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recommended staff-to-student ratio (please see Appendices VIII and X).
Select carefully the location/destination of the activity and take into account the physical strength and skill levels of the participants so as to ensure that all of them are adequately experienced and physically fit to cope with weather conditions and situations at sea. Moreover, dangerous waters or coasts should be avoided.
Be alert to any changes in weather within the area where the activity is held, particularly in seasons of unstable weather. All water activities must be suspended when a strong monsoon signal, thunderstorm or rainstorm warning, or tropical cyclone warning (no. 1 or above) has been issued by the Hong Kong Observatory. If an activity has started before the issue of any such warning, all participants should leave the area where the activity is held and return to the water activity base or get ashore at the nearest safety spot immediately.
Draw up contingency plans (e.g. procedures to deal with delay or cancellation of an activity because of changes in weather conditions or transportation, participants who back out midway or accidents) beforehand, and inform all participants and their parents of such plans.
Schools should also set up an emergency notification system with parents and collaborators so that different parties can be reached any time.
Collect information about the entire route. For example, addresses and telephone numbers of lodging places and rescue services, including youth hostels, water sports centres, police stations, management centres of country and marine parks, hospitals and first aid posts.
Conduct a pre-activity site visit as far as circumstances permit to clear any doubt about the trip/location or grasp further information about the tides, currents and wind directions in the water area. This is to obtain accurate multi-aspect information and ensure that the water activity can be carried out in a safe environment.
Organise a briefing session before the activity for all participants, teachers/instructors, representatives of collaborators and accompanying
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parties, so that they thoroughly understand their respective responsibility and the actions they need to take in the event of emergency.
Schools should obtain from parents of the participating students a letter of prior consent (please see sample at Appendix III) which includes details about the programme of the activity or the arrangements of the trip. Schools should inform the parents as soon as possible of any subsequent changes to such programme or arrangements. If a participant feels unwell or shows symptoms of sickness before setting off, the school or teachers/instructors should advise the participant to seriously consider whether it is wise to insist on joining given his/her health condition and the safety of others.
Teachers/instructors should check all the equipment including life jackets, canoes and paddles, rowing boats and oars, and surfing boards beforehand, so as to ensure that such equipment is up to the required safety standards and suitable for use.
Teachers/instructors should, having regard to the nature or location of individual water activity, take with them essential items for emergency use, such as first aid kit, repair kit, whistle, spare paddles, survival bag and towline.
Schools should notify the Marine Police (contact point: Chief/ Senior Inspector, Operations Bureau, Marine Regional Headquarters) or relevant government departments of the water activity at least ten days in advance. The procedures listed in Appendix IV should be followed (please see sample form for notifying the police at Appendix V).
II. Points to Note during Activities
Teachers/Instructors should pay attention to weather forecasts and news broadcasts. If there is going to be any change in weather or other conditions, the related contingency plan should be activated as soon as possible.
Teachers/Instructors should be fully aware of the health condition of each participant in order to determine whether any participant should
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be forbidden from joining the activity of the day. Timely and appropriate arrangements should be made on a case-by-case basis.
For activities lasting more than one day, teachers/instructors should brief participants on the programme or schedule before commencement each day. Upon conclusion of activity that day, a debriefing session should be held to review participants’ performance, programme arrangements and relevant safety measures, and preparations should be made for the activity of the following day.
Teachers/Instructors are expected to do a headcount at regular intervals to ensure that all participants are within the water area where the activity is held.
Teachers/Instructors should adopt a simple signalling system and ensure that all participants understand how it works and what each signal means.
Water activities should not be conducted in waters of heavy traffic.
Regulations for preventing collisions between vehicles at sea should be strictly observed.
No activities should be conducted at sea after dark, and water activities should be confined to the shore area when it is windy. Moreover, water activities should not be so physically demanding as to tire out the participants.
No participant should leave the party without the prior approval of the teachers/instructors.
Participants should bring along a timer suitable for training/activities and take note of the time of assembly and return.
For activities at sea, participants should wear well-fitted reflective life jackets/buoyancy aid with a whistle attached and ensure that all straps are fastened.
Participants should bring along appropriate clothing to protect themselves against heatstroke and excessive exposure to UV radiation in hot or sunny weather (please see Appendices XIII and XIV) and to keep their body warm in cold winter. If necessary, they should bring
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along insect repellent and sunblock to help prevent mosquito or insect bites and sunburn.
Participants should make sure that they have sufficient time for rest and recovery, and stay well hydrated for the entire course of activities.
III. Measures for Emergencies
In the event of emergency, the teacher/instructor or group leader should take charge. If the teacher/instructor in charge is injured, another teacher/instructor in the group should take over leadership. All participants should follow the instructions they receive in a bid to overcome difficulties with concerted efforts.
Capsize
a) Follow appropriate procedures for dealing with capsizing;
b) Stay in the boat unless a dangerous obstacle is approaching; and c) Drift with the winds or currents until safe landing if they make it
hard to manoeuvre the boat.
Accident
a) Call for help or do the best to offer assistance;
b) Throw a rope, lifebuoy or spare tyre to the person in danger to keep him/her afloat; or
c) Wade out and reach for the person in danger with a long pole; or d) Reach for the person in danger using a safety boat: turn off the outboard engine before he/she comes within the reaching distance and pull him/her out of water from a safe position (care should be taken not to overturn the safety boat and the rescue operation should be carried out in a position away from the outboard engine); or
e) Let the person in danger hold on to the stern and tow him/her ashore.
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