Since that first Jamboree arena, I have gleaned additional information that suggests to me that BSA officials should have reconsidered the first arena show.
1. All Subcamp medical staffs advised HQ not to hold the arena show or the march due to temperature and their inability (lack of facilities) to handle the expected heat-related problems.
2. Ft AP Hill was in "black" condition two hours before the Scouts were lined up to march to the arena show. For the military, this condition meant "Stop all activity, get out of the sun, stay indoors."
3. The weather forecast showed thunderstorms were probably during the arena show.
4. BSA HQ had not made the appropriate arrangements for extra water within the arena to accommodate 40,000+ personnel.
The security restrictions were "standard procedure" for the Secret Service. There was nothing new or extraordinary. BSA did not have a emergency prep plan for this situation.
As a Jamboree Scoutmaster, I did everything I could to pump water into my Scouts before the arena show. Unfortunately, we could not pump water in our Scouts fast enough. I even permitted some of my Scouts to remain in camp because of their personal concern for dehydration. When I arrived at the arena show, there were NO water bottles being distributed; there was ONE water buffalo inside the arena. I saw a stack of water bottles down by the arena platform but not where most of the Scouts were sitting.
As the evening progressed, our troop maintained a "med station" for 12 - 14 Scouts (rotating) experiencing heat-related problems as the medical staff at the arena was overburdened with other Scouts. While I commend my Scouts for this action, I was also able to predict hours before the magnitude of the disaster we all experienced.
Be prepared means "Don't cause a situation that can be avoided." Be prepared means making the right decision given the circumstances. Much of what I saw and experienced could have been avoided if BSA HQ had considered the safety of the Scouts and not the political nature of the event. The press BSA received will be forever damaging. Rumors (from reliable sources) at the Jamboree were the Army was not pleased with BSA and threatened to send us all home early!
Blame does not belong with the Scouts or Scoutmasters. Blame does not belong with the Secret Service or the military. Blame belongs to BSA HQ and those officials who made the decision to continue the "death march." Everything pointed to rescheduling the President's visit and the march very early in the day. At least, the President made the right decision.
I hope the BSA HQ folks step up to their responsibility. They were in charge of the Jamboree. They were responsible for the decisions made.
Yet another Jamboree incident
in Going to the next Jamboree?
Posted
Since that first Jamboree arena, I have gleaned additional information that suggests to me that BSA officials should have reconsidered the first arena show.
1. All Subcamp medical staffs advised HQ not to hold the arena show or the march due to temperature and their inability (lack of facilities) to handle the expected heat-related problems.
2. Ft AP Hill was in "black" condition two hours before the Scouts were lined up to march to the arena show. For the military, this condition meant "Stop all activity, get out of the sun, stay indoors."
3. The weather forecast showed thunderstorms were probably during the arena show.
4. BSA HQ had not made the appropriate arrangements for extra water within the arena to accommodate 40,000+ personnel.
The security restrictions were "standard procedure" for the Secret Service. There was nothing new or extraordinary. BSA did not have a emergency prep plan for this situation.
As a Jamboree Scoutmaster, I did everything I could to pump water into my Scouts before the arena show. Unfortunately, we could not pump water in our Scouts fast enough. I even permitted some of my Scouts to remain in camp because of their personal concern for dehydration. When I arrived at the arena show, there were NO water bottles being distributed; there was ONE water buffalo inside the arena. I saw a stack of water bottles down by the arena platform but not where most of the Scouts were sitting.
As the evening progressed, our troop maintained a "med station" for 12 - 14 Scouts (rotating) experiencing heat-related problems as the medical staff at the arena was overburdened with other Scouts. While I commend my Scouts for this action, I was also able to predict hours before the magnitude of the disaster we all experienced.
Be prepared means "Don't cause a situation that can be avoided." Be prepared means making the right decision given the circumstances. Much of what I saw and experienced could have been avoided if BSA HQ had considered the safety of the Scouts and not the political nature of the event. The press BSA received will be forever damaging. Rumors (from reliable sources) at the Jamboree were the Army was not pleased with BSA and threatened to send us all home early!
Blame does not belong with the Scouts or Scoutmasters. Blame does not belong with the Secret Service or the military. Blame belongs to BSA HQ and those officials who made the decision to continue the "death march." Everything pointed to rescheduling the President's visit and the march very early in the day. At least, the President made the right decision.
I hope the BSA HQ folks step up to their responsibility. They were in charge of the Jamboree. They were responsible for the decisions made.