Kids get hurt and some kids die
Posted: September 12, 2012 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Boy Scouts of America, Coaches, Home insurance, Insurance, Insurance policy, liability, parent, Scout, Volunteer, Volunteer Youth Leader, Youth Leave a commentIf you want your kids to play sports, enjoy the outdoors, and have fun, you have to accept the fact your kid will suffer an injury and some of those injuries are fatal.
If parents continue to sue volunteers and programs for their kids injuries, there are not going to be programs for kids. The facts of life say that the cost of providing a program for a kid by volunteers is going to reach a maximum, and those programs will end.
Most programs provide insurance for their volunteers. No matter how the coverage is provided, the volunteers own homeowner’s policy is the primary general liability policy. Eventually, when applying for homeowners insurance, there may be a question about volunteer activities. There is already a question about whether or not you have been sued in the past.
What about the time issues for a new volunteer. You want to be an assistant coach for your kids and the neighbor kids. You go to the first meeting and find out you have to take 20 hours of training before you can attend the first practice and several more hours after that. Is it worth the effort?
Think about the effects on our economy. No more free, after school, babysitting. Parents will have to trust their kids at home by themselves rather than sending them off to a volunteer.
Better, programs are going to require parents to be at all activities, including meetings and practices.
Seriously, would you take a kid backpacking knowing you be sued when you get home because he or she tripped over a stove and spilt hot pasta water on their foot. (Been there, took them to the hospital.)
So?
1. Programs are going to have to step up to the bar and require parents to sign releases and/or acknowledgment of risk forms, which state:
a. The parent is aware and understands all the risks of the sport or activity.
b. The parent has watched all the required videos online.
c. The parents agree to arbitration or mediation for all disputes and where applicable a limitation of damages.
2. Volunteers are going to have to make the programs have an attorney prepare a release.
3. Volunteers need to make sure they buy the maximum amount of liability coverage for their homeowner’s policy they can.
a. You may consider an umbrella insurance policy to provide more coverage.
4. You need to meet with parents and create minimums. If not enough parents are available for practices or games, the kids are sent home. If you say I need 10 parents to go with the 20 kids on this weekend camping trip and nine show up, you and the nine parents get a free weekend after you take all 10 kids home.
5. If you are a volunteer or a parent, consider having all parents and volunteers take the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) Guide to Safe Scouting (GSS) program. More information on the BSA GSS can be found here.
a. The BSA GSS safeguards kids but it will also protect you.
Don’t stick your neck out for the kids when their parents may chop them off.
What do you think? Leave a comment.
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