This plan expands on Risk Analysis Plan for Overnight Wilderness Trips Form 508-6
CELP Winter Trip Risk Management Plan
Written Jan 16, 2005
Reviewed Dec. 2010
The following is a list of risks associated with the CELP winter trip. The potential risks are identified and then rated for both severity levels and frequency. They are then placed in one of four
categories and then mitigated from most important to least.
Operating Hazards
Winter Trip Hazards
Frequency
Often
Occasional
Severity
Rare
Severe
1) Drowning/Extended Exposure to Cold Water
X
X
2) Athletic Injuries (Head
and Spinal Chord)
X
X
3) Animal Encounters
X
X
4) Allergic Reaction
X
X
5) Driving Accident
X
X
Moderate
Minor
6) Burns
X
X
7) Water Contamination
X
X
8) Extreme Weather
X
X
9) Lost Person
X
X
10) Cold Related Injuries
X
X
11) Heat Related Injuries
X
X
12) Cuts
X
X
13) Equipment Failure
X
X
Risk Prevention Strategies
1) Drowning and/or Extended Exposure to Cold Water (due to falling through ice)
- route chosen will not involve any areas of known weak ice (narrows and areas with current)
- leaders will pre-trip the route 3 weeks prior to the student trip and walk the paths and lakes
- confirmation with Algonquin park staff or local person for safe travel conditions on ice
- leader will be out front at all times checking for slush drain holes and thin ice
- students will be instructed to only travel in designated areas which have safe ice.
- students will be instructed in what to do in case they suspect thin ice
- leaders will be trained in rescue techniques
2) Athletic Injuries (Head and Spinal Chord) (due to tree falling on head)
- students will cut down trees of a diameter no larger than they can wrap their hands around.
(typically 4 to 6 inches)
- students will only cut down trees in pairs and one student will be fully responsible for making
sure the fall area of the tree is clear of any persons.
3) Animal Encounters
- food will be placed in boxes every night (bears are sleeping) and marten-proofed when necessary.
4) Alllergic Reactions
- Medical Lists will be studied in advance by head leader and information transferred to all leaders
- Proper Epi Pen will be carried by leaders if anyone is identified on medical list
- Benadryl is carried in first aid kit to give to anyone if a reaction has begun
- Menu designed to avoid highly allergic foods
5) Driving Accident
- A professional school bus company will always be hired to transport students on the trip. If a
student must ride in the personal vehicle, it will be driven by a teacher of the school board.
- only teachers and leaders shall drive in the cargo vehicle
6) Burns (cooking or tent fire)
Cooking
- Oven Mitts will be provided for cooking
- students will be instructed in safety measures in cooking with specific attention given to the pot
of boiling water on stove
- no wrestling or horseplay in or around tent
- a picket shall be placed beside the stove for balance and stability of people while in vicinity
Burns continued
Tent Fire
- tent leaders will be trained in proper tent set up, stove set up and stove operations to the approval of the “teacher in charge” prior to the trip
- wind direction will be taken into consideration with tent and stovepipe locations
- “widow maker” trees shall be checked for during campsite inspection
- if wind direction changes, a smoke hole cover will be erected to deflect sparks from being
blown back onto tent
- teachers/leaders will be fully responsible for the setup and operation of the woodstove inside
the tent. A final inspection will be done by the leader in charge of each tent prior to lighting.
When possible, the stove setup will be inspected by the “teacher in charge” of the trip.
- guidelines will be tied securely from each end of the tent from the scissor poles in order to stotent from collapsing
- pickets of appropriate size will surround the stove from the door to the candle picket area
- leaders will always check scissor poles for stability and strength of placement in snow
- if leaders doubt the stability a king pole shall be erected at the stove end of the tent
- only a leader will stoke and maintain the stove throughout the evening and night
- woods which are less “sparky” will be used in stove operations
- a shovel and pail of water shall be in close proximity of the stove in case of fire
- all tents shall have 2 doors and students will be instructed in evacuation of tent
7) Water Contamination
- All drinking water will be purified using the filter pump and bladder system provided or shall
be boiled for 10 minutes
- All water used in cooking (eg. for pasta) will be boiled for a minimum of 10 minutes
- Proper hygiene will be encouraged at all times. Students will wash hands after all bathroom
visits.
- dishes will be cleaned using the two dish tub system: One with hot soapy water and one with
hot rinse water. Changing of the dish water will be encouraged
8) Extreme Weather
- prior to trip departure, the weather channel or environment Canada website will be monitored
for the long range forecast. The trip will be delayed if the weather looks inappropriate for travel
(Cold weather is preferred for this type of travel as the equipment works best in cold snow conditions)
- no travel or tent take-down shall occur during a major thaw or rain
- if extreme weather occurs, the “teacher in charge” shall make a decision and will always air on
the side of caution and „wait it out‟.
9) Lost Person
- Students shall not wander far from the campsite (always keep the campsite within visual contact)
- the 3 long blasts of a whistle shall be an emergency call- also serves as lost student signal
10) Cold Related Injuries
-students will be provided with a clothing and equipment list for winter camp several months
prior to the trip
- students will be instructed in the principles of staying warm prior to the trip
- Leaders will check all clothing and sleeping bags prior to the trip and an extra down sleeping
bag will be available
- leaders will always be monitoring students for cold/frostbite
- most travel will not occur on large lakes where wind chill would be a major factor
11) Sun Related Injuries
- all students shall pack a pair of sunglasses and sunscreen in their kit
- Students will be encouraged to remain hydrated at all times (filtering water into bladder will be
part of daily chores)
12) Cuts
- Proper technique and practice in advance of trip for sawing and axe use will take place
- Jackknife use will not be permitted except under direct supervision
- Hands must be 6 inches from swede saw blade when cutting
- Axe use may only happen on a person‟s knees and may only happen back at camp. The axes
will only be used to split wood. No student shall use the axe in any standing position
13) Equipment Failure
- Only good quality equipment will be purchased. Extra snowshoes will be carried by each
group
- all equipment will be checked annually before the trip
- extra rope and a repair kit will be carried by the leaders
- The tents purchased are made from 4.2 oz Egyptian cotton which is untreated for fire retardancy. This decision is made for the following reasons:
- tent materials which allow for treating weigh significantly more and may be too
heavy for our balsam 7 pole pitch
-this is the standard among seasoned winter travellers and has been thoroughly
trail tested for over 100 years
- Fire retardant chemicals are extremely long lasting in the ecosystem and recent
study found significant amounts in women‟s breast milk
Emergency Plan and Procedures
There will be a minimum of 3 leaders on the winter trip. Each tent will also attempt to have a
second leader/adult helper
Each leader will have the medical information of every student
Each leader will be provided with all emergency contact numbers
Each leader will have a topographic map of the route and be familiar with the route and territory
One teacher will be designated the “teacher in charge” (main CELP teacher)
A fully equipped first aid kit will be available for each group
**** If an emergency occurs and a student must have medical help as soon as possible, a cell
phone or the satellite phone will be used. It is capable of making a call anywhere in North
America as long as there is direct contact with the sky. All leaders will be familiar with how to
operate this phone.
911 will be called and an emergency response will take place based on the decision of the local
authorities.
The closest hospital is in Huntsville. Air ambulance out of Sudbury will most likely be the
transport of choice during the daylight hours and Military Search and Rescue out of Trenton will
most likely be the transport of choice during the evening hours. As well, Algonquin Park staff
on snowmobiles may be called in.
In case of an evacuation, the teacher in charge will remain with the injured student and have the
satellite phone in his/her possession. One other leader will find a suitable landing area and mark
it with flagging tape or other suitable signal. If snowmobile rescue is initiated, leaders will station themselves at key points, typically portage intersections with lakes to guide the snowmobilers in.
One teacher will accompany the student to the hospital. The teacher in charge shall remain with
the group.
As soon as possible the administration of Centennial High School and the parents will be notified
of the circumstances.