It appears that CPR/FA training is optional, that is, while it is a stated requirement, no one is held back if they don't get the training.
After teaching a CPR/FA class last Saturday that was poorly attended, I wondered where our leaders are getting trained - not by me (I teach CPR/FA for our section, and most of the attendees in the last 3 years were non-Rangers). Then I wondered if our leaders are untrained, why would the sponsoring church let them take children and youth into the outdoors without adequate first aid training? Are our churches willing to take that risk? Under the Pennsylvania Good Samaritan laws, it is very difficult to sue someone, who while providing aid, you harm the victim PROVIDED you are acting within the scope of your training. According to the Red Cross, the law is so clear on this that it is difficult to get an attorney to take one of these cases. However, if you provide first aid and you haven't been trained, or you don't have a current card, you risk being sued because under the Good Samaritan laws because the scope of your training is ZERO, which means you do not provide treatment, or you do so at your own risk. Having decided not to provide treatment because of the risk of being sued under the Good Samaritan laws, you and the church are now at risk of being sued by the parents because they entrusted their children to you and the church, and the church did not provide trained leaders. I recall from BLaw that the law uses the "reasonable man" concept. In this case, would a reasonable man assume that an organization taking boys camping, with all the hazards that go with it (use of knives, axes, etc.), would have leaders trained to provide care in the event of injury? I think so. Now if our leaders are trained elsewhere, is that something the sectional leadership should track? Should Royal Rangers require all leaders to have training, if so how do you enforce it? I wonder if the churches and the Royal Ranger hierarchy are aware of this risk? Although our permission slips say we assume no "liability in case of accident or sickness" (full text below), the courts have ruled that you cannot contract away responsibility for your negligence. If the District or National office has reviewed this issue with legal counsel, I'd be curious to know the outcome. I'm thinking that churches should require ALL their workers - volunteer and paid - to have CPR/FA training. Here's the text from our permission slips: While striving to ensure a wholesome, safe, and closely supervised environment for the boys in its care, the Penn-Del District, Southwest Suburban Section, and Outpost 34 Royal Rangers cannot be held liable for any unforeseen and unforeseeable accident or injuries which may occur during the course of any Royal Ranger activity. Responsible leaders, persons, and acting agents transporting on behalf of the Royal Ranger ministry of the Assemblies of God assume no personal liability in case of accident or sickness. Kelvin Pier Outpost 34 Southwest Suburban Section, Penn-Del District _______ List host: http://eBible.org/mpj/ List info: http://eBible.org/rangernet/faq.htm To unsubscribe, send "unsubscribe rangernet" to [EMAIL PROTECTED] or visit http://eBible.org/subscribe.htm
