Volunteer Essentials

Within 24 hours of the accident: • Complete a Standard Incident Report Form, available on the Council website • Document the circumstances and include names and addresses of witnesses. Submit it to your Volunteer Support Coordinator (VSC) • Share information about the accident only with law enforcement officials, appropriate Council staff, insurance representatives and legal counsel. Inform an Eastern Missouri staff member of any interviews • Direct all media requests to the Marketing and Communications department In the event of a fatality or other serious accident, the police must be notified and a responsible volunteer must remain at the scene. In the case of a fatality, do not disturb the victim or surroundings and follow police instructions. If Someone Needs Emergency Care As you know, emergencies can happen. Girls need to receive proper instruction in how to care for themselves and others in emergencies. They also need to learn the importance of reporting to volunteers any accidents, illnesses or unusual behaviors during Girl Scout activities. You can help girls by keeping in mind the following: • Know what to report • Establish and practice procedures for weather emergencies • Establish and practice procedures for such circumstances as fire evacuation, lost persons and building-security issues • Assemble a well-stocked first-aid kit that is always accessible Contracts and Agreements In order for an Girl Scout event or activity to be covered by Council’s insurance policy, Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri, Inc. must be listed as one of the parties to the contract or agreement. A contract or agreement listing a leader or another individual, with no reference to an affiliation with Eastern Missouri, may be considered a personally binding relationship and may not be recognized by our insurance provider as a Council-covered activity. Facility contracts or agreements for subordinate units to hold troop, leader, district or neighborhood meetings or events must be submitted to a Volunteer Support Coordinator who will confirm: • The individual requesting the facility is a currently registered, background checked adult member in a leadership role,

• The activity is an approved Eastern Missouri activity • Council has obtained a Certificate of Insurance

The contract will then be reviewed and signed by the appropriate staff member and returned to the Volunteer Support Coordinator. Please allow three weeks for processing of the contract or agreement.

Note: It is not uncommon for a provider of a higher-risk activity to require parents/guardians to sign a release from liability waiver for a girl to participate. See below for guidance on these individual waivers. Participant Releases From Liability Waivers In November 2008, the Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri Board of Directors approved the following motion: “Rather than the Council continuing to be involved in the issue of releases from individual participants

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