Title 7 . Health and Social Services

Chapter 50 . (Reserved)

Section 625. Wilderness and adventure experiences in residential child care facilities

7 AAC 50.625. Wilderness and adventure experiences in residential child care facilities

(a) A residential child care facility may not provide wilderness or adventure experiences for a period longer than four days without a wilderness and adventure experience specialization approved by the division.

(b) A facility must base an experience on a plan that addresses each requirement in this section. A plan for each experience of more than four days' duration must be submitted to the division for review and approval at least thirty days in advance of the experience. A facility shall ensure that each staff member involved in the experience reviews the plan and that a copy of the plan is taken on each experience away from the facility.

(c) A facility shall ensure that the plan required under (b) of this section establishes emergency procedures and injury control procedures for any wilderness or adventure experience the facility conducts. The emergency procedures and injury control procedures must include

(1) the posting of emergency telephone numbers, if telephones are available;

(2) respect for and identification and avoidance of potential weather hazards;

(3) the identification and warning to campers of other potential hazards such as noxious plants, bears and other wild animals, cliffs, mine shafts, and polluted waters; and

(4) the development of contingency plans to deal with fire, natural disasters, lost campers, and other emergencies.

(d) A contingency plan required by (c)(4) of this section must address the following items:

(1) the orientation of children and staff to procedures contained in the plan, including safety precautions and how to prevent dehydration, frostbite, heat exhaustion, hyperthermia, hypothermia, poisoning from plants and animals, sun poisoning, snowblindness, or drowning and procedures relating to transportation to emergency facilities;

(2) the development of a daily itinerary before departure for travel camping, with one copy retained at the facility and, whenever possible, additional copies given to responsible local individuals at each point on the itinerary before departure;

(3) fire drills within 24 hours after setting up camp at a stationary camp;

(4) the means for establishing effective two-way emergency communication no later than 24 hours after the need to communicate arises; and

(5) timely involvement of law enforcement and other external agency assistance, when necessary.

(e) A facility must obtain advance approval from the child's placement worker before a child may participate in an experience under this section. If high risk activities are anticipated, the division will, in its discretion, also require approval from the child's parent. No young child may participate in a wilderness or adventure experience.

(f) A facility may not force or coerce a child to participate in any adventure experience, but may require a child to observe an adventure experience to assist the child in overcoming fears or to foster an interest in participating in a particular activity.

(g) A facility may not allow

(1) airborne activities including bungee jumping, hang gliding, and parachuting;

(2) any activities requiring firearms or archery; and

(3) travel in any water craft across waters known to be a danger or across waters in questionable weather conditions.

(h) A facility shall submit a description to the division and permit an on-site inspection before implementing any of the following high risk adventure activities:

(1) caving;

(2) rope initiatives and rock and ice climbing;

(3) solo camping.

(i) A facility must plan for supervision during a camping experience so that

(1) the child-to-staff ratios required in 7 AAC 50.410 are maintained or increased appropriate to the planned activity;

(2) a staff member who has at least the equivalent of one year of wilderness and adventure experience is designated to supervise the experience;

(3) caregivers who supervise specialized or high risk activities in which children participate have demonstrated competency in those activities; these activities include whitewater or sea rafting, kayaking, or canoeing, snow and ice climbing, snow or glacier travel, snowshoeing or downhill skiing, mountaineering, rock climbing, top rope climbing and rappelling, caving, river crossing, solo expeditions, horseback riding, scuba diving, fishing from a boat, and winter camping; this demonstration may include certification from an organization with recognized expertise in the applicable activity or documentation of training or experience in the activity; and

(4) if applicable, caregivers have received special training necessary to protect the safety and health of children with special needs.

(j) A facility shall take the following general health and safety precautions during a camping experience:

(1) the facility may not allow children with recent serious emotional or medical problems to participate in a camping experience without the consent of a mental health professional or physician;

(2) the consent for emergency medical and surgical care for each child required by 7 AAC 50.300(a) must be in the possession of the supervising caregiver;

(3) the facility shall package standard first aid supplies to prevent contamination and must make the first aid supplies available to caregivers enroute to and after arrival at the camp site; and

(4) at least one staff member accompanying the camping group must be certified in first aid and CPR.

(k) Equipment used in a camp during a camping experience conducted by a facility must be of good quality and maintained in proper working order. In addition,

(1) if firearms are considered necessary in bear country, only staff certified in the use of firearms may carry them; firearms and ammunition must be stored in a locked cabinet or building when not in use in a stationary camp or must be kept in the possession of the supervising caregiver at a temporary campsite;

(2) power equipment and dangerous tools may not be stored, operated, or left unattended without proper safeguards in camping areas and may not be used by children;

(3) water craft must be equipped with United States Coast Guard approved personal flotation devices of types I, II, or III as prescribed for the specific type of craft and number and age of occupants; one flotation device for each person on board the water craft is required; and

(4) tents must be made of fire retardant material.

( l ) A facility shall ensure that all water from streams, ponds, lakes, or rivers that is used for drinking, food preparation, and dishwashing is first boiled, filtered, or purified with iodine or tablets specifically designed to purify water.

(m) During a wilderness or adventure experience conducted by a facility, food must be prepared and served in accordance with sound sanitary camping practice. Special care must be taken to choose food for the length and type of camping experience and to consider refrigeration needs and problems of sanitation.

(n) In this section, "wilderness and adventure experience" or "experience" includes activities such as biking, canoeing, kayaking, tubing, caving, hiking, horseback riding, rope initiatives and rock or ice climbing, sailing and boating, solo outings, swimming, water skiing, or camping.

History: Eff. 1/1/96, Register 136; am 3/1/98, Register 145

Authority: AS 44.29.020

AS 47.35.010