OAR 413-215-0976
Outdoor Youth Programs: Physical Activity Limits and Requirements
(1)
Physical capability. Physical activity may not exceed the physical capability of a child in care. Field staff must monitor the physical capability and condition of each child in care to ensure that the outdoor youth program activity does not exceed the child in care’s capability.(a)
The program may not assign extremely strenuous exercise at any time.(b)
A child in care when hiking may not carry a backpack and other equipment which exceeds their physical abilities.(c)
Staff shall assist children in care in ensuring that backpacks are packed in a manner that allows them to be comfortably worn.(d)
Children in care shall have breaks prior to becoming weary to avoid risk of injury. Breaks shall be frequent and long enough to recover and return to the outdoor youth program activity.(e)
All children in care in a group shall hike at the speed at which the slowest child in care is capable.(2)
Environmental conditions. Staff of the outdoor youth program must consider environmental conditions including, but not limited to temperature, humidity, and precipitation, when planning an outdoor youth program activity so as to minimize the risk of harm (such as heatstroke, frostbite, and hypothermia) to participants.(3)
Acclimation to environment. Staff must closely monitor children in care for acclimation to the elevation and temperature of the environment for the first 72 hours of each child in care’s stay in the program to ensure safe assessment of fitness.(a)
Staff must monitor and document each child in care’s physical assessment at least three times per day, and more often if the child in care is exhibiting signs of exhaustion or fatigue. The physical assessment must meet the same criteria as described in OAR 413-215-0961 (Outdoor Youth Programs: Health Services)(10).(b)
Staff shall assess each child in care’s level of overall fitness, and readiness mentally and physically to engage in more demanding exercise during this time period.(4)
Log. There must be a common daily log, which is signed and dated by the participating senior staff daily. The log must:(a)
Contain information on health problems, accidents, injuries, illnesses, medications used, behavioral problems, and unusual occurrences; and(b)
Include notation of environmental factors such as weather, temperature, and terrain.
Source:
Rule 413-215-0976 — Outdoor Youth Programs: Physical Activity Limits and Requirements, https://secure.sos.state.or.us/oard/view.action?ruleNumber=413-215-0976
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