37.98.1804    EXPEDITION: STAFF TRAINING

(1) All outdoor experience and expedition staff training must be documented and kept on file for each staff member, intern and volunteer.

(2) A program shall have written policies, procedures and training curriculum regarding minimum requirements for orientation, field training and ongoing training.

(3) A program shall provide a minimum of 40 hours initial staff training.

(4) Initial staff training may not be considered completed until the staff members have demonstrated to the field director proficiency in each of the following:

(a) supervision of program participants;

(b) procurement, preparation and conservation of water, food and shelter;

(c) low impact wilderness expedition and environmental conservation skills and procedures;

(d) youth management, including containment control, safety, conflict resolution and behavioral management;

(e) instruction in safety procedures and safety equipment, use of fuel, fire and life protection;

(f) instruction in emergency procedures, medical, weather signalization, fire, runaway and lost youth;

(g) sanitation procedures relating to food, water and waste;

(h) knowledge of wilderness medicine, including health issues related to acclimation and exposure to the environmental elements;

(i) CPR, standard first aid, use of first aid kit contents and use of wilderness medicine;

(j) navigation skills including map and compass use, contour and celestial navigation and global positioning system;

(k) local environmental precautions including terrain, weather upsets, poisonous plants, wildlife and proper response to adversarial situations;

(l) report writing, including the development and maintenance of logs and journals;

(m) relevant federal, state and local regulations including those of the department, bureau of land management, United States forest service, Montana fish, wildlife and parks; and

(n) therapeutic de-escalation of crisis situations and passive physical restraint techniques to ensure the protection and safety of the clients and staff. The training must include the use of physical and non-physical methods of managing youth and must be updated at least every 12 months to ensure that necessary skills are maintained.

(5) The field director shall document in each personnel record that each staff member has demonstrated proficiency in each of the required topic areas as listed above.

(6) The initial staff training and demonstration of proficiency must be implemented and documented before the staff member may count in the staff to youth ratio specified in ARM 37.98.415 and 37.98.1805.

(7) A program shall provide, at a minimum, 20 hours annually of ongoing training to staff to improve proficiency knowledge of skills. Additionally, the program shall ensure certifications are maintained by staff.

History: Sec. 50-5-220, MCA; IMP, Sec. 50-5-220, MCA; NEW, 2004 MAR p. 1960, Eff. 8/6/04.