Safety First – Risk Management In Scouting

Unnecessary Risk – What is it?

The “Mission” of the Boy Scouts of America “is to prepare young people to make ethical and moral choices over their lifetimes by instilling in them the values of the Scout Oath and Law.” One of the Eight Methods of

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

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

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

Do you know the “the weakest link” in your group?

A Scout unit participating in an outdoor activity is generally comprised of a mixture of both youth and adults, of differing ages, skill levels, maturity levels, and physical conditioning . . . not to mention, differing views of their own

Altitude sickness – nothing to ignore!

There were at least two reported hiking deaths in 2017 attributed to altitude sickness. One a 17 year old Boy Scout backpacking in Utah, and another a 20 year old female hiking in the Colorado mountains. A Boys’ Life article

Don’t ignore the “yellow warning signs” – they are a gift!

While outdoor participants are routinely faced with mental “red flags” (or warning signs) either during the planning or conduct of an outdoor activity (such as a bad weather report), there are times when such red flags constitute actual warning signs

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

Can we rely too much on GPS for directions? Possibly.

Can we sometimes place too much faith in GPS for directions? Some stories make this seem so. In one 2016 story, a young woman became lost for 5 days near the Grand Canyon due to reliance on her car’s GPS,

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,

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

Preparation vs. the “go-no go” decision

All volunteer leaders will at some time during their tenure arrive at a point where a decision must be made that has significant risk management implications for either the group as a whole, or for one or more members of

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

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

Hiker fatigue raises its ugly head at Baxter State Park (Maine)

A recent study analyzed search and rescue (SAR) response reports for Baxter State Park in Maine (home of Mt. Katahdin, terminus of the Appalachian Trail) for the 20+ year period of 1992-2014. Perhaps not surprisingly, the study found that fatigue

“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

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

Can you make things worse?

I recently read the following quote: “No matter how bad things are, you can always make them worse.” The implications for an adult volunteer during a Scouting activity are many, including failing to appreciate the existence of, and to deal

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

“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

Hints to assist in avoiding or minimizing risk in the outdoors . . .

Peter Kick, in his 2015 book “Desperate Steps – Life, Death, and Choices Made in the Mountains of the Northeast“, lists the following hints to assist in avoiding or minimizing risk in the backcountry: Plan ahead – know your bailout

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

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

Proper hydration . . . is anyone paying attention?

The “default” mode for outdoor participants, particularly youth, probably tends toward dehydration as opposed to being sufficiently hydrated. Why? Most will use the “thirsty” reflex to determine when to consume water, but at that point, most commentators take the view

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

Summit fever . . . something to be avoided!

The January 2016 issue of Boys’ Life magazine contains an article about a Scout group which attempted to hike to the summit of Mount Washington (NH) during February, 2015. Wisely, on the advice of a park ranger, the group put into

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.

Core outdoor leader skills . . . how many do you have?

Many outdoor leadership commentators take the view that those in charge of outdoor recreation programs should possess certain “core” skills, stated by some to include activity and technical skills, teaching and modeling skills, group process skills, and judgment and decision-making

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

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

You recognized risk – but you chose to ignore it . . . this is why!

As an adult volunteer, you are frequently confronted with one or more risk factors during an outdoor activity. Will you be able to deal with them, or will you find cause to ignore them? Priest and Gass, in their book

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

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

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

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

Adult volunteers . . . will they survive the event?

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.

“Do no harm” . . . walking the “tightrope of competence”

The author recently read an article about a commercial outdoor recreation organization where the author expressed some concern about the number of participant deaths that had been experienced by that organization since its inception. In the “comment section” to the

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

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

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

“Be prepared” in the backcountry

Hikes in the backcountry include their own challenges, including unknown, unexpected, and unforeseeable risks, resulting in the potential for harm. Being prepared for emergencies by carrying a rescue or survival kit is, of course, part of “being prepared”! The National

Drone to the rescue?

A fire department in Maine recently used a drone to deliver a lifeline to two teenagers trapped in the middle of a river. The drone used is a DJI Phantom 3. Shades of things to come? Here’s another story about

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

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

Weather “trigger points” . . . use them!

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

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

Manage risk by being pessimistic!

In his book “Wilderness Secrets Revealed ” (p. 255, 2013), author Andre-Francois Bourbeau expresses the view that it helps to answer the following pessimistic scenarios before undertaking an outdoor activity: (1) What happens if departure is delayed for some time?

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

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

Common outdoor risks and controls

There are industry-recognized and experience-based risks commonly associated with outdoor activities. As white water rafting, canoeing, kayaking, snow skiing, and snowboarding are common outdoor Scouting activities, reference is made, by way of example, to the Victoria, Australia state government’s below

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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;

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,

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.

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