14 - Sunday, February 21, 1999 - North Shore News

Safety is first in winter hikes

From page 13

said Langford.

Langtord said the death of Mcleod was an unfortunate accident but was not caused by a lack of preparation.

He said all of the scouts had reasonable footwear, hel- mets and ice picks.

However, 50% of search and rescue calls are attributed to people who are ill pre- pared for the outdoors and do not use common sense.

Langford told the group that troop leaders, parents and scouts al! have roles and responsibilities to meet when enjoying the outdoors.

He said the number one responsibility of troop leaders is to recognize the ability level of their group and set realistic goals.

“Quite often when we climb a mountain, we climb to get to the top. [ would suggest we make safety first. If the kids are tiring and it’s getting dark it may be time to head home,” — said Langford.

Other responsibilities of troop leaders include:

@ filing a trip plan so others know where you gre and when to expect you back;

@ being aware of hazards such as faulty equipment, harsh weather, - avalanches and falling rocks;

M@ having first aid skills;

@ sending unprepared scouts home;

Parents roles and respon- sibititics include:

@ meeting the equipment requirements set out by team leaders. Beg, borrow or buy but don’t send your child into. backcountry unpre- pared;

@ notifying leaders of any

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medical conditions your child may have. Make sure your child knows how to take their medication; B® checking your child’s equipment a few days before an outdoor excursion so you have time to get any missing equipment. Scouts roles and responsi- bilities include: B being prepared; B being well rested; @ knowing your limits. Tell leaders if vou are tired; B telling parents and friends about outdoor safety. Deborah Steeves attended the safety meeting with her eight-year-old-son William. She said she learned a lot about being prepared and knowing vour limitations. “We're getting into hiking as a family so I thought it was important for us to come. All of us need to be prepared. “The incident in December with the scout really showed us thar. While the outdoors is fun it can also be dangerous,” said Steeves.

Top 79 list for day trips

LIONS Bay Search and Rescue recominends these 10 essentials for day trios into the backcountry:

1. flashlight and extra batter- ies;

2. waterproof clothes;

3. waterproof matches;

4. candles or firestarters;

5. fuod and water;

6. first aid kit;

7. compass and map;

8. whistle;

9. orange garbage bag;

10. pocket knife.

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Kinsman P

Liam Lahey Contributing Writer

THE refurbishing of Kinsman Park may be under «vay soon.

Pa

North Vancouver City’s (Feb. 15) Parks and Recreation Committee meet- ing chaired by Coun. John Braithwaite on Monday night unanimously agreed to rec- ommend to North Vancouver City council to allow for the major improvements to begin.

Kinsman Park's grandstand was torched and burned to the ground in June 1994.

A complete facclitt of the park and its facilities have been recommended includ- ing:

@ new aluminen all-weather bleach- ers, 32 metres (75 feet) in length, with 10 rows and a seat- ing capacity of 610; Ma new washroom with entrances on both north and south sides of the building;

@ tour new lighting poles to replace the inadequate Juminar- ies currently stationed there.

The cost of the renova- tions will be paid for by the $287,364 fire insurance set- tlement the city received.

“I don’t think anyone would contemplate a wooden stadium today,” joked Bill Granger, manager of parks

FEARNLEY: cor- rosion concerns

and cnviron- ment in North Vaneouver. “The aluminum bleachers are lit- erally state-of- the-art, and if we get an artili- cial turf field ar some point, we could relocate these bleachers ata later date.” When asked by Coun. Bob Fearnley if the alu- minum bleachers might cor- rode over time, Granger looked) dumbfounded and passed the question over to parks design technician Dave Hutch, the project’s chief technician. “Corrosion

with — alu-

ark facelift pushe

minum is a complex process involving road salt or salt in the air,” Hutch said. “FT can’t accurately say.”

The park, located at Jones Avenue and West 17th Street, houses pwo fields.

Improvements to Kinsman Field South would include the installation of heavy duty alu- minum bleachers on a rein- forced conerete pad and a new washroom.

The north field would receive the lighting upgrade.

Both projects are subject to the approval of city council next week. The total cost of the projects is estimated at $367,210; the combination of the fire insurance settlement with the available parks capital tund torals $367,364.

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