OUDOOR MEDICINE BOOKING CONDITIONS FOR COURSES
These are the terms and conditions of Outdoor Medicine, which apply to those who are advised by Outdoor Medicine that they will be participating in the course. Bookings are accepted subject to you agreeing to the conditions set out below.
1. Your contract with Outdoor Medicine
When registering for the course, you undertake that you accept these booking conditions and have the authority to do so. Your contract will be with us, Outdoor Medicine. We will confirm our contractual commitment to you by sending to you a booking confirmation and receipt. It is only then that these terms and conditions will apply, and a contract will exist between us. Your deposit guarantees your place on the course. If full payment is not received, you may lose your place on the course and forfeit your deposit. Dutch law and the exclusive jurisdiction of the Dutch Courts govern your contract with Outdoor Medicine.
2. Participation and Risk
You must be 18 years or over at the time of the start date of the course and in a suitable physical condition to undertake the course as set out in the course outline. The outline given for each course must be accepted as an indication of the event and not a contractual obligation on our part. It is a condition of joining the course that you accept this flexibility and acknowledge that any alteration that results in delays, discomfort, disappointment or inconvenience is possible. Participation in the course will be subject to the availability of places and reaching a minimum number of participants for each course/departure. Places are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. You must agree that any photography taken prior to or during the course, which may include you in it, is the property of Outdoor Medicine and may be used in future publicity materials by Outdoor Medicine.
3. Cancellation of Booking
Closing dates: Subscriptions close 8 weeks before the planned course date.
Cancellation fee: Before the closing date the cancellation fee will be 10% of the course fee. After the closing date, the cancellation fee will be 50% of the course fee. The cancellation fee will be 100% of the course fee if cancelled within 4 weeks of the course.
4. Accommodation
The courses are based on dormitory accommodation unless otherwise stated. If you are joining a course alone, you will be partnered with a person of the same sex.
5. Health, Safety & Fitness and your Insurance Cover
The course in which you will be participating will require a good level of fitness, strength and endurance and it is your responsibility to ensure that you have the appropriate level of fitness to undertake the challenge. You should check with your doctor to ensure that you are sufficiently fit and healthy to participate in the event. You must comply with the laws and regulations of the countries visited and comply with all reasonable instructions of the Course Staff relating to the safety and organization of the course. If in our opinion, or the opinion of another person in authority, you are behaving in such a manner as to cause danger, distress, or annoyance to others or cause damage to property, your course arrangements may be terminated by us, or the supplier concerned. In such an event we will have no liability to you and will not make any refunds, pay any compensation or meet any costs or expenditure you incur as a result. Furthermore, you must meet any expenses we incur as a result of your behavior.
6. Cancellation
Outdoor Medicine reserves the right to cancel a course in any circumstances. Your course will not be cancelled less than 6 weeks before the departure/start date unless due to circumstances outside of our control. If we must cancel your course due to reasons other than that of Force Majeure, we will either offer you an alternative course or a full refund. If the course does not have the minimum amount of participants the course fee will be returned to you but we will not be liable for any incidental expenses that you may have incurred.
7. Alterations
Outdoor Medicine and its supplier of accommodation and land arrangements shall be entitled to change the details of the itinerary. If we are required to change the itinerary in any way during the course, the Course Staff will facilitate this to the best alternative. The decision of the Course Leader is final. We are not responsible for changes that arise as a result of Force Majeure and are out of our control such as technical or maintenance problems with transportation, changes imposed on rescheduling or cancelling flights by an airline, war or threat of war, civil strife, industrial disputes, natural disasters, bad weather, terrorist activity or bureaucratic obstacles.
8. Liability
We accept responsibility for the acts and/or omissions of our employees, agents and suppliers (except for claims for death, injury or illness – see below). In any such case, our liability will be limited to a maximum of twice your contribution to the original expedition cost. Outdoor Medicine accepts responsibility for death, injury or illness caused by negligent acts and/or omissions of us, our employees, agents, suppliers and sub-contractors whilst acting within the scope of, or in the course of their employment in the provision of any part of your travel arrangements in the itinerary, that we are contractually obliged to provide. We will, accordingly, pay to an affected participant such damages as might have been awarded in such circumstances under Dutch law. However, damages are not payable where any failure to perform the contract is due neither to any fault on our part or a supplier of any part of your travel arrangements or is attributable to you, or unforeseen or unavoidable actions of a third party unconnected with the event or unusual and unforeseeable circumstances beyond our control or an event which could not have been foreseen even with the exercise of all due care. We do not accept responsibility in respect of death, bodily injury or illness of any person on one of our expeditions as a result of (but not limited to) physical exertion for which a participant is not prepared, a force of nature, consumption of alcohol, civil unrest, terrorism, breakdown of equipment, high altitude, access to medical attention in remote locations and adequacy of medical facilities in a country. In respect of carriage by air, sea and rail and the provision of accommodation, the amount of compensation Outdoor Medicine may be obliged to pay will be limited in the manner provided by the relevant International Convention. Any arrangements you make independently which do not form part of the event are entirely at your own risk.
9. Risk
You are participating in an adventure challenge and that is not without risk. You must be adequately fit enough to cover the distances set out in the itinerary and therefore take part entirely at your own risk. By accepting these booking conditions you agree to indemnify Outdoor Medicine against claims for loss or damage to personal property and for loss or claims arising from your own actions. For any other activity you must agree to wear the safety clothing or equipment deemed necessary by the local service provider and Outdoor Medicine.
10. Post Course Liability
Outdoor Medicine is not responsible for any decision or action you might take if you are subsequently employed as a medic on an expedition after the completion of any of the Outdoor Medicine courses.
11. Your Contractual Requirements
By signing the application form you agree to accept the authority and decisions of our employees, group leaders, agents and suppliers while on the course. The Course Leader may at any time during the course of the event terminate your participation if they consider it necessary for the health or safety of you or the group. If you commit an illegal act we shall cease to have the responsibility to you or for you. Dutch law and the exclusive jurisdiction of the Dutch Courts govern this contract. By signing this agreement or booking a course you are confirming that any legal action you might bring against the company or any of its employees will always take place within The Netherlands.
