Why Schools, Youth Organisations and Councils Should prioritise Risk Assessments and the use of GPS Trackers for Duke of Edinburgh Expeditions

Why Secondary Schools, Care Organisations, and Local Councils Should Prioritise Risk Assessments and the use of GPS Trackers for Duke of Edinburgh Expeditions

The Duke of Edinburgh (DofE) Award scheme is designed to encourage young people to develop essential life skills such as teamwork, independence, and resilience. While these outdoor expeditions are incredibly valuable, they also present risks, particularly when young participants venture into remote areas with varying terrains and weather conditions. This makes it crucial for secondary schools, care organisations, and local councils to conduct comprehensive risk assessments before allowing young people to participate in the Bronze, Silver, or Gold DofE expeditions.

In addition to these risk assessments, equipping participants with GPS trackers that include an SOS feature is an essential step in ensuring their safety. Such trackers not only offer a lifeline in emergencies but also provide an efficient and privacy-respecting way to monitor the group’s location.

The Importance of Risk Assessments

Before embarking on any outdoor expedition, it is vital that schools and organisations assess the potential hazards that may be encountered. A robust risk assessment looks at the overall environment, expected weather conditions, the experience levels of participants, and available supervision. Schools, care organisations, and councils are responsible for safeguarding their participants, and a failure to do so could have serious consequences.

For instance, risk assessments should consider:

• The physical terrain: Is the route too challenging for less experienced hikers? Are there areas where participants could fall or get lost?
• Environmental hazards: Sudden changes in weather, fast-moving rivers, or uneven paths can turn a routine expedition into a dangerous situation.
• Health and ability levels of participants: Different participants will have varying levels of stamina and experience, and these differences must be considered when planning routes and allocating supervision.

Failing to properly evaluate these risks can lead to tragedies. A stark reminder of the importance of risk assessments came in 2018 when a 16-year-old boy tragically died during a Scout expedition in Snowdonia, North Wales. The coroner’s report following the incident found that a lack of proper risk assessment and inadequate supervision were key contributing factors. This incident has highlighted the need for improved safety protocols, including better supervision and risk planning, which could have possibly prevented this devastating outcome.

Why GPS Trackers Are Essential for DofE Expeditions

While risk assessments provide a framework for planning safe expeditions, real-time solutions like GPS trackers offer an additional layer of protection. GPS trackers, especially those equipped with an SOS function, can help mitigate risks and allow expedition organisers to monitor participants, even in remote locations.

Here’s why GPS trackers should be a standard feature on DofE expeditions:

1. Location Monitoring: GPS trackers allow organisers to track participants’ locations throughout the expedition. If a group or individual goes off-route or doesn’t arrive at a checkpoint on time, staff can respond immediately by locating the group and, if necessary, dispatching help to their precise location.

2. SOS Functionality: Some GPS trackers have a built-in SOS button. In an emergency, participants can press this button, instantly alerting organisers or emergency services. This can be life-saving in cases of injury, sudden illness, or if participants find themselves lost in dangerous conditions.

3. Enhanced Supervision: GPS trackers enable organisers to supervise participants more effectively without the need for constant physical oversight. They provide a safer, more structured way of ensuring participants remain within designated areas, which is crucial for large groups.

4. Mitigating Privacy Concerns: Unlike mobile phones, GPS trackers can be school or council-owned assets, which avoids potential privacy issues. When participants rely on their mobile phones for communication, it often requires teachers and volunteers to have access to the children’s phone numbers. This can create concerns about data protection and boundaries between students and staff. GPS trackers, on the other hand, can be assigned and managed by the school or organisation, ensuring privacy is protected while still maintaining safety.

GPS Trackers: Reusable and Cost-Effective

Another advantage of GPS trackers is that they are reusable assets. Schools, youth organisations, care organisations, and councils can purchase these devices for DofE expeditions and reuse them for future activities, such as school-organised ski trips or adventure days. This not only makes them a cost-effective solution but also reduces the need for participants to rely on personal mobile phones, which may not always be durable or reliable in rugged outdoor environments.

In situations like outdoor expeditions, where mobile phone signal may be weak or nonexistent, GPS trackers offer a more reliable way to stay connected. Their rugged design and long battery life make them ideal for use in remote areas, where the risk of participants getting lost or injured is higher.

Lessons Learned from Past Incidents

The death of the 16-year-old boy in Snowdonia serves as a sobering reminder of the importance of proper supervision and risk management. The coroner’s report highlighted two critical failures: the lack of a comprehensive risk assessment and the lack of appropriate supervision. These are both areas where GPS tracking technology could have had a significant impact.

Had the participants in this tragedy been equipped with GPS trackers, organisers could have been able to monitor the group’s location and direction of travel. In case of a deviation from the route, timely intervention could have prevented the escalation of the situation. Similarly, could a GPS tracker's SOS feature have alerted organisers and averted a disaster?

By incorporating GPS trackers into future expeditions, schools and organisations can address these critical gaps in risk mitigation and appropriate supervision. These devices can provide close to real-time location tracking empowering organisers to take proactive steps in ensuring the safety of every participant.

Conclusion

Risk assessments and GPS trackers go hand in hand in ensuring the safety of young people on Duke of Edinburgh expeditions. While risk assessments allow schools, care organisations, and local councils to identify and address potential hazards before an expedition begins, GPS trackers provide a critical layer of real-time safety and communication during the event itself.

The ability to track participants, provide immediate assistance via the SOS button, and eliminate privacy concerns surrounding the use of personal mobile phones makes GPS trackers an invaluable tool for modern outdoor expeditions. In addition, these trackers can be reused for other school-organised trips, making them a smart, long-term investment for any organisation that prioritises the safety and security of its participants.

By learning from past incidents and adopting these practical safety measures, schools and councils can ensure that young people can continue to enjoy the DofE and other outdoor experiences in a safe and supportive environment.