During your Nights Away Experience

1. During your Nights Away Experience Mick Pether March 2009

2. What we will cover… • Introduction • Risk assessment • What does POR say? • Implications of child protection policy • Site security • Sleeping arrangements • First aid requirements/kit • Health forms and personal medication • Fire safety • Reporting accidents and incidents • Infectious diseases

3. Introduction In the many activities we can offer, we provide challenges that seek to encourage the development of young people. These are often challenges they do not face every day and young people can experience a great sense of achievement in completing them. Some degree of risk is unavoidable if the sense of adventure and excitement is to be achieved, but it is - and should be - much less than the participant perceives. It is important to remember that we seek to provide EXCITEMENT but not DANGER – ADVENTURE but not HAZARD Accordingly we need to assess and control the risks associated with activities in order to minimise danger to young people

4. What Does POR Say? Rule 9.4 Risk Assessment Leaders should carry out risk assessments before and during every activity All activities must be undertaken in accordance with the Association’s Safety Policy (see Chapter 2) and adhere to the relevant general and specific activity rules set out in Chapter 9 - Activities Further details are contained in the factsheet FS120000 Activities – Risk Assessment available from the Scout Information Centre

5. Definitions Two terms, are frequently used during a risk assessment, and people confuse these two terms. A HAZARD is anything that could cause harm A RISK is the chance that someone will be harmed by a hazard Often a list of hazards is produced, but not a true risk assessment. Identifying the hazards is only the first step in the risk assessment process.

6. Example A bottle of concentrated acid, which is highly corrosive, sitting on a shelf would constitute a hazard. However, as long as it stays on the shelf with the lid on, it poses no risk to anyone When someone picks up the bottle, removes the lid and attempts to pour it, the hazard now poses a significant risk to that person The risk of a hazard causing harm depends on the circumstances

7. What is a Risk Assessment? A risk assessment is simply calculating the chance that a particular hazard will actually cause harm. Take a look at what could go wrong - both before and during your planned Nights Away experience and then decide on ways to prevent or minimise any problems We all do risk assessments in our heads every day when driving or crossing the road, we just need a more formal way of assessing and recording our findings

8. Accidents & Injuries 40% of all accidents in Scouting occur on camps. The most common causes are: Burns and scalds Cut or struck by object or person Stepping on or falling over objects Sickness

9. 5 Step Risk Assessment Identify all the hazards Decide who might be harmed and how Evaluate the risk of the hazards causing harm, and decide on any precautions that need to be taken Record your findings Review and revise when necessary

10. Step 1: Identify Hazards When planning your camp try and identify all of the hazards from when you leave HQ until you return. You may need to consider some of the following, all of which may have hazards attached to them. Transport to and from the venue The venue itself, is it near a river, main road, cliffs etc? Cooking - will you be using open fires, using saws or axes etc.? Activities - what activities do you have planned?

11. Step 2: Who Might be Harmed & How This could be: Young people Leaders Instructors Bystanders The number of people who may be put at risk of harm is also important

12. Step 3: Evaluation & Precautions You have already identified the hazards. Now consider the likelihood of each of these hazards causing harm. This will determine what precautions you need to take to reduce the risks It is possible that even after all reasonable precautions have been taken some degree of risk will remain What you have to decide for each any hazard, is whether the remaining risk is high, medium, or low

13. Step 4: Record Findings For your own protection and for insurance purposes always make a written record of your assessment. Good idea to keep a file so that you do not have to repeat in future for similar camps activities Make everyone who needs to know aware of your findings

14. Step 5: Review & Revise Always review and revise your findings during the course of a camp or activity in light of changing circumstances. Changes in weather Level of difficulty of activities New hazards that you did not expect or allow for

15. Child Protection On camp adults and young people may have much closer contact than at a normal section meeting. Ensure that the Associations child protection policy is followed to ensure that young peoples welfare is safeguarded and compromising situations are avoided Make sure that all participating adults are CRB’d

16. Sleeping Arrangements Young people should be segregated by sex Adults must be segregated from young people Adults must be segregated by sex Young leaders must be segregated from adults and young people Segregation does not mean separate compartments in the same tent!

17. Security Many Scout campsites insist on the wearing of wrist bands to identify who is allowed to be on site Make your site as secure as possible from members of the general public Always challenge strangers who may wander into your site in a tactful manner

18. First Aid You must have a qualified First Aider with minimum of First Response. (up to date!) Most Scout campsites will have a first aid kit but you should have your own See HQ fact sheet for recommended contents for your first aid kit Sick bay - sometimes it is useful to have a separate tent that can be used as sick bay or for first aid treatment; can also be used if a Scout needs to just lie down somewhere quiet, or if you need to isolate someone you suspect may be infectious

19. The Law on First Aid in Scouting Leaders have a duty of care towards the young people in their custody. This means that you should use a common sense approach when dealing with injuries or illness. If you have acted reasonably then it is unlikely that you can be accused of negligence after the event. The consent of a parent is required before a doctor can carry out any procedure on a young person. “ an adult with parental responsibility can arrange for some or all of this responsibility to be met by a person acting on their behalf” (Hence the parental consent form)

20. Personal Medication Many young people may need to take personal medication routinely or in an emergency (ie inhalers for asthma, or epi-pens for allergies Some have been doing this for many years and are very capable of self administering drugs, they may just need a reminder each day Some younger members cannot be entrusted with this, so a Leader may have to keep and administer their drugs for them (consent form) Emergency drugs such as inhalers etc., Leaders should always carry a spare, and ensure that it is available throughout the camp

21. Emergency Procedures Remain calm, do not put yourself in danger Assess the situation and make the area safe Get help Administer first aid and call emergency services if necessary If in doubt consult a doctor or hospital Inform your Home Contact at the earliest opportunity Keep a full written record of events (accident book) Inform your DC by phone and follow up in writing Make no admission of liability

22. Fire Precautions in a Building Make sure everyone knows what to do in case of a fire (fire drill practice on first night!). Check that everyone knows escape routes Keep escape routes clear Ensure fire doors and exits are not blocked or locked Make sure smoke alarms work if fitted Turn off electrical appliances when not in use NO SMOKING Where are fire extinguishers and blankets? Have a checklist of everyone in the party Do a safety check at bedtime

23. Fire Precautions at a Camp Pitch tents at least 2m apart Pitch cooking tents and dining shelters etc at least 6m from sleeping tents Provide each cooking area with an appropriate extinguisher If cooking on open fires always have a bucket of water handy

24. Infectious Diseases You are not expected to be a doctor!!! The best way to avoid infection is to not take anyone away who is already infected! Common infectious diseases are: Measles Gastro-enteritis German measles Meningitis Mumps Chicken Pox Weil’s disease Lyme’s disease E-coli

25. Questions

26. Practical Challenge You are taking a group of 15 Cubs and 3 Leaders on a weekend camp in summer. You will be travelling by minibus with your equipment in a trailer. The campsite has a river running through it, and you are intending to have activities such as rafting and swimming. You are planning to cook over open fires. Using the pro-forma provided perform a 5 point risk assessment for this Nights Away experience