buddySystem

A buddy system, or buddy system approach, is a safety and social practice in which two people pair up to monitor and assist each other during activities. The goal is to increase safety, accountability, and mutual support by ensuring someone is available to help, observe hazards, and respond in emergencies.

Pairs typically establish clear roles, communication plans, and boundaries. The pairing may be stable for a period or rotated, and buddies agree on regular check-ins, signals, and steps to take if one partner cannot continue. Training may cover hazard recognition, emergency procedures, and appropriate boundaries to maintain professional and personal safety.

Common contexts for the buddy system include schools and camps, workplaces with safety risks, outdoor recreation and field trips, water-based activities such as swimming or diving, and healthcare or elder-care settings. It is also used in emergency planning and disaster response to ensure continuous monitoring and rapid assistance.

Benefits include enhanced safety, social connection, quicker reporting of incidents, and increased confidence for participants. It can support learning and inclusivity by pairing people with different skills. Limitations include potential overreliance on a single partner, boundary and privacy concerns, and the need for clear guidelines, training, and ongoing monitoring to remain effective.

Historically, the concept has roots in safety practices across maritime, mining, and exploration contexts. The term and its adoption across industries emphasize paired accountability and mutual aid as a straightforward approach to risk management.