Top Five tips for a healthy event

[From Our Community Matters, the newsletter of http://www.ourcommunity.com.au/]

If you're taking care of the health of both your volunteers and the general public (and you should be), take these considerations into account when planning your next fundraising event.
1. Free and easily accessible water
You may think you can make more money by selling your own cans (and perhaps forbidding other people from bringing their own), but this is very risky. If anyone gets dehydrated you may be held liable. Make sure
that volunteers have a clear source of hydration, even if you have to buy it.
2. Adequate first aid
You may be able to get this expertise from within your own volunteer roster that is, you may be able to arrange for your volunteers to take the course. If n, thought, you'll have to mae other arrangements.
3. Smoke-free areas
This is a no-brainer. Slightly harder is the question of whether to have an entirely smoke-free event. Will this discourage participants? On the other hand, is it ethical to facilitate ill-health? Will it cheapen your brand?
4. Shaded areas
Any outdoors event venue needs to have as much shade as possible.
To set a good example volunteers should be encouraged to be SunSmart (a long-sleeved collared shirt, sunglasses and a broad-rimmed hat when outdoors).
5. Healthy publicity
These tips do involve you doing more work, so you need to get something back for the cause. Try and make it a sales feature. Promote your healthy event in your media campaign and stress how friendly it is to families (working families, even!). Explain any restrictions to volunteers in advance.

Keep it fun, keep it healthy, and minimise risks.