Weather is a primary risk factor to be addressed. As some say, “WEATHER RULES“!
One way to address the risk associated with weather is to employ pre-determined weather “trigger points” which may be cause to put “Plan B” into effect depending on any number of weather or environmental conditions. (Dickson, Risk Management in the Outdoors).
Of course, reliance on such trigger points requires the adult leader to exercise adequate situational awareness – i.e., has the leader become aware that the heat index has increased to a dangerous level, or is the leader aware the the wind chill is reaching dangerous levels? An excellent discussion of various types of weather fronts is provided by the website Coming Back Alive.
Exemplary “trigger points” for a Scouting outdoor activity might include the following:
- a significant drop in
temperature; - the arrival of hypothermic conditions;
- the existence of a dangerous heat index;
- a change in lake or river conditions;
- a change in the weather forecast;
- the arrival of heavy rain;
- the arrival of winter precipitation;
- the arrival of high winds;
- the arrival of thunderstorms; or
- an increased lightning risk.
Adult leaders can envision additional trigger points based on the specifics of the activity. This pre-supposes, of course, that the adult leader (1) is paying attention to environmental conditions, (2) has pre-determined trigger points in mind, and (3) has a “Plan B” contingency plan in place . . . be prepared!
Indeed, a Scout leader’s appreciation of the severity of an approaching storm while camping in the Boundary Waters is said to have avoided serious injury or worse to his Scouts as a result of evacuating a campsite which was later ravaged by falling trees.
On the other hand, a Northern Tier crew caught unaware in the same storm unfortunately suffered several tragedies due to falling trees, as related here.
Lastly, it will be appreciated that it is not the unexpected weather that may be a problem. It may instead be the failure to expect the “unexpected” weather, as in this story, and this story.