The Health/Fitness Professional`s Guide to the Law, Legal Liability, and Risk Management: Part I-Understanding the Basics

The Health/Fitness Professional`s Guide to the Law, Legal Liability, and Risk Management: Part I-Understanding the Basics provides a basic overview of legal and risk management principles as they apply to the field of health and wellness. Part I of a 2-part series, the DVD details the primary source of law, as well as defines and explains terms such as negligence, legal liability exposure, and risk management. The types of risk that participants are exposed to, as well as the major causes of medical emergencies that occur in health/fitness facilities, are described with a focus on a 4-step risk management process that can minimize these risks and medical emergencies. Defenses to negligence, such as the primary assumption of risk defense and the defense that waivers (prospective releases) can provide, are described. The "Risk Management Pyramid" that depicts seven lines of defense that health/fitness professionals can adopt to help prevent negligence claims and lawsuits is also reviewed. Finally, the many benefits of a comprehensive risk management plan-in addition to providing effective legal protection-are examined and discussed.