Trek Safely

!e Seven Safe Points of Trekking

Trek Safely!Trek Safely!!Where’d!the!sign!come!from?!

Purpose ! Trek Safely is designed to help youth & adult

leaders plan & carry out safe trekking activities. ! !is is similar to Safe Swim Defense, Safety A"oat, &

Climb On Safely. It is not designed to teach the actual skills of trekking. If you do activities requiring special outdoor skills, get quali#ed instructors to teach the skills to you. !en acquire these skills prior to the outing.

That’s!good!advice.!Learn!before!you!go!!

You!can!be!prepared!!!

Purpose ! Trek Safely is the Boy Scouts of America’s

recommended procedure for organizing & carrying out outdoor treks that involve Boy Scouts.

! Trek Safely applies to all types of outdoor activities that involve trekking, including: hiking, canoeing, backpacking, horseback riding, caving, rafting, sailing, kayaking, ski touring, mountain climbing & biking.

Portage…!Too?!

Wa…Was!that!a!snake?!

Learning Objectives At the end of this training, each Scout should be able to: ! Explain how each of the seven points of Trek Safely

adds to the goal of assuring safe treks. ! Understand why the #rst and last points – “quali#ed

supervision” & “discipline” - are crucial & why all other points rely on these two points.

! Plan & carry out a safe trek, observing the seven points of Trek Safely.

! List the resources available for planning & safely carrying out a trek.

Personal Experiences Can you remember any personal experiences with an accident or close call during a Troop trek?

!  Someone getting Lost… Falling down… hypothermia… ! Were you prepared to handle the situation? ! Did someone have a First Aide Kit… Extra Water… Matches.

!  How could these incidents have been avoided?

Gee,!Remember!Sid!back!on!the!

Niobrara!!!

Weekend Hike Leaves Boy Scout Leader Dead

•  KTNV Television - Link to story

What!would!you!!have!done?!

Las!Vegas!Leader!dies!of!Heat!Stroke…!It!was!112°!

Trek Responsibility ! All Scouting participants are responsible for the

safety of all trek participants. Trek Safely is designed to promote safety & help prevent accidents.

Boys, accidents occur when Trek Safely procedures are

not followed. !

Trek Policy ! Before any Troop begins a trekking activity,

youth and adult leaders should understand the possible hazards they may face & should be sure steps are taken to reduce risks.

! Weather, Terrain, Wildlife, Gear, Skills, etc.

!  Distribute Trek Safely "ier, No. 20-125, to each Scout, & review the 7 points.

!e Seven Points of Trek Safely

! Out of the seven points of Trek Safely, the two most important points are the #rst and last points, Qualified Supervision & Discipline

!  !ese two points are crucial and all other points rely on them.

Also Remember… “Two Deep Leadership.”

It’s!not!too!deep!here!!

1. Quali#ed Supervision ! All treks must be supervised by a conscientious,

mature adult at least 21 years old, who accepts responsibility for the safety & well-being of everyone in the group. !  At least one additional adult must accompany the group to meet the BSA requirement for two-deep leadership.

Son,!I’m!goin!t’!hav’ta!write!you!a!Lcket!for!excessive!paddling?!

1. Quali#ed Supervision ! !e lead adult is responsible for ensuring

that someone in the group is currently trained in #rst aid.

! !e BSA recommends Am. Red Cross Wilderness First Aid Basic, a 16 hour course that includes CPR (or an equivalent course).

I’m$Good$!$

! A higher level of certi#cation such as #rst responder, EMT, LPN, RN, NP, PA, MD are also acceptable.

2. Keep Fit ! Participants need to have a Personal

Health and Medical Record for any trek lasting longer than 72 hours.

! Accidents are often related to physical conditions unknown to the Troop Leader… or… they are unexpected result of known physical problems.

Scouts… Did you tell them everything???

!

2. Keep Fit ! Before a Trek, … good safety requires the leader to

review the medical record of each participant & adjust the trek activities and conditions to reduce potential risks associated with health and medical conditions.

! !e BSA recommends following a regular physical exercise routine.

! People should start slowly, gradually increasing the duration and intensity of exercises.

No$Pain,$No$Gain,$Scouts!$

3. Plan Ahead ! !e trek should match the

maturity, skill levels, & #tness of Troop members. ! Permits must be obtained to use public or private

land. ! Training in the principles of Leave No Trace is essential for both the safety and consideration of other visitors to the area.

4. Gear Up ! A quali#ed youth or adult

leader ensures that the group has the proper equipment and clothing for the trek.

! Every crew must have a #rst-aid kit and the means to carry and treat water. !e leader reminds everyone to bring and take prescribed medications.

4. Gear Up ! Crew members should be

trained to use specialized equipment such as climbing gear, bridles, watercraft, and skiing gear.

5. Communicate Clearly & Completely

! All participants should know what to expect and what is expected of them.

! Youth and adult leaders should

communicate with each other to avoid unpleasant surprises.

! To paraphrase Winston Churchill, “do not

communicate to be understood, communicate so that you can not possibly be misunderstood.”

5. Communicate Clearly & Completely

! Itinerary details should be shared with parents and a designated contact person.

! If the itinerary changes, leaders should share the changes with the contact person who then shares it with parents.

! One of the trek leaders should bring a cell phone, in case of emergency. *Although you may not have a signal.

Can!you!hear!me!now?!

6. Monitor Conditions ! !e leaders are responsible for

making good decisions during the trek. !ey continually assess conditions including weather, terrain, group morale, food and water supplies, and group physical condition.

! If adverse conditions develop, the group is prepared to stop or turn back.

Whoa!!!!!Did!you!see!that!storm!?!

7. Discipline ! Each participant knows, understands,

and respects the rules and procedures for safe trekking and has been oriented in Trek Safely.

! !e reasons, as well as the rules and procedures, should be shared to encourage compliance.

! Youth and adult leaders must be strict and #rm, showing no favoritism.

!at means, don’t change

rules for friends. !at

could be dangerous!!

Questions ?? ! Scouts… Review the 7 points and think if

there are any questions that you may have regarding Trek Safely.

So you’re saying that quali#ed supervision and discipline are the basis for all the other Trek Safely points?

Remember,!Only!You!can!ensure!safe!Trekking!!!

Treky the Bear

Training Aids & Resources !  Passport to High Adventure, No. 4310 !  Passport to High Adventure Training Outline, No. 18-075 !  Backpacking merit badge pamphlet, No. 33232 !  Camping merit badge pamphlet, No. 33256 !  Canoeing merit badge pamphlet, No. 33305 !  Cycling merit badge pamphlet, No. 33226 !  Hiking merit badge pamphlet, No. 33407 !  Horsemanship merit badge pamphlet, No. 33298 !  Small-Boat Sailing merit badge pamphlet, No. 33356 !  Swimming merit badge pamphlet, No. 33352 !  Whitewater merit badge pamphlet, No. 33405 !  Fieldbook, No. 33200 !  Personal Health and Medical Record Forms—Class 1 and Class 2, No. 34414;

and Class 3, No. 34412 !  External Links !  Trek Safely "yer on the Boy Scouts of America website

Leave No Trace on the Boy Scouts of America website

Hey,!finally…!I!had!to!hike!6!miles!to!get!a!signal!!!

Do!you!have!any!

T.P.?!I!can’t!find!any!trace!of!ours!!