NCTRC Risk Management Protocols 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: In recreational therapy, 'assumption of risk' as a legal concept means:
- The therapist assumes all legal responsibility for participant injuries
- A participant voluntarily accepts known risks inherent to an activity (Correct answer)
- The facility waives all duty of care to participants
- Staff assume participants are aware of all potential dangers
Correct answer: A participant voluntarily accepts known risks inherent to an activity
Assumption of risk occurs when a participant knowingly and voluntarily accepts the inherent risks associated with a particular activity.
Question 2: A recreational therapist should complete a risk-benefit analysis before programming because:
- It eliminates all liability for the facility
- It ensures only low-risk activities are offered to participants
- It helps determine if therapeutic benefits justify manageable risks (Correct answer)
- It is required by NCTRC for all certified practitioners
Correct answer: It helps determine if therapeutic benefits justify manageable risks
Risk-benefit analysis helps practitioners make informed decisions about whether the therapeutic value of an activity outweighs its potential risks.
Question 3: Which type of transfer technique presents the HIGHEST risk of injury to both participants and staff?
- Mechanical lift with trained operators
- Two-person assist with proper body mechanics
- Unassisted pivot transfer without proper assessment (Correct answer)
- Slide board transfer with trained staff
Correct answer: Unassisted pivot transfer without proper assessment
Unassisted pivot transfers without proper assessment of participant ability present high injury risk because they may exceed the participant's capacity and compromise staff safety.
Question 4: When facilitating an adaptive sports program for veterans with PTSD, which environmental risk factor requires specific consideration?
- Noise levels and sudden loud sounds that may trigger trauma responses (Correct answer)
- Temperature regulation in the activity space
- Availability of competitive equipment
- Number of observers watching the activity
Correct answer: Noise levels and sudden loud sounds that may trigger trauma responses
Sudden loud noises can trigger trauma responses in participants with PTSD, making noise management a critical environmental risk consideration for this population.
Question 5: A recreational therapist suspects a participant is under the influence of a controlled substance during a session. The MOST appropriate response is to:
- Continue the session to maintain therapeutic rapport
- Discreetly ask the participant if they have taken any substances
- Stop the session, ensure participant safety, and follow facility protocol for suspected substance use (Correct answer)
- Document the observation and address it in the next session
Correct answer: Stop the session, ensure participant safety, and follow facility protocol for suspected substance use
Participant safety is the immediate concern; the session must stop and established facility protocols must be followed for suspected substance use situations.
Question 6: The primary purpose of conducting pre-participation screening in recreational therapy is to:
- Exclude high-risk participants from all programming
- Identify contraindications and modify programming to maximize safety and therapeutic benefit (Correct answer)
- Meet insurance requirements for liability coverage
- Determine which participants need the most supervision
Correct answer: Identify contraindications and modify programming to maximize safety and therapeutic benefit
Pre-participation screening identifies contraindications and individual risk factors so that programming can be appropriately modified to ensure safety while maximizing therapeutic outcomes.
Question 7: Which of the following BEST describes 'contributory negligence' in the context of recreational therapy?
- When a facility fails to provide adequate staffing for a program
- When a participant's own actions contribute to an injury they sustained (Correct answer)
- When multiple staff members share responsibility for an incident
- When equipment failure causes harm to a participant
Correct answer: When a participant's own actions contribute to an injury they sustained
Contributory negligence occurs when a participant's own behavior or actions contribute to the injury or harm they experienced.
NCTRC Risk Management Protocols 5
In recreational therapy, 'assumption of risk' as a legal concept means: