Climb On Safely

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Climb On Safely

• Crew 611
• Climbing Rappelling Training
• 11/6/99

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Climbing to greater heights within the Scouting
Program
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The 8 Points of Safe Climbing

• Qualified Supervision
• Qualified Instructors
• Physical Fitness
• Safe Area
• Equipment
• Planning
• Environmental Conditions
• Discipline

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Qualified Supervision

• At least 21 Years Old
• Willing to accept RESPONSIBILITY for youth in
  his/her care
• Additional leader, may be 18, to fulfill 2 deep
  leadership requirement
• 2 additional adults leader for each 10 youth
  members present

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Qualified Supervision

• At least one adult in group needs to be certified
  in Red Cross Standard First Aid CPR.
• In Addition, The Red Cross Module When Help is
  Delayed is suggested
• For Backcountry Areas the Red Cross Emergency
  Response a 43 ½ hour course is highly
  recommended.

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Qualified Instructors

• A qualified rock climbing/rappelling instructor
  who is at least 21 years of age must supervise
  all BSA climbing/rappelling activities.
• This instructor must have successfully completed
  a minimum of 10 hours of climbing/rappelling
  instruction from one of the following
• Nationally or Regionally recognized organization
• A recognized climbing school
• A college level climbing/rappelling course
• Or is a BSA qualified climbing/rappelling
  instructor

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Qualified Instructors

• BSA has future plans to offer a section of the
  National Camping School for climbing/rappelling
  supervisors.
• These supervisors can in turn offer two-day
  training courses for climbing/rappelling
  activities
• Until that time this training can be administered
  by a COPE certified instructor, as long as it
  adheres to the guidelines in the OSI
  Climbing/rappelling manual and the Climb On
  Safely course.

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Physical Fitness

• Climbing/rappelling requires evidence of recent
  physical examination, such as a BSA Personal
  Health and Medical Record Class 1.
• This Medical Form must be signed by the parent or
  legal guardian.
• The adult in charge should adopt all supervision,
  discipline and precautions to anticipate any
  potential risks associated with individual health
  conditions.

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Physical Fitness

• If a significant health condition is present an
  examination by a licensed health care
  practitioner should be required by the adult
  supervisor before permitting patricipation in any
  climbing/rappelling activity.
• The adult supervisor should inform the climbing
  instructor of each participants medical
  conditions.

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Safe Area

• All BSA climbing/rappelling activities must be
  conducted using an established or developed
  climbing/rappelling site or facility.
• A qualified climbing/rappelling instructor should
  survey the site in advance of the activity to
  identify and evaluate possible hazards and to
  determine whether it is suitable for the age,
  maturity, and skill level of the participants.

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Safe Area

• The instructor should also verify that the site
  is sufficient to safely and comfortably
  accommodate the number of participants in the
  activity within the available time.
• An emergency evacuation route must be identified
  in advance

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Equipment

• The climbing/rappelling instructor should verify
  that the proper equipment is available for the
  size and ability level of the participants.
• All Helmets, Rope, and Climbing Hardware must be
  approved by the UIAAA and/or ASTM.
• All equipment must have been acquired new by the
  participant, or furnished by the instructor.

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Equipment

• Records must be kept on the use and stresses(the
  number of hard falls) on each item of equipment.
• These records should be referred to by the
  instructor before the activity
• Participants who bring their own equipment should
  be asked if they know of any stresses that have
  been out on the equipment

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Equipment

• Any rope or webbing that has been subjected to
  more than three hard falls or is more than four
  years old(whatever its use) must not be used.
• Refer to the Project COPE manual, 34371,
  concerning records that must be kept and made
  available even by outside providers

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Planning

• Items to remember when planning a
  climbing/rappelling activity
• Obtain written parental consent to participant in
  climbing/rappelling activities from each
  participant.
• In the event of severe weather of other problem,
  share the climbing/rappelling plan and an
  alternate plan with the parents and unit committee

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Planning

• Secure the necessary permits or written
  permission for using private or public lands
• Enlist the help of qualified climbing/rappelling
  instructors as needed
• Be sure the instructor has a topographic map for
  the area being used and obtains a current weather
  report for the area before the groups departure

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Environmental Conditions

• The instructor assumes all responsibility for
  monitoring potentially dangerous environmental
  conditions that may include
• Loose Rock, that may pose a danger
• Crumbly or unsafe rock, that might develop as a
  result of the activity
• Poisonous Plants or Animals
• Wildlife
• Inclement Weather

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Environmental Conditions

• Use the Buddy System to monitor concerns such
  as dehydration, hypothermia, and an unusually
  high degree of fear or apprehension.
• The adult supervisor is responsible for insuring
  the group leaves no trace of its presence at the
  site.
• In all matters concerning environmental dangers
  the climbing instructor has the final word, since
  he is responsible for the safety of the
  participants.

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Discipline

• Each participant should know, understand and
  respect the rules and procedures for safely
  climbing and rappelling and has been oriented in
  Climb on Safely.
• All BSA members should respect and follow all
  instructions and rules of the climbing
  instructor.
• These applicable rules should have been presented
  and learned prior to the outing and should be
  reviewed for all participants before the
  climbing/rappelling begins.

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Discipline

• Remember to explain the reason for the rules
  when a person knows the reasons for the rules,
  they are more likely to follow them.
• The climbing instructor must be strict and fair,
  showing no favoritism.

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Rigging Guidelines

• The BSA limits unit climbing, at this time, to
  top roping only.
• Top Roping refers to the rigging method of having
  a stress bearing rope running from the top of the
  rock, to the participant.

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Rigging Guidelines

• A separate belay safety rope with a separate
  anchor system is used in all BSA unit rappelling
  activities
• A UIAA and or ASTM approved climbing helmet must
  be worn during all BSA climbing/rappelling
  activities.

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Rigging Guidelines

• When ever possible use the Slingshot Belay
• When rappelling use the double-rope setup
• Remember the catchy phrases like
• If you can see red you are dead
• Screw down, so you dont screw up
• If you scratch your navel, the carabiner is on
  right
• Back off the screw a half turn to insure it does
  not get stuck

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Basic Rock Commands

• On Belay/Belay On
• Climbing/Climb On
• Slack
• Tension
• Falling
• Off Belay/Belay Off
• ROCK

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