Summary: <p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Recording of the debate at Battle of Ideas 2017 (https://www.battleofideas.org.uk/session/safety-first/)</span></p><br> <p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">The ‘safety first’ outlook, intending to keep us safe by imagining the worst, risks increasing our sense of existential insecurity. Always anticipating catastrophe may mean over-reacting, especially in the fields of science, health and technology. We have become the victims of scaremongering over theoretical risks – from mobile phone radiation or the latest strain of flu, even from familiar foods such as sugar and salt.</span></p><br> <p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Has safety become an aim in itself, divorced from a common-sense assessment of risk? Does the desire to eliminate all danger undermine individual freedom? Is it time to confront the dangers of our ‘safety first’ society?</span></p><br> <p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">SPEAKERS</span></p><br> <p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Richard Angell</span><br><span style="font-size: 12pt;">director, Progress</span></p><br> <p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Terry Barnes</span><br><span style="font-size: 12pt;">principal, Cormorant Policy Advice; fellow, Institute of Economic Affairs; former special adviser to two Australian health ministers</span></p><br> <p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Professor Bill Durodié</span><br><span style="font-size: 12pt;">chair of international relations, former head of department, University of Bath</span></p><br> <p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Dr Clare Gerada</span><br><span style="font-size: 12pt;">medical director, NHS Practitioner Health Programme; former chair, Royal College of General Practitioners</span></p><br> <p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Lenore Skenazy</span><br><span style="font-size: 12pt;">'America’s Worst Mom'; president, Let Grow; founder, Free-Range Kids book, blog and movement</span></p>
