exhaustion
- Don't play in extreme heat
Cold/Rain:
- Dress in layers
- Be aware of slippery surfaces
- Hypothermia risk if wet and cold
- Don't play in dangerous conditions
Lightning:
- Stop immediately and seek shelter
- Don't shelter under isolated trees
- Wait 30 minutes after last thunder
Who Decides?
Organisers make weather-related decisions. If an organiser says the activity is cancelled or continuing, respect that decision. See Event-Rules.md for weather policies.
Equipment
Venue Equipment
- Inspect before use
- Report defects to venue staff
- Use as intended
- Don't use damaged equipment
Personal Equipment
- You're responsible for your own equipment
- Maintain it properly
- Don't use damaged equipment
- We're not liable for equipment failure
Borrowed/Shared Equipment
- Treat it with care
- Return in the condition you received it
- Report any damage
- Don't blame others for equipment issues
Insurance
Keep Calm Does Not Provide Insurance
We are a volunteer community, not an insured organisation. We do not have:
- Public liability insurance
- Personal accident insurance for participants
- Equipment insurance
Your Options
Consider getting:
- Personal accident insurance
- Sports injury insurance
- Travel insurance (for trips/hikes)
- Private health insurance
Check if you have:
- Coverage through your employer
- Coverage through existing policies
- Public healthcare access (Tarjeta Sanitaria)
If We Register as Asociación
Future registration as a formal association may include insurance options. This document will be updated if that changes.
Waivers and Agreements
Implied Agreement
By participating in Keep Calm activities, you implicitly agree that:
- You are 18 or over
- You understand and accept the risks
- You're physically capable of participating
- You take responsibility for your own safety
- You won't hold Keep Calm or organisers liable for injuries
Formal Waivers
For certain activities (e.g., organised trips, special events), we may require signed waivers. If asked to sign a waiver:
- Read it carefully
- Ask questions if unclear
- Don't sign if you don't agree
- Keep a copy for your records
Age Requirement
Keep Calm is an adults-only community. You must be 18 or over to take part in any Keep Calm activity, including sports sessions and social events.
We are a volunteer-run community with no insurance and no formal supervision, coordinated through WhatsApp, and many of our socials take place at venues that serve alcohol. We are not set up to safely include minors, so we make no exceptions, including for accompanied minors.
Organisers will ask anyone they reasonably believe to be under 18 to confirm their age, and will turn away anyone who cannot. If you have a question about this policy, contact an organiser.
Reporting Safety Concerns
At a Venue
If you notice a safety hazard at a venue:
- Alert others nearby
- Inform venue staff
- Tell the organiser
- Avoid the hazard until it's addressed
About the Activity
If you think an activity is being run unsafely:
- Speak to the organiser privately
- If not resolved, contact the core team
- You can always choose not to participate
About a Participant
If someone's behaviour is creating safety risks:
- Tell them directly if safe to do so
- Inform the organiser
- Organisers can ask people to leave
- See Community-Conduct.md for serious issues
Summary
| Area | Your Responsibility |
|---|---|
| Fitness | Know your limits, assess honestly |
| Preparation | Appropriate gear, hydration, warmup |
| During activity | Take care, play safely, rest when needed |
| Injuries | Seek help, inform organiser |
| Equipment | Use properly, report defects |
| Conditions | Respect organiser decisions |
| Area | Keep Calm's Role |
|---|---|
| Coordination | Yes - we organise activities |
| Insurance | No - we don't provide it |
| Liability | No - you participate at your own risk |
| Safety decisions | Yes - organisers can cancel/modify |
Related Documents
- Event-Rules.md - Weather policies and participation rules
- Community-Conduct.md - Behaviour standards
- Organiser-Guide.md - How organisers handle issues