March 15, 2020
Safe and Sound is the SPFGA's safety and facility-related system message broadcast.
SPFGA & COVID-19
(No, not just another one of 'those' emails)
Thank you for reading on and not immediately deleting this.

By now, every company, group and organization who has ever had your email address has let you know what they're doing to protect you from COVID-19. By now, you've heard how all the things are cancelled.

This email isn't that. In fact, it's quite the opposite.

We will make cancellations when they're necessary, but will do so according to the best evidence and guidelines. Our belief is that deliberate measured approach is best here, avoiding contributing to an already high level of public concern.
Changes to the Schedule
Let's start with the first part - the stuff we're shutting down.

We are cancelling everything remaining on the March calendar. Which, right now, means that the March 26, 2020 meeting at the Old Log Cabin is cancelled.

That's it so far.

We'll keep monitoring, but for now that's it.

Why not more? Range use tends to be a largely solitary activity and already involves people being 1-2 m apart. Club events typically fall under the 50 person maximum and are pretty much compatible with social distancing. We'll be doing the standard risk mitigation stuff of course, but it looks at this point like this will be sufficient.

Further decisions about club events or meetings will be made on a case-by-case basis as things go along. We will let you know about these here via Safe and Sound as well our other communication streams.
Before You Come Out
Before you come out to the property, attend a club event, or attend a meeting please make sure you do the following:

  • Use the Alberta Health COVID-19 Self-Assessment Tool before you come out. It's a quick and simple test whether coming out is reasonable or another course of action is best.
  • If you've recently returned from travel to any country outside Canada, please self-isolate for 14 days.
  • If you are sick, even if it's just a cold, please stay home.
  • If you're a critical infrastructure worker, are over 60, or have multiple medical conditions, you may consider staying home just to be safe.
The Prevention Stuff
The following simple steps have been shown to be effective:

  • Wash your hands with soap and water for 20 seconds or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
  • Hand washing isn't feasible out at the property, so use hand sanitizer instead.
  • Maintain the 1-2 m 'social distancing' - physical distance between people has been been shown to be very effective at containing COVID-19.
  • Avoid touching your face with unwashed or unsanitized hands. 
  • Cough or sneeze into your elbow.
  • If you use a tissue for a cough or sneeze, put it into a trash can. Sanitize your hands afterward.
Please, Please, Please
With all of the excitement around toilet paper and hand sanitizer right now, we can understand it might be tempting to swipe the stuff in our outhouses.

Please don't.

It just hurts those that come after you. And, being blunt, it will go rather poorly for you if we catch you doing this. So please don't.

Please feel free to use what you need, but please be responsible and conservative.
Why am I getting this email?
Receiving safety and membership-related system emails is one of the membership obligations stated in the Membership Terms and Conditions you accepted when registering or renewing your membership. Safe and Sound emails are those system messages.

Given the nature of Safe and Sound emails we do not expect there will be many, but they are critically important.