Safety
We’re committed to ensuring that Scouting in Leicestershire is both enjoyable and safe for everyone who takes part, along with providing parents / carers with peace of mind.
Safety Policy
It is the policy of The Scout Association to provide opportunities for young people and adult volunteers to develop and appreciate what risk is and how it is managed. This vital skill for life is developed by providing opportunities to learn and experience activities that are adventurous but where risk is controlled and managed as far as is reasonably practicable.
The Scouts recognises that life is not risk-free and, in its turn, scouting is not risk-free. As the Scouts, we endeavour to manage these risks to wellbeing and safety to be as low as is reasonably practicable. Identifying and proportionately managing risk is a skill for life that we wish to kindle, develop and enhance in all of our members.
In order to do this the Scouts will provide guidance and have a training programme available for its volunteers.
All those involved in the Scouts are accountable for and must demonstrate an ability and understanding of the following, so far as is reasonably practicable and to the extent of their role:
- Ensure they are competent to undertake their task, through attending appropriate training, checking their understanding of instructions and information, and remaining current in these competencies.
- Properly assess the risk of every scouting activity undertaken. This assessment should be suitable and sufficient for the activity being undertaken, and it follows that activities with higher risk should require more in-depth assessment.
- Provide clear instructions and information to anyone who requires this, be it adult volunteer or young person, in order to ensure any activity is conducted with safety and wellbeing in mind.
- Prevent accidents and cases of ill health by managing the health and safety risks in the Scouts
- Ensure that the environment they are working in, or using for the Scouts activities, is maintained safely and there are no risks to health. That any equipment or substances used are safe and stored safely.
- Review risk assessments as often as necessary when circumstances, environment or conditions change.
- Feel and be empowered to never be afraid to change or stop an activity if risk increases.
Safety Training
You’ll learn about your responsibilities for keeping young people and adults safe, what to do in an emergency and how to report incidents.
Doing things safely is fundamental to everything we do in Scouting. The Safety training ensures that you understand your responsibilities for keeping everyone in Scouts safe and how to assess and manage risk.
Safe Scouting and Emergency Procedures
In the event of an incident
- Deal with the immediate situation and alert the appropriate emergency services, if required.
- Alert your Commissioner or their designate:
- Alert the emergency contact of those individuals involved.
- If you are abroad, alert any agencies required by the insurers.
- For incidents involving air activities or water activities in coastal or deep sea waters notify the appropriate government agency.
- Inform UK Headquarters at the earliest opportunity if:
- Someone suffers a personal injury or illness requiring a doctor, nurse, paramedic, dentist or hospital.
- Someone requires an emergency service rescue.
- Third party property is damaged. You will need to provide basic information about the incident including information about the injured party, what happened, where it happened and who is reporting the incident.
In the event of a critical incident (one involving loss of life, near loss of life or collapse of a structure)
- Deal with the immediate situation and alert the appropriate emergency services, if required.
- Alert UK Headquarters (you will need to provide a basic overview of the incident, who is involved, where the incident occurred and Group information). A Critical Incident Manager will assist you and guide you through the management of the incident.
Key points
Do keep a record of actions and communications, including details of others who may have seen what happened.
Do keep calm and ask for support where needed.
Do refer all news media to the Duty Media Officer and seek support before talking to the media by calling UK Headquarters.
Don’t make any admission of liability.
Don’t initiate contact with the news media.
Don’t try to handle things on your own.
Safe Scouting: a code of practice
Do ensure all activities are approved, run and supervised in accordance with POR (Rule 9.1).
Do identify hazards and discuss how they will be managed to reduce risk (see the Activities – Risk Assessment factsheet; Staying Safe checklists for managers, Executive Committees and section leaders).
Do find the most effective and appropriate way to communicate the risks and controls identified.
Do ensure all meetings, events or activities have an identified leader in charge that oversees the activity and all adults and young people. This includes responsibility for registers, headcounts, allocation of roles to specific adults and checking they are aware of their specific responsibilities (see leader in charge info at scouts.org.uk/safety). The best way of doing this is for all adults who will be involved in the activity to agree which one of them will undertake this role. Do – give young people and adults appropriate training, guidance and rules.
Do be prepared to deal with accidents (have a first aid kit, a robust InTouch system and relevant emergency contact details).
Do consider any additional needs of those taking part.
Do review an activity if conditions or equipment change significantly.
Don’t be afraid to stop or alter an activity being run by you or another leader.
Don’t put your needs above those of young people. Ensure activities are appropriate for the young people involved.
Don’t ignore concerns expressed by adults or young people.
Don’t assume that someone else is managing safety – always check.
Staying Safe checklists
The Staying Safe – Safety Checklist is a pocket checklist aimed to help all adults working with young people to fulfil their role and responsibilities in managing and supporting safety in Scouts.
Take a look at our safety checklists: