boatersteve

The importance of serious accidents or death in the Scouting community is too important to leave to rumor and inuendo. Let me beging by stating that one fatatility is one fatatility too many. I have learned that statistics are like spies, if tortured long enough they will tell you anything. The LDS Church is the largest BSA partner representing 18% of the youth in the BSA with adult leaders from the LDS Church representing an even higher percentage of membership. Over the last 10 years fatalities from LDS units have also represented about that same proportion. So no over the last 10 years LDS sponsored units do not kill or maim their boys more than other chartered partners. However in many instances experience is important in determining safety, unfortunately with outdoor activities the test is given first then the lesson. There are many things that can be done to turn the experience teaching around, two deep leadership, proper planning, age appropriate activities, the buddy system, safe drive defense, the principles found in the Guide to Safe Scouting. Most importantly I have found that watching the boys during "free or unmonitored time" can reduce injury. We can and should do more.

The importance of serious accidents or death in the Scouting community is too important to leave to rumor and inuendo. Let me beging by stating that one fatatility is one fatatility too many. I have learned that statistics are like spies, if tortured long enough they will tell you anything. The LDS Church is the largest BSA partner representing 18% of the youth in the BSA with adult leaders from the LDS Church representing an even higher percentage of membership. Over the last 10 years fatalities from LDS units have also represented about that same proportion. So no over the last 10 years LDS sponsored units do not kill or maim their boys more than other chartered partners. However in many instances experience is important in determining safety, unfortunately with outdoor activities the test is given first then the lesson. There are many things that can be done to turn the experience teaching around, two deep leadership, proper planning, age appropriate activities, the buddy system, safe drive defense, the principles found in the Guide to Safe Scouting. Most importantly I have found that watching the boys during "free or unmonitored time" can reduce injury. We can and should do more.