Guidelines for beginning adventure education instructors include preparing to effectively manage accidents by identifying all risks associated with an activity, leading only those adventure activities in which one feels competent, and establishing goals in order to make good decisions in the field and approach programs with clarity and purpose.…

Focuses on developing media relations, emergency policies, and handling press communications during crises at camps. Uses numerous anecdotes to describe good press relations and methods of working with news reporters. Emphasizes importance of emergency planning and establishing press coordinator. Describes crisis monitoring and follow-up…

Many physical educators and coaches use the potential for liability to guide their decisions about conducting activities. By understanding expert witnesses' roles in negligence actions, surer planning, teaching, and coaching are possible. The paper describes issues that expert witnesses examine in negligence actions against physical educators,…

Recent litigations underscore the importance of effective supervision practices for physical educators. To help educators avoid situations in which the courts dictate prudent teaching practices, suggestions made by experts in the field may help define effective supervision. The article presents techniques to create and maintain a safe environment.…

Describes how the staffs of the yearbook, newspaper, online Web page, and literary magazine (at the Pottsville Area High School in Pennsylvania) worked together on a special insert to cover the deaths of three students in an auto accident. Appends an exercise on deciding coverage of automobile accidents. (RS)

Focuses on risks and challenges of conducting adventure programming in foreign countries. Recommends actions to take before the crisis (involving assumptions, risk evaluation, emergency evacuation plans, awareness of medical-care costs, and foreign communications systems, family procedures plan, briefings); during the crisis (meeting staff and…

Numerous events, such as hurricanes, floods, and tornadoes, constitute a natural disaster for public schools. Human-caused disasters include hazardous-material emergencies, civil riots, fires, and nuclear accidents. This document contains emergency-management planning guidelines, developed by the Texas Education Agency, to help local school…

Outdoor playgrounds can be exciting places where children explore their environment and develop motor and social skills; however, they can also pose serious safety hazards. With the exception of California, no mandatory state or federal standards currently exist regarding manufacture or installation of playground equipment or surfaces. The…

The plan presented in this manual is designed to minimize the potential for disaster in the E. H. Butler Library at the State University of New York at Buffalo, and to minimize damage to materials in the event of a disaster. In addition to providing an emergency instruction sheet and a disaster contact list, the manual covers salvage priorities,…

Recognizing safety procedures and minimizing disciplinary problems on school buses are the responsibilities of school bus drivers. Describes elements of driver training, lists student control guides for bus drivers, and summarizes the procedures followed by the Halifax County-Bedford District School Board in Nova Scotia. (MLF)

Discusses a series of stories in a high school newspaper about an automobile accident and its aftermath--the first story was written by one of the victims. Offers advice on covering tragedy. Suggests that covering tragic accidents is one of the necessary evils of journalism. (RS)

Explains the role of child care health consultants and suggests whom to contact for health consultant services. Notes that professional child care health consultants should be knowledgeable of pediatric care, child development, injury prevention screening, and state licensing guidelines. Suggests that consultants can provide on-site visits, assist…

To reduce the number of playground accidents, it is important to develop and implement a comprehensive risk management program. The steps in creating a risk management program are develop a missions statement, reduce risks through proper equipment installation, maintain the playground, make timely decisions on risk control, and keep on file…

Parks and recreation professionals must recognize potential hazards in playground design, installation, and maintenance. Current safety risks are from older equipment that does not comply with modern standards and has not been safety inspected. The National Playground Safety Institute's certification program is an important step toward reliable…

Researchers, consulting professionals, and advocating agencies agree that school facility design is one essential component to a safe and successful school. This document addresses design-related concepts that can positively affect school climate and order. It describes and provides facility planning guidelines for crime prevention through…