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Health and Safety

Critical Emergency Information

As Scouts, we must be prepared for every situation. Please become familiar with this information in order to know how to react in any situation.

Jamboree Emergency Line: (+1) 304-465-2900
Secondary and Off-Site Emergency Line: 911
Jamboree Headquarters: (+1) 304-465-2789

Having trouble making a phone call? Have a staff member use the emergency radio channel.


Individual Health and Safety

Your health and wellness are the most important part of this Jamboree. Please speak with your unit leader, your IST work supervisor, or a member of the safety / medical staff if you ever feel that you need help or just want to talk about something important to you. Let us make sure we take care of each other and ourselves.

Illness or Injury
There are medical centers in every base camp, at activity centers, and across all major areas of the Jamboree. If you feel sick or unwell, or become injured, talk to a member of our medical staff or contact the Jamboree Emergency Line.

In severe medical emergencies, do not move injured persons and provide as much information as possible when calling (location, number of people, injury types, ages, etc.).

Feeling Unsafe or Unhappy?
Listening Ear and your unit leaders are here to share the weight of your feelings, worries, and thoughts. Listening Ear will have stations in each base camp and across the Jamboree. Allow us to help you.


Taking Care of Yourself

It is so important to take care of ourselves at the Jamboree. Make sure to care for yourself and carry the right gear. But also look out for your friends and remember to start each day with careful planning for the adventure ahead.

Water! ¡Agua! L’eau!
Water is the most important health and safety tool you have. It may be warm at the Jamboree, and you will be active every day.

Two water bottles are on the required pack list for everyone—participants and ISTs alike. Replacement bottles can be purchased in the Jamboree Trading Shops. Across the Summit Bechtel Reserve, there are plenty of water filling stations. There will also be a water faucet at the back of each shower house, where you can fill up your water bottle. To help you know how much water you need, follow the Water Intake Guide card that each participant and staff member has received. Even if you are not thirsty, your body needs the water to replace body fluids.

Sometimes water is not enough. Your body may also need electrolytes, which are found in Gatorade® or PowerAde® products. The Jamboree Food Team will provide Scouts and IST members the opportunity to include powdered drink sticks with their lunch. Simply add this powder to your water bottle and create a flavored beverage that is great for lunches or throughout your active days. Drinks with caffeine or large amounts of sugar such as soft drinks can reduce how much water your body holds.

Severe Heat
The Summit Bechtel Reserve uses a system of flags to warn Scouts of dangerous heat:

  • GREEN FLAG: Temperature 82–85 F (27–29 C): drink 1/4 to 1/2 quart/liter of water per hour
  • YELLOW FLAG: Temperature 85–88 F (29–31 C): drink 1/2 to 3/4 quart/liter of water per hour
  • RED FLAG: Temperature 88–90 F (31–32 C): drink 3/4 to 1 quart/liter of water per hour
  • BLACK FLAG: Temperature greater than 90 F (>32 C): drink 1 to 11/4 quart/liter per hour

Announcements will be made when Red or Black flag temperatures are reached, and some programs may be delayed or stopped. Also follow the Urine Color Chart to know your level of hydration.

Sun Protection
Serious sunburn can make you very sick and cause permanent skin damage, which can result in skin cancer. Remember that you will be exposed to the sun for 10 or more hours each day. Waterproof sports-type silicone-based sunscreen with SPF 30 is the best. Cover all sensitive areas such as your nose, lips, face, ears, neck, backs of knees, arms, and any other areas not protected by your clothing. Take care of your patrol and friends; make sure you stay safe from the sun. Hats and sunglasses are good, but are not enough alone.

Personal Hygiene
Scouting is also about exploring, which means you may not stay clean for long. However, good hygiene is more than just looking neat and clean. Good hygiene practices can reduce the spread of disease.

Hand Washing
Wash your hands often. Most diseases are spread by touching dirty hands to food, cuts, eyes, nose, and/or mouth. This is especially important if you are cooking for your patrol or unit. Hands should be washed:

  • Before food preparation and meals
  • After using the toilet
  • After contact with a person who is not feeling well
  • When hands are obviously dirty
  • Before and after changing a bandage on yourself or someone else

Hand sanitizer is a great short-term option but is not a replacement for soap and water. Keeping your hands clean will help keep you and those around you healthy!

Bathing
Shower often! Take a shower at least once each day and change into clean, dry clothes. Remember, cotton clothing dries very slowly in humid climates like the jamboree site. Non-cotton fabrics are preferable. Showers also give you a chance to examine yourself for signs of injury, rash, or insect bites. Use plenty of soap!

Foot Care
Because walking is the main means of transportation at the Jamboree site, it is important to take care of your feet. Here are some pieces of advice to prevent foot problems:

  • Make sure that you have the proper footwear. New shoes that are not broken in should not be worn.
  • Do not wear socks that are too tight, have holes, are dirty, or are wrinkled.
  • At the first sign of a blister or cut, your unit leader should be consulted.
  • Clean your feet daily, dry them thoroughly between the toes, and keep toenails trimmed straight across. Cover tender spots with adhesive or other dressings, and use foot powder.
  • Shoes should be worn at all times, except when in tents or swimming.

Rest and Sleep
It is very important that you sleep well to stay healthy and energized. Short naps of 60 to 90 minutes during late afternoon may also help. Missed hours of sleep become worse over time, causing your mood and health to change. Naps while on buses and flights also are a good idea to keep up on sleep. Be your best self, and get good rest!

Eating Well
You will have lots of healthy food to choose from, which will keep you healthy and active. Minimize snack foods, candy, and fast food. Eat fresh fruits and vegetables each day. Fibrous foods will help maintain a regular digestive flow. Be careful not to eat old or unrefrigerated foods that may cause food poisoning. If in doubt, do not eat it—throw it out!

Wild Animals and Plants
The Jamboree really is in the wild! Do not approach or feed snakes, bears, raccoons, or bats. They are not pets and may carry diseases or defend themselves. Leaving food in your campsite might attract these animals. Any bites from animals must immediately be reported to medical staff. We also have plants that will cause rashes. Poison ivy, oak, and sumac are all around. Mountain laurel is especially dangerous. Do not touch any part of this plant.

Black widow spiders, brown recluse spiders, and ticks are of serious concern. Plan to check for ticks daily (at a minimum) and anytime you are in tall grass or the woods. Speak with medical staff if you have concerns about bites. Bees, hornets, wasps, and mosquitoes are other bugs that might bother you. You should apply insect repellent on exposed skin and wear pants plus long-sleeve shirts (weather permitting) while hiking in wooded areas or in the evening.

Like any camping trip, it helps to be aware of the potential dangers in the area, so you know what to watch for and what to do if you have an issue.

IMPORTANT: No food is allowed in sleeping tents!


Use the Buddy System

The Summit Bechtel Reserve is a huge area consisting of water, land, forests, and mountains. To keep everyone safe, using the “buddy system” at the 24th World Scout Jamboree is an official policy for all youth. Leaders and adults also benefit from a buddy system.

How does it work? Each time you leave the campsite, whether for an activity, a show, or a trip to another base camp, you will pair up with another Scout. Together, you become “buddies” and will stay together until you return to your campsite. Each time you return to your campsite, you can change buddies. Outside of camp, do not leave your buddy without both of you joining new buddy groups.

Why? Having a buddy will often prevent you from getting lost, forgetting items, or leaving the path. It is a great way to make sure you are safe but also it is there to ensure you have a wonderful time.

You will not need a buddy in your unit’s camping area, when in stores, or when walking from one local campsite to another. But activities can be far away and the paths can be confusing at first. Therefore, having a buddy with you at all other times is a requirement at this Jamboree.

Your buddy can change every day and does not need to be from your home unit. However, you should check with your unit leaders to make sure that you are following the rules of your contingent.

If you choose, you can plan to do all activities with your whole patrol together as a buddy group. Just make sure that everyone is together before leaving an area. Whether you are with one buddy or in a group of 10, the most important part is to plan together, divide responsibilities, make decisions that support everyone, and have fun!


Medical Centers

Your health is very important. Medical centers can be found all over the Jamboree site and are ready to help you if you are injured or feel unwell. Each base camp includes a full medical facility that is able to handle medical emergencies, 24 hours a day. This is your primary medical facility.

Scouts should seek help from unit leaders for minor illnesses and injuries. The base camp medical facilities will have sick call daily from 08:00 to 10:00 and 16:00 to 17:00. “Sick call” is a type of open office hours, where doctors and nurses are able to talk with Scouts who have ongoing issues or start to feel sick.

Base camp medical facility services will include:

  1. Treat and release
  2. Short-term health observation
  3. Transport to another medical facility

Should further services or a higher level of care be required, Scouts will be transported to the Jamboree Health Center (JHC). This is located at subcamp D1. Call (+1) 304-465-2900 for any urgent on-site emergencies.

Adult leaders and contingent management will be contacted as soon as possible if one of their Scouts requires major care. Remember, it is very important to upload your health history information before arriving to the Jamboree. (Your contingent leadership can help assist with this.)


Safe From Harm

Scouting must always be a safe space. It is everyone’s responsibility to look out for one another and prevent harmful actions, behaviors, or words. Each individual has the right to say NO to things that make them feel uncomfortable.

It is mandatory that all adults attending the Jamboree complete detailed training (Safe From Harm) on how to keep young people safe. If you have any concern, you should feel safe talking to your unit leader or another adult. Additionally, there will be Listening Ear IST, Medical, Safe From Harm staff, Scouts First teams, and Stewards who are trained to help resolve issues. YOU are the most important part of the Jamboree!


Listening Ear

Friendly and trained Listening Ear IST will be throughout the Jamboree, clearly uniformed. There will also be Listening Ears who will be walking around. If you would like to speak to a chaplain or faith advisor, there is already one assigned to your unit, or another advisor from your own faith can be provided to you. Just ask any Listening Ear IST member for more help. If you or a friend would like additional help or more privacy, simply visit the medical tent in your base camp where other friendly staff can help and guide you.


 

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