aquatics activities – Risk Management In Scouting

The “Pitfalls of Impatience”

Renowned outdoorsman Cliff Jacobson, in a Scouting magazine issue of September-October, 2016, addressed the “Pitfalls of Impatience” in relation to actions taken during an outdoor activity. Cliff described four different scenarios that might reasonably be faced by a volunteer Scout

Class V rivers – no more!

Over the years, Scouts and their leaders have experienced white water activities which have included Class V rivers. Indeed, Scouts attending Bechtel Summit Base had the opportunity to raft on a Class V river. But, no more! Note the

Scouting’s risk management challenges . . . there are many!

Being a well-meaning BSA adult volunteer in support of a unit’s outdoor program presents many challenges. The challenges presented are, for the most part, different than those normally faced by adults. Indeed, the challenges which must be faced, and successfully

Who can “assume the risk” of an activity?

The movie “White Mile” (trailer found here) (available on DVD and used in support of some university outdoor recreation courses) is based on a true life event where several adult participants perished during a “corporate-bonding” white water rafting event in Canada.

Search and Rescue in the National Parks . . . what were the causes?

The National Park Service keeps records of search and rescue missions in its parks, and its 2014 annual report is enlightening as to such causes, most of which are applicable to the planning and conduct of Scouting activities. For instance,

Will adults survive the BSA swim test at camp? Sometimes not.

The author has become aware there have sadly been instances of adult leaders perishing while attempting to complete the BSA swim test while attending summer camp (presumably due to heart attacks), as well as a number of non-fatal cardiac events

First aid kits – general or specific supervision?

All responsible units carry a first aid kit during outdoor activities. This is part of a group’s “duty of care”. Knowing how to use a first aid kit’s contents is part of a unit’s “standard of care”. However, the concepts

Who has supervisory authority over a high adventure crew?

In this story regarding a near-tragedy during a 2015 Northern Tier canoe trek, it is stated that the Northern Tier “guide” made a mistake by taking the crew too close to a waterfall, with the entire crew ultimately being swept

Portage, or rapids, at Northern Tier?

The participant handbook for BSA’s Northern Tier canoe programs states as follows with regard to its “whitewater” policy: “The running of rapids, whitewater or waterfalls is prohibited. All Northern Tier crews will portage around all falls, rapids, fast water, etc.

History repeats . . . the dangers of open (cold) water boating

On June 19, 2016, while attending a Russian summer camp, 14 children aged 11-15 (out of 47 participants) perished while boating on a large lake during a summer camp activity. The boats overturned during an advancing storm. The water temperature

White water rafting . . . proceed with caution

On May 14, 2016 a group of 13 Scouts and 6 adults ran a 16 mile stretch of the Dead River in Maine, stated to include Class III to Class IV+ (some say Class V+) rapids. The Dead River reportedly

Was the incident the result of product, process, or procedure?

In his article “Learning from accident analysis: The dynamics leading up to a rafting accident”, The Journal of Experiential Education, August 1998, Vol. 21, No. 2, pp. 86-95, the author Johan Hovelynck makes the point that accidents can be attributed

“American Whitewater” Safety Code

American Whitewater has a safety code directed specifically to white water boating. See, http://www.americanwhitewater.org/content/Wiki/safety:start. The safety code covers the following subject areas: Personal preparation and responsibility Boat and equipment preparedness Group preparedness and responsibility Guidelines for river rescue International scale

Selecting a competent vendor . . . part of the unit’s duty of care!

Selecting an appropriate commercial vendor for an outdoor activity is part of the unit’s duty of care. For instance, if the vendor is a source of rental canoes, rafts, or kayaks, does the vendor: maintain the equipment (including PFDs) in

Can you cope at the boundaries of the activity?

Jeff Jackson, professor and coordinator of Algonquin College’s Outdoor Adventure Program, and co-author of “Managing Risk – Systems Planning for Outdoor Adventure Programs” (2011), in a recent webinar, makes the point that “safe failure” is more important than being “fail

Do nothing in haste . . .

“Climb if you will, but remember that courage and strength are nought without prudence, and that a momentary negligence may destroy the happiness of a lifetime. Do nothing in haste, look well to each step, and from the beginning think

Injuries and near misses – what are their causes, and can they be avoided by following BSA policies and procedures?

Goode et al, in their 2015 publication “Looking beyond people, equipment, and environment: Is a systems theory model of accident causation required to understand injuries and near misses during outdoor activities?“, Procedia Manufacturing 3 (2015) 1125-1131 (available on-line at www.sciencedirect.com),

How many victims are there?

In the event of an unfortunate incident, involving one or more youth or adults, it may be simplistic to believe that the only victims are those directly involved – i.e., those who are injured, or worse. But, the list of

Is your unit capable of attending to risk issues?

Professor Angie Moline of Northern Arizona University several years ago released the results of a study directed to the level of preparedness of university faculty who supervised outdoor field programs for students in subject areas such as ecology, biology, environmental

Scuba diving and risk management

The February, 2016 issue of Boys’ Life contains an article titled “Scuba on Ice”, directed to a winter scuba activity on a frozen lake in Minnesota. An excellent adventure to be sure. Opportunities for Scouts to learn, and participate in,

Your outdoor activity is done . . . now what?

Most outdoor recreation commentators do not consider an activity completed until a “post-activity review” occurs. That is, what did we do, how did we do it, how did it go, and what do we need to change? Scout units may

How many lemons?

Several outdoor risk management commentators equate “risk factors ignored” to “lemons” such as might appear on a slot machine, such that when sufficient “lemons” accumulate due to ignored risk factors, the “jackpot” of overwhelming risk results, potentially leading to a

Wilderness first aid, CPR, BSA high adventure, and the standard of care

Being able to provide reasonable medical care during an outdoor activity is one aspect of meeting the standard of care toward the participants, Scouts or adults. BSA deals with this issue by requiring minimum medical certification standards for those attending

The Sweet 16 of BSA Safety . . . now retired, but still relevant!

The “Sweet 16 of BSA Safety” has been an integral part of the standard of care which must be exercised during the planning and conduct of Scouting’s outdoor program for decades. However, as of 2021, the “Sweet 16” is phased

What causes accidents in the outdoors, and how can you avoid them?

There is a consensus among outdoor program commentators that accidents in the outdoors are the result of one or more of unsafe conditions, unsafe acts, and errors in judgment. Leemon et al, “Risk Management for Outdoor Leaders“, 2005, p.16., among others.

Gear, people, environment . . . pay attention to these!

Rick Curtis, author of “The Backpacker’s Manual” (2005), an excellent and highly recommended 400+ page treatise on backcountry skills, makes the point (pp. 226-228), also made by many others in the outdoor recreation field, that potential hazards in the outdoors

You followed “protocol” . . . so why did bad stuff still happen?

In a story from 2002, two members of a church camp canoeing group tragically perished at the base of Upper Basswood Falls in the Boundary Waters (pictured below) – one a camp participant while swimming at the base of the

Learn it young, remember it forever . . .

“Learn it young, remember it forever” . . . a promotional slogan adopted by Scouts South Africa, as discussed and depicted in this video. This slogan has real implications with regard to risk management in Scouting, reinforcing the fact

What is your “zone of operation” ?

Several outdoor program commentators characterize an outdoor program participant’s ability to function by relating their level of competence to the degree of difficulty of the activity, denoted as “operation zones“. Such “operation zones” are defined as follows: The “boredom zone”

Questions to ask about your outdoor program!

Cathye Haddock, author of “Managing Risks in Outdoor Activities”, New Zealand Mountain Safety Manual 27, pp. 91-93, 1993, suggests that administrators of outdoor education programs should address a number of areas of inquiry to ensure that their programs are well-planned

Canoeing hazards in the wilderness

Cliff Jacobson, in his book Canoeing Wild Rivers, 5th ed, 2015, lists the following as significant hazards when canoeing in the wilderness (pay attention future Northern Tier, Maine High Adventure, and other wilderness canoeists!): Over-reliance on maps and contour intervals

Some recommended outdoor risk management resources . . .

Apart from the author’s risk management book, the one and only book written specifically for adult Scout volunteers on the subject, there are a number of other resources directed to outdoor risk management which would find a useful spot in

Adult volunteers . . . will they survive the event?

General vs. specific supervision . . . know the difference, and the potential effect!

The “qualified supervision” of BSA’s Sweet Sixteen involves many responsibilities, one of which is to understand when to exercise “general supervision”, when to exercise “specific supervision”, and when to transition from one to another. In a reported incident of years past,

Follow the “rules of adventure”

In his book “Deep Survival” (2003), author Laurence Gonzales offered the following “Rules of Adventure”, which are certainly applicable to the planning and conduct of Scouting’s outdoor program: (1) Know what you are doing (have you taken all applicable training and

Swift water rescue . . . a good skill to have!

It is not uncommon for Scout-sponsored boating trips to occur on rivers having inherent hazards such as cold water, in-water obstacles, rapids, high water flow rate, etc. Such hazards can place participants (youth and adults) in harm’s way under unexpected

Who will rescue you?

In the unlikely (hopefully) event that your group requires the assistance of rescuers, for whatever reason, would you know which agency or agencies would come to your aid? This may be important to know from the standpoint of having the

Open water paddling . . . be prepared, and be aware!

Open water paddling, particularly in bodies of water where the temperature is cold, places risk management at the forefront. The margin for error can be slim indeed as shown by this Chilean kayak story involving the founder of North Face. Experienced

Foreseeability . . . it’s hard to predict the future, but someone has to try!

A leader’s duty of care to the Scouts includes attempting to understand those risks that are “reasonably foreseeable”, and then either accepting the consequences of those risks, mitigating the effect of the risks by making changes to the activity, or

Communication in the wilderness

With the advent of cell phones and satellite phones, not to mention SPOT devices, the question of whether to bring some kind of communication means when exploring the backcountry is being asked more and more. Indeed, all Northern Tier crews

Teachable moments in the wilderness

This post will be supplemented periodically with stories about teachable moments in the wilderness. There unfortunately does not seem to be a lack of them on the web . . . Cold water canoe accident 1982 Boy Scout cold water

An expert’s tips for avoiding accidents in the outdoors

Cliff Jacobson, a renowned author and outdoorsman with over 35 years experience canoeing in the backcountry, offers the following tips for avoiding accidents in the September-October 2012 issue of Scouting magazine: (1) Pay attention to the weather; (2) Dress appropriately

Three outdoor youth tragedies that changed things . . .

Since 1978 (a little more than a generation ago), there have been three outdoor event tragedies involving school-age youth, which were cause for reflection in the outdoor recreation industry – one was a 1978 canoeing incident (13 fatalities), one was

The “Rescue Curve” . . . self-rescue, or call for help?

In the wilderness, whether on land or on water, reported incidents make clear that rescue of one or more participants may be necessary. Whether the desired rescue is ultimately possible or successful depends on a number of factors, including the

Using an outfitter for a river trip? Do your due diligence and exercise judgment!

Few units have the necessary experience, skill, and equipment to address the needs for any and all outdoor activities. Hence, units frequently take advantage of a commercial outfitter’s expertise and equipment. Regarding the use of commercial outfitters for river-based activities

Cold water . . . the “Silent Killer”!

The temperature of the water upon which Scouts conduct boating or rafting activities is a major risk factor, the potential effect of which may be ignored more often than not. However, no aquatic activity should be planned and carried out without due

Safe boating reminders

During approaching spring and summer boating seasons, here are some safe boating reminders. A kayak or canoe river trip may not normally seem to be a high risk event, but what if fast moving water due to heavy rains or

Are you sufficiently skilled for paddle sport programs?

The August 2014 issue of Boys’ Life contains an article titled “The Wild Wild North”, describing a California troop’s eight day trek through Bowron Lake Provincial Park in British Columbia. Interestingly, the trek followed a number of interconnected lakes and

What is ”Qualified Supervision”?

One of BSA’s Sweet Sixteen of BSA Safety is “Qualified Supervision”. The Sweet Sixteen’s ”Qualified Supervision” and “Discipline” form the bread of BSA’s “Safety Sandwich”, with the meat of the sandwich being the activity-specific rules for each activity (Safe Swim Defense,

The exercise of good judgment in the outdoors is crucial!

The exercise of good judgment by an adult leader in a youth-based outdoor activity is a crucial aspect of risk management. Indeed, it is the foundation of BSA safety in the outdoors. In the end, exercising good judgment may be the only factor protecting participants