Group Safety Enforcement
- Contents Safety & Quality Guide
- Part of Safety & Quality - Part 1: Policies & Procedures
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When you are ready to run a program it is important to follow all these safety steps. These regular Check-Ins help staff and participants reiterate and agree on the procedures that need to be followed, and even develop what may be lacking.
Contents
Step 1: Pre-Program Safety Review
Pre-Program Safety Review is done before program day by Coordinators and includes:
- Ensure staff qualifications are met.
- Whenever possible, scout the site and use this assessment while crafting a Site Safety Sheet.
- Review first-aid kits and supplies.
- Pre-trip vehicles.
- Organize materials and gear, reviewing them for damage that may cause safety risks.
- Review student and staff rosters to make sure medical needs can be addressed. Call parents with questions or concerns noted on rosters, especially for medical or behavioral issues beyond the scope of your qualifications and training.
Step 2: Site Safety Sheet
The Site Safety Sheet is prepared by Coordinators before the beginning of the program and includes:
- Reference sheet for evacuation and communications for each site.
- Designated Site Safety Officer (SO). If it is not the Coordinator, then the SO is briefed on the plan prior to program start.
- Emergency strategies: contacts, communication, and evacuation.
- Maps: driving and EMS directions.
- Medical treatment protocol sheet: when we transport and when we call EMS.
- Assessment of any risks associated with an activity (hazards) and a strategy to mitigate them to acceptable levels.
- Assessment of any risks associated with a site (hazards) and a strategy to mitigate them to acceptable level.
Step 3: Stand-Up Safety Meetings
Stand-Up Safety Meetings are Check-Ins at the start of each program day (or whenever the Coordinator or anyone calls for one). Everyone can freely speak about safety issues. It is crucial to include these items:
- What site and activity hazards are we concerned about that day? How do we mitigate these issues?
- Any concerns for general or individual participants to watch for? How do we mitigate these issues? e.g. noted medical concerns that may require
monitoring or extra care; behavioral concerns that may require specific strategies.
- Does everyone have first-aid packs ready and properly stocked? Include Epinephrine check for relevant carriers. See Systemic Allergies.
- Does everyone have functional communication tools? Radios? Cellphones with phone numbers? Established call? Whistles?
- Review the Site Safety Sheet with the team.
Step 4: First Meeting with Participants
This daily meeting with participants is extremely important. All staff and all students must attend.
First Day
- Review staff and student names. Use names frequently. Learn them all.
- Review the 3 Rules and the Code of Common Sense.
- Cover buddy and Truddy system and site boundaries.
- Cover activity and site hazards and the strategies to mitigate them. Engage participants by asking questions.
- Go over bathroom strategies for the day. Help students, especially young ones, feel comfortable about relaying their potty needs during the day. Encourage them to let you know when they need to go to the bathroom.
- Explain the Truddy System and site and program boundaries.
- Have everyone make a clear agreement or sign a contract to follow boundaries.
Successive Days
- Review staff and student names. Make sure everyone knows everyone else’s names.
- Simplified Safety Meetings: remind students of hazards, encountered and expected, and how to stay safe.
- Remind students to express potty needs.
Step 5: During the Program
Stay aware and do brief Check-Ins to ensure you are staying safe. Some key rules to remember: Continue to use and improve knowledge of names with teachers and among students.
- Review often the rules and the Code of Common Sense.
- Follow all activity-specific safety policies and stop any activity if you are even remotely concerned about safety.
- Record observational behaviors (both positive and negative) to help improve participant and team progress in the program.
- Make sure participants drink at least one full bottle of water during day camp... and you as well! Depending on conditions, they may need to drink more Hydration.
- Take bathroom breaks twice a day, and always before bus trips. Encourage younger participants to share their potty needs with teachers. See Bathroom Breaks.
- Plan morning snack-time and midday lunchtime. Setting a quiet alarm can help lunch happen on time.
- Offer positive transitions between activities.
Step 6: End of Day
Once students have left or transitioned to after-camp, there are a few more steps to finish up your day:
- Lead Teachers attend the end-of-day Safety Meeting to debrief any incidents. This is the time to troubleshoot behavior issues, share experiences, and talk about tomorrow with your team.
- For certain incidents, your Coordinator may ask you to fill out an Incident Report. These are reports of medical, behavioral, or just plain weird
things that happen during the day. This includes more than issues of physical safety, but also emotional and behavioral concerns for students, such as homesickness or bullying. It also includes parent concerns and even aggressive parent behavior (i.e. upset about ID check). When filling out an Incident Report, be thorough in your details. See Incident Reporting. Turn these reports in to your Coordinator.
- Before you leave work, clean up all your gear and make your area Show Ready.
Staff Qualifications
All staff must come to us with a checklist of experience and certifications. The following are baseline industry standard qualifications.
- Fingerprint background check by relevant law enforcement entities.
- Current CPR and Adult/Pediatric First Aid certification.
- Current Wilderness First Responder certification if employed in a program that is two hours from definitive care.
- Read and comprehend the most current Safety & Quality Manual along with all updates.
- Current food handler card, licenses, and permits as required by specific position.
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