Field Trip Safety Responsibility, liability, and best practice Barbara Tewksbury Hamilton College

Being prepared for emergencies  Does the rest of the world know where you are?  Make sure that others on the trip know route and contact info  Leave an itinerary, participant list, and contact information with a campus office  Designate a second-in-command who has all info that you have

Being prepared for emergencies  Do your students know what to do in an emergency?  Provide all participants with written instructions for emergency procedures  Critical if the group will not be together at all times  Especially critical when working outside the US

Being prepared for emergencies  Can you get help in an emergency?  Know whether your field area has cell coverage or not.  Rent a satellite phone and have 2-way radios if cell coverage is limited.  If you are out of the US, be sure that everyone knows the emergency call number/s.

Being prepared for emergencies  Are you ready for a medical emergency?  Are you or any participants trained in first aid?  If you have not had first aid training, get some. Some departments now require this.

Being prepared for emergencies  Are you ready for a medical emergency?  Carry medical info/emergency contact forms for all participants  Ask participants to inform you of any potentially life-threatening medical conditions

Being prepared for emergencies  Do your students have health insurance?  In states not requiring health insurance for college students, some departments require proof of health insurance to participate in field trips  For foreign field trips, build the cost of supplemental health insurance into the trip cost

Being prepared for emergencies  Do you know what your institution requires you to do if an accident, injury, or illness occurs?  Most institutions have specific reporting requirements  Be sure that you know your institution’s policy.

Reducing risk in the field  Are your students adequately equipped?  Describe field conditions, and provide an equipment list  Check critical field gear before departure  For short trips, bring a bag of extra gear that you can loan  Ban sandals

Reducing risk in the field  Do your students know the potential risks and how to mitigate them?  Provide a document outlining risks  Discuss risks, unacceptable behavior, and consequences of behavior that endangers self or others  Have students sign a statement acknowledging that they understand the risks and the consequences for violating the rules

Reducing risk in the field  Van safety – follow your institution’s policies  Many ban/limit use of 15- passenger vans  Many require certified drivers  Many limit the # of hours a person can drive in a day  Many prohibit private vehicles or require signature on waiver of liability

Reducing risk in the field  Van safety  Require students to wear seat belts, and check before driving off  NEVER drive through the night  Be certain that everyone is accounted for before driving off

Reducing risk in the field  Field safety  When working outside hailing distance, have students work in 3s  In an emergency, one stays with injured, one goes for help  Be sure that students carry flagging tape to mark a route for emergency personnel  Require students to wear hard hats when working near a high wall

Reducing risk in the field  After-hours safety  Alcohol and drugs are the biggest culprits in after-hours incidents  Many undergraduate institutions have policies stating that field trips are “dry” and drug-free and that students will be sent home at their own expense for violations  For overnights, stay where trips to town can be controlled

Protecting yourself and your department  Do you have standard operating procedures (SOPs)?  Find out what the policies are – most institutions at least have vehicle policies and study abroad policies  Ask the appropriate offices, not just your departmental colleagues  Help develop a department field trip SOP if you don’t have one

Protecting yourself and your department  Do you follow the rules?  It is very risky to be casual about following SOPs, rules, and policies  If something happens, and you were not following the rules, you would be considered negligent  Follow the rules. Period.

Protecting yourself and your department  Do you carry personal liability insurance?  You may be sued personally as well as professionally. The institution’s insurance will cover the latter but not the former  Consider a personal liability policy beyond the minimum

The litmus test  Ask yourself, “Would I want my son/daughter on a field trip that is run the way I run my trips??”  If yes, great! If not, hmmmm...you have some changes to make!