Safety Considerations
The safety of your group is a prime consideration. In order to assure safety, OBIS designs equipment and procedures to be as safe as possible. In addition, OBIS recommends that leaders organize a Buddy System when participants explore an aquatic or other potentially hazardous site. It is always a good idea to bring a simple first-aid kit when working with a group of participants. When OBIS was originally published, it was free of misconceptions of danger and pressures of liability. As we work to reconnect children to nature, remember that basic “common sense” judgements (like appropriate clothing) are no longer intuitive. With that in mind, we offer some basic foundational considerations to make your experience more successful.
Site Selection
Make sure your selection site is large enough for everyone to investigate without interference, but small enough to allow easy supervision of the group Site boundaries should be clearly marked an the participants kept within the boundaries.
Avoid aquatic sites with obvious hazards such as steep banks, slide areas, or strong and fast-moving currents. Familiarize yourself with any rules or procedures that apply to the use of the site. Some sites, particularly public nature areas, are protected by strict rules regarding interference with living organisms. Make sure the participants understand and follow the rules.
Secure permission to use a site in advance if such permission is required. Familiarize yourself with any rules or procedures that apply to the use of the site. Some sites, particularly public nature areas, are protected by strict rules regarding interference with living organisms. make sure the participants understand and follow the rules.If you are setting up an area that needs to be undisturbed for subsequent observations, let the person who is in charge of maintaining the site know about your need to leave the experiment undisturbed.
Buddy Safety System
The Buddy Safety System is designed to insure that no participant will ever be far from assistance should it be needed. Group members choose a “buddy” they would like to work with. For an odd-numbered group, organize one team of three buddies. When the participants are paired off, tell them that each individual is responsible at all times for the whereabouts and safety of his/her buddy. A participant should never leave his/her buddy unless his/her own safety is threatened. In the even of an accident to one buddy, the other should render assistance and call for help.