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Time for new National policies on cell phone usage?

In the case of swim checks they would not be looked at of much value because if the scout passes in a controlled ymca pool is not the same as swimming in dark water, cold water or moving water in the camps lake or water area. It only of value in what and where its tested.
I have seen this occur in moving cold raft races.

By jcousino · 4 hours ago4 hr
Time for new National policies on cell phone usage?

Lose a $1000 iPhone you took from a youth, see who pays. Again, taking a piece of personal property belonging to another adult. Do you let the owner know you have the phone? I hope you do not ask for passwords.
As for swimmin, you'd better be able to show that you performedmd the test and met all the listed requirements. With prior sign statement and qualification of the tester. If your name is listed you will be added to the suit.
Remember what happened to travel tour permits. The rules transfer the driver's responsibility
Cars antd trip totallyly back into the units. When did you conductd a safety check before leaving for camp, including current insurance, licens,es and car safe?y. A crash now is at the unit(co) level of risk.An
SA or any organization'sion risk plan is to transfer riliabilityity to other parties when possible.

One the biggest risksies to the council is an OA event because they are at the council and offer little true control over activities and supervision.

By jcousino · 4 hours ago4 hr
Time for new National policies on cell phone usage?

The camp seems to have no issue confiscating phones themselves, too. If the intent was to transfer liability, I think they'd more often say, "Go give the phone to your SM." But they do take them if they see a scout walking around camp with one, and keep them in the camp office.

By FireStone · 10 hours ago10 hr
Time for new National policies on cell phone usage?

I see the connection between cell phone management getting pushed to the unit level and swim management but I think cell phones are a bigger risk for a lawsuit.

Scenario: Something horrible happens. Down the road things end up in court where the parents are suing due to negligence. I think most of us would agree that it is negligent to take a cell phone away from a scout in any environment that the cell phone could increase their survivability in the case of an emergency. I also think we would agree that a jury could be convinced of the same thing.

Scenario 2: Drowning/near drowning incident happens. Family sues. I think Scouting America can prove that annual swim checks are a recognizable and reasonable rate of testing to ensure a scout or leader can minimally swim safely. Especially considering that the average person who spends time on water takes fewer swim tests or none at all. ACA Canoe and Kayak instructors have to pass a swim test once every 4 years and that's while wearing a life jacket. The US Navy generally only applies 1 swim test during boot, after that a sailor will only take an annual or at best semi-annual swim test if they go into an occupational specialty such as diving or making it to a SEAL team. Scouting America can point to it's long history of once annual swim tests, Scouting America can then point to it's below average injury and fatality statistics (Scouting America literally has the safest swim program in North America).

By Tron · Friday at 09:06 PM1 day
Time for new National policies on cell phone usage?

Becare taking any persons private property. The phone mostly likely in the name of thier parent and usesing it under thier permission.
My belief that the camp wants you do it is . It transfers libelity to you as SM who is acting more as the local parent . Plus if the phone is lost ,stolen or damaged you are libel.
But careful and aware of how much camps and SA protect themselves by transferring risk to the SM troop level (IE pre camp swim checks)

By jcousino · Friday at 08:14 PM1 day

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