BSA has instituted rigorous Youth Protection protocols to protect Scouting youth. Indeed, the Guide to Safe Scouting includes a section titled “Barriers to Abuse.” See, also, this BSA statement on Youth Protection. However, a unit leader must view the term
Treat the water? Yes!
It should go without saying that Scouting units in the outdoors should only consume water that is safe to drink. Indeed, there are any number of ways to treat water to make it safe to drink, including but not being
Heat illness – pay attention!
Heat illness is a serious matter in Scouting, as evidenced by more than a few instances where both youth and adults have perished during outdoor Scouting events due to the effects of heat. See this 2009 story. And, this 2013
Tetanus vaccinations, or lack thereof, and risk in Scouting
There have recently been many news reports of children not being vaccinated against diseases such as measles, resulting in hot spots of measles epidemics in the United States. What is left unsaid is whether a refusal to be vaccinated against
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
BSA’s “Safety Moments” – Use them!
BSA has a health and safety page on its website that should be of interest to all Scouting volunteers – “Safety Moments“. BSA’s “Safety Moments“ are single page discussions of specific aspects of the Scouting program, intended to highlight significant
Risk management vs. defending against liability – which do you choose?
In a posting on the website Sportwaiver, the point is made that exercising sensible and competent risk management procedures has many benefits, including (1) avoiding involvement in costly litigation, which could drag on for years, (2) avoiding bad publicity and
“Safety countermeasures” – are you using them?
Priest and Gass, “Effective Leadership in Adventure Programming“, 1997, p. 98, make reference to the use of “risk management countermeasures” in support of a risk management plan. These “countermeasures” can be employed to either avoid, or minimize, the effect or
BSA’s Revised 2017 Wilderness First Aid Curriculum
In September, 2017, BSA announced a revised curriculum for wilderness first aid courses for BSA volunteers. The new curriculum updates the prior 2010 wilderness first aid curriculum. The revised curriculum may be found here. By way of important change, while
BSA “Tour Plans” terminated – now what?
As of April 1, 2017, BSA terminated its Tour Plan trip planning resource. There is no stated replacement. Since either the Tour Plan or its predecessor Tour Permit procedure have been in place since the 1960s, this is a major
Perceived risk . . . are we open to listening?
One aspect of BSA‘s SAFETY PAUSE slogan is “Share”, meaning sharing with others anticipated risks and how to deal with them. But, will others listen? All volunteer leaders have their own perceptions of risk to be encountered during an outdoor
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
Preventative search and rescue (PSAR) . . . a proactive approach to a safe activity
The National Park Service since 1997 has engaged in an effort call “Preventative Search and Rescue” (PSAR ), in a proactive attempt to reduce the need to engage in searches and rescues of park visitors. This effort generally involves educating
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.
“Qualified Supervision” . . . do you have the skills?
The Sweet 16 of BSA Safety (replaced in 2021 by BSA’s S.A.F.E. activity assessment criteria) defined a “qualified superviser” as follows: “Every BSA activity should be supervised by a conscientious adult who understands and knowingly accepts responsibility for the well-being
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
Might different unit leaders address risk differently? Yes!
In their article “Risking a Debate – Redefining Risk and Risk Management: A New Zealand Case Study”, The Journal of Experiential Education, Spring 2001, Vol. 24, No. 1, pp 50-57, authors Robyn Zink et al discussed the results of a
Did the injury result from gross negligence, or willful or reckless misconduct, and does it matter? It might!
The Volunteer Protection Act of 1997 immunizes from liability unpaid volunteers working for non-profit organizations whose negligence results in an injury to another during the course of their volunteer duties. This Act, of course, applies to adult Scout volunteers acting within
Better than a trail of bread crumbs . . . ?
A service iNeverSolo (info here) markets itself as being “better than a trail of bread crumbs”. It is a free service where participants taking outdoor trips (hikes, canoe trips, etc.) can register their trip plan on-line, which trip plan includes
“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
“Standards of operation” as seen by others
Apart from BSA‘s policies and procedures, other outdoor recreation organizations have their own standards of operation that govern how they act in the outdoors. For instance, the Association for Experiential Education (AEE) has a “Manual of Accreditation Standards for Adventure
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
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
Knowledge and experienced-based risk management . . . whose duty is it?
Some unfortunate stories on the web might cause the reader to conclude that those acting as outdoor program supervisors (such as volunteer Scout leaders) were overconfident in their abilities, and overwhelmed by the circumstances with which they were confronted, leading
Proactive program safety points to consider
Meier et al, “Camp Counseling – Leadership and Programming for the Organized Camp“, 2012, p. 81, lists a number of “proactive program safety points” for camp staff to take into account during the operation of a camp program. As many
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.
Unauthorized activities – don’t be tempted!
BSA‘s Guide to Safe Scouting states the following with regard to BSA‘s liability insurance coverage and activities conducted on behalf of youth: “The Boy Scouts of America’s general liability policy provides coverage for a bodily injury or property damage claim
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
Competent trip planning = risk management
Priest and Gass, in their book Effective Leadership in Adventure Programming, 2nd ed., 2005, conclude that competent planning for an outdoor activity includes the following items: Reason for the trip (what are the purposes, goals and objectives?) Activities involved (do
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
The exercise of “sound judgment” by BSA “fiat” – is it possible?
BSA’s new (2015) “Scouter Code of Conduct” states “I will exercise sound judgment and demonstrate good leadership and use the Scouting program for its intended purpose consistent with the mission of the Boy Scouts of America”. Is that a promise that
BSA’s adult leader “Code of Conduct” . . . a standard of care by another name?
BSA published (Oct, 2015, revised March, 2021) a Scouter Code of Conduct to guide adult volunteers during their tenure. Adhering to all aspects of this Scouter Code of Conduct will serve to assist an adult volunteer in meeting the requisite
Philmont PASS . . . or fail?
Philmont Scout Reservation has been in continuous use since 1942. During 2015-2016, for two years, BSA offered Philmont advisor training programs at various locations across the country (apparently the first ever offered specifically for Philmont advisors). The program, known as
The challenge of an activity . . . and adult volunteer decision-making
During a recent outdoor activity, the author requested that one of the activity stations be modified (by reducing the height at which the activity occurred) to provide a greater margin for safety, this despite the activity being within the guidelines
Hiking dangers in Utah . . . and beyond
A September 28, 2015 article in The Spectrum newspaper discusses 10 dangers that “can ruin a hike”. While focused on hiking dangers in southern Utah, most, if not all, of the list is applicable to hiking in any location, particularly for Scout
The unit must have a culture of risk management to safely “sail the boat”!
Each Scout unit must establish a culture of outdoor risk management in order to enhance the odds that a successful, safe, outcome is achieved. The New Zealand Mountain Safety Council in its book “Outdoor Safety – Risk Management for Outdoor
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,
What is BSA’s “standard of care”?
As discussed in a different post, Scout volunteers owe a “standard of care” to those Scouts in their care. The “standard of care” are those actions taken to meet the Scout volunteers’ “duty of care“ toward their Scouts. Whether 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
New Hampshire’s and Utah’s new “search and rescue” cards . . . avoid being billed for your rescue!
Rescue agencies, including the National Park Service, as well as various state agencies, have long questioned whether those in need of rescue, who have created a need to be rescued due to their own negligence, should be billed for those
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
Some stories of Scout volunteers . . . driver fatigue, Philmont, falling tree, and severe weather at summer camp
Several persons during a risk management training session shared some personal stories. Story #1: Regarding the issue of driver fatigue, one person confirmed that a scout leader returning from summer camp fell asleep and hit his car in traffic. As
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
BSA’s “Safety Pause” slogan
BSA’s “SAFETY PAUSE” slogan is a convenient manner by which to address risk management during the planning and conduct of an activity: PAUSE before you start, ASSESS possible hazards, UNDERSTAND how to proceed safely, SHARE your plan with others, and EXECUTE
“Barrier analysis” . . . standard of care by another name?
“Barrier analysis” is a concept which originated decades ago with government and industrial accident investigations and accident prevention efforts. While the barrier analysis concept has not routinely been associated with risk management in the outdoor recreation field, extensive discussion of
Causes of accidents in the outdoors
The causes of accidents in the outdoors are many, but have generally been characterized as being related to one or more of GEAR, PEOPLE, and ENVIRONMENT. UNSAFE ACTS, UNSAFE CONDITIONS, and ERRORS IN JUDGMENT also contribute to the occurrence of
Risk vs. the mission of Scouting
The potential for significant risk during a Scouting activity is generally not something that a parent would find comforting, if not disagreeable, particularly if such potential is significant. There are several Scouting stories on the web which suggest that one
Risk management in Cub Scouting is no different!
As the Cub Scout program will now include more adventurous activities mirroring those of the Boy Scout program, I offer the following 27 year old story for review involving Cub Scouts and water, which includes many teachable moments, reinforcing the
Are you meeting your “Standard of Care” toward your Scouts?
All units should recognize that they owe a “duty of care” to their youth. But the duty of care is accompanied by a “standard of care” – i.e., those steps taken by a unit to meet its duty of care.
Lightning safety in the outdoors
Lightning safety is a necessary skill for those participating in outdoor program activities. Indeed, it is not difficult to find references on the web to lightning incidents. The lightning risk in Scouting is real. See, “Boy Scouts Accused of Not Taking
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
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,
BSA transportation regulation regarding passenger vans
Regarding vehicles used to transport Scouts, effective September 1, 2015, 15-person passenger vans manufactured before 2005 are no longer permitted for use in Scouting activities. 15-person passenger vans manufactured in 2005 or later may be used as long as they have
Catastrophic risk and Scouting
Various commentators characterize mountain biking, horseback riding, climbing, white water rafting, white water kayaking, and scuba as high risk activities. Indeed, mountain biking may have been the most injury-prone activity at the last National Jamboree. And, there are a number
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
A unit owes a “Duty of Care” to its Scouts
The duty of care is every leader’s obligation towards Scouts under their guidance. A leader (or leaders) can enhance the odds that they will have met their duty of care by: following BSA and industry-recognized outdoor activity procedures and best practices;
Food safety and liability
A federal district court in March, 2015 held that neither BSA nor NCAC (National Capital Area Counci) were liable for an injury to a Scout as a result of a 2008 E-coli tainted hamburger episode at NCAC’s Goshen Scout Reservation. I
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