Risk Management

Scouting should be adventurous, challenging, exciting and safe. Risk is inherent in most challenging, exciting adventurous activities.

Scout-aged boys are developing impulse control and risk assessment strategies; a process compromised by inexperience, peer pressure and testosterone soaked brains.

Managing these risks is an important responsibility of leadership All too often inattention, ignorance, inexperience, bravado or denial on the part of Scouters results in entirely preventable accidents. Men and boys tend to equate risk-taking with masculinity and risk management with cowardice. Many Scouters see organizational limitations on our activties as being overly influenced by fear of legal liability. In reality good risk management is just good common sense. Risk management is not risk elimination, it preserves the elements of challenge and adventure but assures the participants are appropriately safe. Risk management is as important for Scout Troops that spend the vast majority of their time outdoors within easy reach of home and medical attention as it is for more ambitious high adventure tripping.

Anticipating and avoiding difficulties is imortant because when things go bad in the outdoors they tend to go bad quickly.

Several horror stories come immediately to mind from my personal experience – Serious injuries to two hikers and the fatality of a third during a hike in Alaska resulting in a protracted rescue owing to inexperience, ignorance of conditions and inappropriate leadership. Near miss while rafting a wild Alaskan river resulting in a long, dangerous hike out owing to the lack of appropriate supervision, skill, gear and experience. A long, difficult, dangerous overnight slog on a winter hike in the Adirondacks owing to unrealistic expectations and poor leadership. Near miss on a Maine river canoe outing owing to ignorance of conditions and inexperience of the leadership that necessitated a rescue effort. Near miss on a New Hampshire lake canoeing trip owing to the ignorance of conditions and inexperience of leadership. The elements of equipment, skill, attitude and environmental conditions can reduce or compound the inherent risk of a given activity. Good leadership assesses and manages risk by proper planning, preparation and execution of the activity.