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Trek Safely

Trek Safely. Boy Scouts of America’s recommended procedure for organizing and carrying out outdoor treks. TREK SAFELY. Larry Blumberg LBlumberg@stny.rr.com - Former Scoutmaster and Crew Advisor - Baden-Powell Council Training Cm’t - Adirondack 46er

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Trek Safely

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  1. Trek Safely Boy Scouts of America’s recommended procedure for organizing and carrying out outdoor treks

  2. TREK SAFELY Larry Blumberg LBlumberg@stny.rr.com - Former Scoutmaster and Crew Advisor - Baden-Powell Council Training Cm’t - Adirondack 46er - Catskill 3500 – summer and winter - Trip leader for the Triple Cities Hiking Club and Finger Lakes Trail Conference - Volunteer Campground Host for Adirondack Mtn Club’s Heart Lake Campground in Lake Placid, NY

  3. TREK SAFELY Qualified Supervision Keep Fit Plan Ahead Gear Up Communicate Clearly and Completely Monitor Conditions Discipline

  4. TREK SAFELY • Trek Safely applies to all outdoor experiences: • Hiking • Backpacking • Canoeing • Horseback riding • Caving • Rafting • kayaking • Sailing • Ski touring • Mountain climbing • Mountain biking

  5. TREK SAFELY • Designed to help youth and adult leaders plan and carry out a safe trekking experience for the members of their unit • Similar to the Safe Swim Defense, Safety Afloat, and Climb On Safely programs • It is not designed to teach trekking • Units engaging in activities requiring specialized outdoor skills should seek qualified instructors to help members learn and acquire these skills prior to the outing

  6. TREK SAFELY GOALS OF THIS TRAINING: • To explain how each of the seven points of Trek Safely contributes to the objective of assuring safe treks • To understand why the first and last points qualifiedsupervision and discipline are crucial and why all other points rely on these two points • To plan and carry out a safe unit trek, observing the seven points of Trek Safely • To provide a list of resources available for planning and safely carrying out a trek

  7. TREK SAFELY • Scouting is responsible to provide for the safety of all trek participants. • This is one of the primary responsibilities of all Scout Leaders ! • Trek Safely is designed to promote safety and help prevent accidents. • Accidents occur when Trek Safely procedures are not followed.

  8. TREK SAFELY • Before any BSA group engages in a trekking experience, all participants should have an appreciation for the potential hazards they might encounter and should be sure steps are taken to reduce risks. • Adherence to the seven points of Trek Safely will help units avoid most significant risks.

  9. TREK SAFELY Qualified Supervision • All treks must be supervised by a mature, conscientious adult at least 21 years of age who accepts responsibility for the well-being and safety of everyone in the group. • At least one additional adult must accompany the unit. The lead adult is responsible for ensuring that someone in the group is currently trained in first aid. Wilderness First Aid Basic, a 16-hour course that includes CPR, is recommended.

  10. TREK SAFELY Keep Fit • Participants need completed Personal Health and Medical Records. • When accidents occur, they are frequently related to unknown physical conditions or are the unexpected result of a known physical problem. • Therefore the lead adult should review the medical record for each participant and adjust the trek and activities to reduce potential risks associated with those individual health conditions. • Good safety requires an understanding of the risk of individual health conditions. • A regular fitness regimen is recommended. Participants should start slowly, gradually increasing the duration and intensity of exercise.

  11. TREK SAFELY Plan Ahead • Trek should match the maturity, skill level, and fitness of unit members. • Required permits must be obtained to use public or private land. • Training in the principles of Leave No Trace is essential for both safety and consideration of other visitors to the area.

  12. Plan Ahead and Prepare Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces Dispose of Waste Properly Leave What You Find Minimize Campfire Impacts Respect Wildlife Be Considerate of Other Visitors TREK SAFELY Plan Ahead and Prepare Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces Dispose of Waste Properly Leave What You Find Minimize Campfire Impacts Respect Wildlife Be Considerate of Other Visitors

  13. Plan Ahead and Prepare Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces Dispose of Waste Properly Leave What You Find Minimize Campfire Impacts Respect Wildlife Be Considerate of Other Visitors TREK SAFELY Gear Up • A qualified youth or adult leader ensures that the group has proper equipment and clothing for the trek. • Every crew must have a first-aid kit. • The leader reminds everyone to bring and take prescribed medications. • Every crew must have the means to carry and treat water. • Crew members should be trained to use specialized equipment such as climbing gear, bridles, watercraft, and skiing gear.

  14. Plan Ahead and Prepare Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces Dispose of Waste Properly Leave What You Find Minimize Campfire Impacts Respect Wildlife Be Considerate of Other Visitors TREK SAFELY Communicate Clearly and Completely • All participants should know what to expect and what is expected of them: • Youth and adult leaders should communicate with each other to avoid unpleasant surprises. • Details of the itinerary should be shared with parents and a designated contact person. • If the itinerary is changed, one of the leaders shares the change with the contact person who, in turn, shares it with parents. • One of the trek leaders should consider carrying a means of communication for cases of emergency.

  15. Plan Ahead and Prepare Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces Dispose of Waste Properly Leave What You Find Minimize Campfire Impacts Respect Wildlife Be Considerate of Other Visitors TREK SAFELY Monitor Conditions • The leaders are responsible for making good decisions during the trek. They must: • Continually assess conditions including weather, terrain, group morale, food and water supplies, and group physical condition. • If adverse conditions develop, prepare the group to stop or turn back.

  16. Plan Ahead and Prepare Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces Dispose of Waste Properly Leave What You Find Minimize Campfire Impacts Respect Wildlife Be Considerate of Other Visitors TREK SAFELY Discipline • Each participant must know, understand, and respect the rules and procedures for safe trekking. • The reasons, as well as the rules and procedures, should be shared to encourage compliance. • Youth and adult leaders must be strict and firm, showing no favoritism. • Qualified supervision and discipline are the basis for all of the other Trek Safely points.

  17. TREK SAFELY Resources • Passport to High Adventure • Fieldbook • Annual Health and Medical Record Form Merit Badge Pamphlets • Backpacking • Camping • Canoeing • Cycling • Hiking • Horsemanship • Small-Boat Sailing • Swimming • Whitewater

  18. TREK SAFELY DISCUSSION Relate a personal experience with an accident or “close call” during a unit trek… How could these incidents have been avoided ? The Seven Points of TREK SAFELY - Qualified Supervision - Communicate Clearly and Completely - Keep Fit - Monitor Conditions - Plan ahead - Discipline - Gear Up

  19. TREK SAFELY Thank You !

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