Count the crutches on this sled, then PAUSE for Safety

bs-klondike-5-300x201The best way to stay safe in the outdoors in any season is to avoid getting into trouble in the first place. That requires planning, training, leadership, good judgment, and accepting responsibility.

BSA has developed a five step “Safety Pause” that every Senior Patrol Leader can conduct before any activity begins:

  1. Safety-pause-cardPause before you start. Make a plan using Safe­ty Check­lists and The Sweet 16 of BSA Safe­ty found in the Guide to Safe Scout­ing and the Enter­prise Risk Man­age­ment Guide­book.
  2. Assess possible hazards. The best tool to help with this is the Guide to Safe Scouting As part of Guide, BSA has developed  safety check lists that you can find in the appendix.These include:

    If you are District leader or planning to run a multiple unit event, use Program Hazard Analysis to help you assess risk.

  3. Understand how to proceed safely.  Knowing and using The Sweet 16 of BSA Safety will help prepare you to conduct Scouting activities in a safe and prudent manner. Limitations on certain activities should not be viewed as stumbling blocks; rather, policies and guidelines are best described as stepping-stones toward safe and enjoyable adventures.
  4. Share your plan with others. Use Tour and Activity Plan  so that the unit committee can synergize for safety as you plan and to support you once underway.
  5. sandwich principleExecute the activity safely. The planning is over, now it up to you. Scouting safety requires firm support for safety procedures and precautions. This  foundation is discipline. Safety also requires responsibility and conscientious supervision that apply appropriate precautions and procedures. Qualified supervisors hold safety elements in place, but can only do so if they can control the activity and the participants through discipline based on respect, understanding, and leadership.

Planning for Activity Safety



COPEPerceived risk can energize outdoor activities by bringing to them an immediacy that is sharper than what we normally experience. The actual risk on a well-managed ropes course, for example, is relatively low, but participants experiencing the events of the course might perceive that the risk is much higher than it actually is. That heightened awareness can take them beyond their usual comfort levels and encourage them grow; doing hard things and accepting challenges stretch their abilities while building their confidence.


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