HAZARDS/RISK & RISK MITIGATION IN SCOUTING.

Scouting is not so easy and secure activity. Our scouts are drawn to this absence of a sense of safety. They are taking chances, which makes the journey fun for them.

Making scouting "safe" would take away from its purpose and be the movement's death knell. This is not to argue that dangers are not considered at all. Indeed, a lot of effort is invested towards lowering hazards. However, a balance must be maintained between risks that are fair and those that are not. By enrolling your child in scouts, you willingly consent to accept the dangers that scouts are subject to on your child's behalf.

According to my observations, parents have a very limited grasp of the potential risks associated with scouting. For parents to make an informed choice about whether to allow their child to participate in an activity, they must be aware of the hazards associated. While it is hard to cover every risk associated with every action, this section does so in a concise manner.

#Hiking:

Risk is a part of hiking by nature. Scouts run the risk of suffering personal injuries from slips and falls. When trekking in hot weather or in cold or rainy weather, they run the danger of developing hyperthermia (heat stroke) or hypothermia, respectively. More if senior scouts hike into isolated areas where they are hours away from assistance and cell phone communication, greatly extending the time it takes to respond in the event of a danger occurrence.

We mitigate these risks through:

Training – First Aid, Emergency procedures and good hiking practices;

Equipment – Discussions on suitable equipment;

Emergency response procedure – How to respond to an emergency;

Matching the scout to the hike – Scouts are evaluated for hiking ability, stamina and fitness.

#Camping:

Camping is considerably less risky than hiking. Nonetheless, accidents happen on camps. 

To mitigate these risks we teach our scouts safe axemanship, handling of equipments and the correct handling of fires. Responsibility while swimming and ensuring that our scouts are well trained in scouting skills are essential parts or the reduction of risk on camps.

Pioneering

Heavy pioneering uses poles up to 6 meters long and weighing several hundred kg each. As one might expect, there is always the possibility of calamity in the event that a pole breaks, a rope snaps, or a lashing is simply not tight enough. We reduce the dangers by doing the following:

-Changing and inspecting ropes on a regular basis;

-Making sure lashings are properly and tightly knotted;

-Carefully controlling and supervising the construction and dismantling of larger structures.

#General_Activities;

Even during Troop/ Crew meetings, accidents can occur. Accidents can happen during an activity or occasionally they happen as a result of the games played. 

Through instruction, adult supervision, and activity selection, we reduce the hazards.

So, it is very essential of each Unit Leader to Analysis the Hazards associated with the scout activities and risk mitigation.