Outdoor & Environmental Education

We have information in this section grouped under the following headings:

There was a recent accident where a young girl broke her arm through getting it caught as she jumped down from a bunk bed during a residential visit.  Could staff please remind all participants about the dangers associated with using bunk beds and the need for sensible behaviour at all times.

Following an incident where a young person took a petrol stove on a venture but failed to operate it properly. The young person then attempted to use petrol in a stove designed for methylated spirit!

The policy of the authority has been for some time that Petrol stoves are not used.

There have been 3 incidents where groups have encountered adders recently.

A group walking in the White Peak area came across an adder basking on a rock.  Unusually the snake did not move before the group arrived at the site.  The first person only just managed to stop before stepping on it, which could have led to her being bitten.  Another group walking in the North Yorkshire Moors also encountered adders and in a further incident an adult party member was bitten in North Wales.  Fortunately the bite was not fatal. It was, however, a thoroughly unpleasant experience.    

Although unlikely to be fatal, adder bites are nasty and leaders would need to consider briefing groups on what to do if either:

This information would need to be given to remotely supervised groups eg. Duke of Edinburgh's Award Expeditions as part of normal training.  Consideration could also be given to the appropriate footwear, leg wear and using gaiters in areas where adders are known to inhabit.

A group undertaking a pre-visit to overseas accommodation noticed that there were no adequate fire escapes in the hotel that was to be allocated to the group.  The only escape led directly to the roof with no further escape routes available.  The group insisted on a change of location which the tour operator duly organised.  Party leaders are reminded that a pre-visit to an unknown location is essential and that information given in brochures cannot be relied upon 100%.  

During two recent monitoring visits I have witnessed occasions where young people have not worn seatbelts during travel.  Staff are reminded that the wearing of seatbelts (on all but service buses) is compulsory.  Young people need to be informed of the need to keep seatbelts fastened throughout journeys.  Staff supervision must be organised in such a way as to enforce this.  

In both of the above cases supervising staff were positioned at the front of the vehicle and as such were not able to properly supervise the young people.  Supervising staff will need to be placed at various points throughout the vehicle to supervise adequately.

Following an incident where a leader was injured while supervising a group alone, while there is nothing wrong with this practice the following should be born in mind:

Leaders' whereabouts known to colleagues in other nearby locations together with agreed reporting procedures and times. In addition an agreed emergency plan should the leader fail to appear.

Leaders to make every effort to take mobile telephones with them allowing for the limitations of coverage.

If supervising solo appropriate safety equipment to be carried including - food, water, emergency aid equipment, means of making a hot drink, spare / extra clothing, sleeping bag and shelter.

There have been several incidents with Trangia stoves all concerning the refuelling of burners when still alight. As a result the authority has adopted the following protocol when Trangia stoves are used:

All Trangia units must be supplied with two burners.

Fuel must be stored in approved fuel bottles i.e. Sigg, Trangia or similar.

Burners must be taken to the fuel for refuelling, burners must never be refuelled while still in situ.

Fuel to be stored a reasonable distance from the stoves while in use.

All young people using the stove must be trained and assessed as competent to do so by the supervisor. It is advisable that records of this training are kept and a young person must not be allowed to use a stove with which they are not familiar unless under direct supervision.