Below are tools for planning a Safe Scout Outing
Please make
sure to read through the whole document for all the
resources needed to plan a safe
outing.
Tour Permits
Tour
permits are an essential part of the safe Scout outing planning
process.
The Local Tour
Permit - is used for trips of less than
500 miles and lets the local council know where your trip will be taking place.
It describes activity training standards required for activities such as
swimming, boating, or climbing. It explains the requirements for transportation
and leadership training.
The
tour leader signs the application, indicating that he or she has read the
Guide to Safe
Scouting.
The Local Tour Permit includes spaces for officials at
facilities visited to sign indicating that cooperation and conduct were
satisfactory, as well as vehicle insurance section to be completed for each
vehicle used. There is a section outlining transportation requirements (required
speeds and licensing).
Lastly,
the tour permit includes " Our Pledge of
Performance handout ," which covers best
practices for a Scout outing.
When the Local Tour Permit is completed, send it to your
local council office for approval. Allow the office about two weeks for
approval.
You may email, fax, or send your tour permit to:
Blue Mountain Council
8478 West Gage Boulevard
Kennewick, WA 99336
Phone: (509) 735-7306 or 1-800-821-4939
Fax: (509) 735-7306 or 1-866-329-2583
Email: tradingpost@bmcbsa.org
The National Tour Permit
- is used for trips
500 miles or more (one-way). It is similar to the Local Tour Permit in that it
is sent to your local council and then to the BSA regional office for approval,
so leave adequate lead time—at least a month—in submitting the
application.
Both the Local and National Tour Permits are valuable planning and safety tools. Each of these permits refers to other BSA documents that discuss safety training:
Safe Swim Defense
Safety Afloat
Climb On Safely No. 20-099
Basic Adult Leader Outdoor Orientation (BALOO) No. 34162
Tours and Expeditions No. 33737
Wilderness Use Policy 20-121
Principles of Leave No Trace No. 21-105
Introduction to the Guide to Safe Scouting
Every Scout leader should be familiar with the contents of the Guide to Safe Scouting. Planning for a safe Scouting event is a big responsibility and requires a big guide!
The Guide to Safe Scouting is revised every year. Be sure that you are using the most current version. Remember—both the Local and National Tour Permits require that the adult leader certify that this guide is in his possession and has been read.
Two-Deep
Leadership
Safe Scouting
requires adequate adult leadership. For camps, trips, and outdoor activities,
this means having at least two adult leaders, one of whom is at least 21 years
old. It is unacceptable to have a camp, trip, or outdoor activity with only one
adult present. If only one adult is able to attend, the trip must be cancelled.
Ideally, at least three adults will accompany the troop on Scouting on trips.
(Note that for properly trained Boy Scout patrols, it is acceptable to have
outdoor patrol activities with no adults present. Such activities do require
Scoutmaster approval.)
Planning
Basics
To plan and conduct
a safe and successful Scouting activity you must ask and answer these basic
questions:
Who is going?
What is the purpose of the activity?
Where is the group going?
When will events be accomplished?
How will the transportation to and events at the Scout activity be accomplished?
As you work your way through the detailed answers to these
questions, refer to the Guide to Safe Scouting for answers on how to be safe
from start to finish of the event.
The patrol method is used in
successful Boy Scouting. Use it here to see that your Boy Scouting is safe
Scouting. The patrol leader's council and individual Scout patrol members should
be actively involved in planning for safety in Scouting events.
Permission Slips and Medical
Forms
The
Informed Consent
Agreement (parent/guardian permission slip) is
available on the BSA Web site, as are the two
Personal Health and Medical Record Forms—
Class 1 and
2 and Class 3 .
Study these forms closely to understand their
purpose in identifying potential problem areas. See that these forms are used
and available to adult Scouters during the course of an activity.
You should
have a separate permission slip for each Scout for each activity and an updated
medical form each year. Get medical forms for adults, too, as adults can have
medical conditions occur on outdoor activities. Be sure to keep these medical
forms private and use them only on a need-to-know basis. Troop leadership should
review the medical forms of Scouts and leaders to ensure that they are prepared
to handle situations which might arise.
Guidelines for Safe Transportation to
and from the Outing
(Vehicle
Safety)
Drive safely!
Some best
practices for vehicle safety include:
Have each vehicle checked for safe operating condition, including tires with good tread and correct air pressure levels, correct level of lubricants and coolant, safe spare tire and jack, emergency supplies of food and water, and a mobile phone or portable citizens band radio.
Have each driver clearly understand the route plan. A safe route plan will allow adequate time to drive to and from the starting and pickup points during hours of good visibility.
Have each driver understand the principles of safe defensive driving. These include keeping at least one car length between the driver and the car ahead of him for each 10 miles per hour speed and to have an escape route planned to avoid accidents that may appear ahead.
The completion of a safe driving course and careful study of state driver's license manuals are highly recommended.
Ideally, there will be at least two adults in each car. As a minimum, unless they are parent and child, there must never be one adult and one Scout in a car.
Be sure to observe the guidelines on travel times on the tour permit. The best plan for safety is to have drivers take turns driving so that while one person is driving the other person can be resting. Be sure to take rest stops.
Safety During the
Outing
To be safe during a Scout outing, study carefully
the safety issues that you may encounter for the kind of Scout activity you are
planning. The Guide to Safe Scouting has extensive information on general Scout
safety topics.
Here are some points to consider.
1. Know the area where you are going. Be prepared—Know where water will be available. Know where you are by noting landmarks and using navigational aids such as GPS tools and map and compass.
2. Know the special medical needs of any participant (such as diabetes medications) so that you can be alert to needs being met on a timely basis.
Everyone should be trained in how to recognize and deal with cardiac issues if they happen. Have medical forms available with current contact information for each boy. (It does little good to have a home number if no one is at home.)
3. Safety in hiking requires that you know where you are stepping. You should step without putting all your weight down until you are sure of your footing. A sprained ankle, torn ligament, or broken bone can be avoided by taking care with your footing. A walking stick can be valuable for safe hiking.
Safety in hiking requires that you know where you are and can safely find your way back. The backward-look method of navigation is simple and effective. Look back while hiking to recognize the landmarks you will need for your return trip.
4. Use the buddy system. This system is well-known in the Scout Safe Swim
Defense plan but is useful in all Scout activities. In brief, each Scout has another Scout as his "buddy." Each Scout then looks out for the other Scout. In high-adventure hiking, for example, a Scout may spot a need of his buddy Scout (backpack coming untied, for example) that he can then share with his buddy."
The buddy system is of particular value for spotting emerging physical well-being issues, such as heat stroke and heat exhaustion.
5. Be safe in bear country. Bears are attracted by "smellables," so a basic rule in avoiding bears is either to avoid taking items on a trip that they like to smell or, if the item is necessary, to keep it in a tightly sealed container.
6. Weather is a major factor in conducting a safe Scout outing. It can be a tough decision to cancel a trip (either before or during the event) if the weather turns bad. Remember that the overriding concern is the Scouts' safety. You must let responsible persons know where you are heading so you can be located if trouble develops.
Weather can change with drastic suddenness. Even if you have checked the latest weather reports, both for short-term and longer-term outlooks, you must be prepared to deal with unusual cold, often due to extreme wind gusts, or unusual heat.
The ability to stay warm in cold weather will depend on adequate shelter, layered clothing, and a reliable heat source. In cold weather, survival depends on warm, nutritious food and beverages.
In warm weather survival depends on not overheating and replacing fluids and salts lost through sweating. You must have plenty of fresh water as well as salt tablets. If water is found along the way, it must be treated before it can be considered safe to drink. Nutritious drink mixes can be valuable to keep hydrated and to replace salts lost through sweating.
Lightning can be dangerous. During a storm, take shelter in a place that is insulated from lightning. Stay away from metal objects. A complete list of precautions is found in the Guide to Safe Scouting in the Lightning section.
7. Trees are heavy objects and occasionally fall unexpectedly if their root structure fails. Always inspect trees before pitching tents or conducting activities near them. Review safety procedures for tree cutting with ax and saw. A downed tree is a heavy object, so take precautions that you are not standing near or on a downed tree as it may roll and move unpredictably.
8. Take care of yourself as an adult leader. Your physical condition and well-being are extremely important. Your Scouts have tremendous energy, but their energy can run out quickly. Set a good example for the Scouts, but don't feel that your needs must come last. Remember that if something happens, YOU are the one whose strength, endurance, and good judgment will make the difference. Get plenty of sleep, and keep yourself well-fed and hydrated. When possible, take naps if the Scouts have kept you awake.