Information for Leaders

SAFETY AND RISK MANAGEMENT  

SCOUTS recognises that adventurous activities in the outdoors does include an element of risk. We aim to minimise these without adversely affecting the challenge and sense of adventure that is so necessary for the development and growth of children.

The camp organising committee have completed risk management planning to identify and eliminate or manage the risks for each of the activities. Here is an example of some of the risk management rules for the camp site:

• Walk while in camp, running is for games.
• Wash your hands before handling food and use the hygienic hand wash each time you enter the kitchen or dining tent and into any contingent’s camp site.
• Throwing sticks and knives is unsafe. Knives belong in the kitchen.
• There is a fire ban on site – no open fires except possibly campfire.
• Report any mess in a toilet or shower to the camp office immediately.
• Camp sites and kitchens are inspected mid-morning to help ensure they are hygienic.

The wearing of Jandles is not permitted in camp due to the number of tent pegs on site that can be tripped over.

EMERGENCY AND SERIOUS SAFETY BREACH PROCEDURES

The following procedures are to take place in the event of an accident or emergency.

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY POINT IS THE HARD TENNIS COURT AREA WHERE THE CARS ARE PARKED

In case of an EMERGENCY requiring an evacuation:

1. You will hear a long blast on an air horn or loud speaker.
2. Assemble all persons in your contingent who are not on an expedition or offsite on hard court area in front of the Waitawheta Camp Buildings.
3. Account for everyone on your contingent (do a roll call), including those offsite or on expedition.
4.  Please wait until you are given the all clear to return to your Contingent. This will ONLY happen when the Camp Director (or their delegate) tells the Contingent Leader (or their delegate).
5.  Any Emergency Services required are to be called by either Camp Directors or the Medical Officer or their delegate only.
6.  PLEASE PUT A LAMINATED COPY OF THIS ON YOUR CAMP NOTICE BOARD

EMERGENCY PROCEDURE FOR ACCIDENTS AND EMERGENCIES ON EXPEDITIONs and offsite bases.

 When an accident or emergency occurs on-site or off-site, it is the responsibility of the Camp Staff member or their delegate to take the steps necessary to bring the situation under control and make all decisions necessary.

The staff members have been briefed on what the emergency procedures are.  These procedures are detailed in the Base Handbook which the Camp Staff member will be carrying with them.

All offsite groups will be carrying a personal locator beacon.

If you observe an potential emergency

Anyone who observes a potential emergency situation must notify the Camp Director immediately.  It will be their responsibility to determine if an emergency is believed to exist and whether to sound the camp wide emergency alert system

If there is a Storm in the Middle of the Night

When there is a storm in the middle of the night we may not sound an alarm.  If there is lightning during the night, but no alarm sounds, you may stay inside your tents.  Avoid making contact with the metal poles.  If at any time you feel unsafe keeping your Contingent in their tents, you may move them to the Hall at any time.  If an alarm sounds, wake your campers and fellow Leaders and move your Contingent to the Hall.

If You Suspect Child Abuse

In all cases of suspected child abuse or when you think a child is at risk, your concerns must be reported immediately and confidentially to the Camp Director. If you are off site, and the risk is immediate, please follow the directions on the purple “Safe from Harm” card issued by Head Office.  Otherwise please return immediately to Camp and report to the Camp Director.

Serious Accident or Fatality

If a serious accident or fatality is experienced whilst at Waitawheta, the Camp Health Officer will immediately respond to the emergency while the Camp Director will call 111.  Please don’t call 111 yourself.  If you are offsite, the Camp Staff member will be responsible for calling emergency services.

 The Regional Manager will be contacted immediately. In the event of a fatality the Police will notify the parents. In the case of serious injury, the Camp Director will notify the parents.  No person is to talk to the media without approval from the Camp Director

Epidemic or Mass Illness

The following measures will be taken to prevent an Epidemic or Mass Illness in camp:

• Hand washing stations will be maintained throughout the camp site, dining halls and bathrooms.
• Hand sanitizing stations shall be provided throughout the camp site
• All staff shall wash their hands after using the restroom
• Kitchen staff will wash their hands frequently, including at the start of each shift, after using the restroom, before and after donning gloves, when changing gloves, after using chemicals or cleaning products, and after handling uncooked or undercooked food.

If an epidemic or Mass Illness is reported, then the Regional Manager will be notified immediately.  Those who are sick shall be quarantined in a sick bay organised by the Camp Director and treated appropriately. The Camp Director will notify the parents of those involved. 

Hazardous Chemical Spill

In the event of a hazardous chemical spill, persons at the site should leave the area immediately and seek help.  The Camp Director and Health Officer should be notified of any hazardous spills. The Camp Director will notify the authorities.

Clearing Sites

If you are asked to “Clear a site” then you should move quickly through the site and check for any campers and Leaders.  If you see anyone, tell them that they need to report to the Assembly Area on the tennis courts immediately.  If you do not see anyone, yell “Is there anyone in this site?  If so, please report to the Assembly Area Immediately.”  Report back to the Camp Director as quickly as possible and report which sites you have cleared.

Lining the Path for a Fire Truck or Ambulance

Anytime a Fire Truck, Ambulance, or other emergency vehicle is being dispatched to our camp, we line the path they should travel by stationing staff members at the front entranceway to the camp site, and at each intersection along the way.  Point in the direction they should travel whenever an emergency vehicle reaches your station.  Count how many vehicles pass your point.  Remain at your station until all vehicles have left.