NORTHERN PADDLE & TRAIL
OUTING SAFETY PLAN
 Goal: To prevent accidents and handle emergencies.
We hope that all our members will consider leading an outing, because everyone benefits when you share an outdoor experience with others. With some basic preparation and good directions to participants everyone can lead a successful, fun and safe outing.
These safety guidelines are, for the most part, simply a matter of common sense and reflect procedures that outing leaders should already be considering. Some guidelines may not be applicable for all outings and may vary based on the conditions of the day.
The outing leader must take into account the weather, group size, ability of participants, remoteness, water levels and much more. At no time does a set of guidelines substitute for good judgment and preparation.
NPT OUTING SAFETY PLAN
Outing & Location
Determine Meeting Place & Time
Decide if participants should contact you before the outing or meet at the outing location.
- If the outing is strenuous, requires special skills, or requires special equipment, it is a good idea to have the participants contact you to “register†for the outing. This allows you to inform participants of any special needs or logistics and if appropriate screen participants for the proper skill level or physical condition.
Determine Participants Equipment Needs
Determine Group Equipment Needs
- (radios, trailer, tarps … )
Prepare for Accident or Emergency
Bring appropriate First Aid Kit
Determine necessary actions in case of evacuation
Access medical personnel
- Contact: i.e. cell phone, send someone, local telephone, radio …
-  Know travel route and time to medical personnel, i.e. hospital, EMS, rescue squad …
Plan for Changing Conditions
Plan provisions for Heat, Sun, Rain or Cold
On water outings plan provisions for Wind and Water Level Changes
Announcement & Participant Information
Describe the outing to everyone so participants will come properly prepared and know they are physically up for the experience.
- Newsletter, Poster, Phone
- Describe outing distance, how much time, how strenuous: vertical, swampy, portages, poor trail, easy, moderate …
Inform participants if they should bring specific equipment
Remind participants to bring the basics: drinking water, sun screen, extra warm cloths, change of cloths, rain gear …
ACA Outing Waiver
Most members signed an annual ACA Waiver when they renewed there membership.
Get the list of members that have a current signed waiver (available from Outing Coordinator).
Get blank ACA Waiver forms to the outing for members without a current waiver and/or guests (available from outing coordinator).
Note:Â Guests may only attend 2 outings per year and may be restricted from some NPT Outings.
OUTING BRIEFING
The Outing Leader (or designated person) needs to provide a safety briefing to all participants before the outing begins.
Identify Contact Person
Lead person to contact incase of accident or emergency
Describe Outing
Outing distance, estimated time, how strenuous (vertical, swampy, portages, poor trail …), so participants will be properly prepared and know they are physically up for the experience.
Ask participants to self assess their skills, physical condition and preparedness.
Designate Lead and Sweep - For trails and river trips, designate a lead and sweep person.
Instruct the group to stay between the designated lead and sweep person.
- NPT walkie talkies are available if needed
Describe how tightly you want the group to stay together, i.e. within eye sight, ear shot, 10 minutes …
Designate Regrouping: For longer trips leader may want everyone to regroup at a predetermined place or time to check in before moving on.
ACA Waiver
Assure that all participants have signed a current wavier – check waiver list and/or have members and guests sign waiver before outing.
