Rooster Reports #4: Bungee mishap: Don't reject "dangerous" activities in Thailand, be smart, do research help improve safety

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[richard_smith237]

I like what you say...  My Son goes on residential trips with his school (a large Int’l school in BKK) and they engage in activities which include a minor element of risk (but none so much as bungee jumping)... I trust the school to ensure such safety standards are met, or they won’t undertake the activity... 

 

That said - individually I don’t have the knowledge our resources to firstly understand or to check the safety measures in place when considering such activities - thus, my head is well and truly buried in the sand as such, neither my family or I will undertake such activities as bungee jumping, skydiving, paragliding in Thailand...   I don’t believe these high end International schools you mention would do either. 

 

There are borderline activities which I’d do in the UK, but would give pause for thought here.... i.e. treeline adventures - if the school has investigated the safety of such (which I trust them to do), then I’m ok with it. But I wouldn’t allow my son to undertake such activities without that - this is perhaps where you (Rooster) would have come in with your team, to inspect and check out such a location / activity before giving the go-ahead for the school that safety standards have been met. 

 

You mentioned balconies... at  recent school residential trip, the hotel was a low rise (3 floors) but the balcony’s were locked.

 

The kids (9 years old) went to a water-park, which was ok with - but I’d have been asking questions of the school if they were planning on doing any ziplines etc... 

 

As you also mentioned (rooster), transport is also an issue... The busses travelled with a police escort all kids had to wear seatbelts.

 

 

[Grusa]

I'm sorry Rooster, I liked your weekly written piece, but of the four, so far, "reports" I have partially watched one and hated it.

 

Quite frankly the opening picture is enough to put me off forever, however sexy you may think you look or sound. Better to leave some things to the imagination.

[BostonRob2]

Well firstly thank you for taking the time to comment so positively about school trips and the video. Of course this video represents is just a few brief observations and the issues run very very deep. I wrote a vast expeditions policy that was copied by other schools, for example.

 

I can address a few points you raised. 

 

Yes, as coordinator I would go with the expedition/trip leader months before to check abosultely everything. Measures were taken to address any areas of concern. Operators/hotels who didn't follow up requests were quickly cut loose. Detailed risk assessments were written. Standard practices of good schools.

 

The locking of balcony doors is a tricky issue when it comes to fires.  I was far happier going to places that had safe balconies and leaving the doors open or just using ground floor accommodation. I once went to a hotel and saw the balconies and just left telling them they should rebuild their hotel if they wanted my custom!

 

Treetop adventures are generally quite safe activities. The key point is that children (even adults) must be attached at all times of course using correct equipment that is not out of date (and logged to prove that). (After I left my first school where I was not responsible for trips a foreign operator who had forgot to tie himself in during a zipline at a resort fell and broke his own leg during a show).

 

 

I developed a keen eye in examining that staff training was up to standard. I mean a lot of operators talk a good game but under scrutiny they fail. Again I would work with operators and intermediary companies to ensure standards were being met or hopefully exceeded.

 

Water parks can be very difficult to manage and need a large staff presence. All activities that involve water are hazardous period. I nearly lost my beloved daughter in my pool at my condo you may recall which brought back all the memories of how I tried to protect other people's kids.

 

At my school we always had high ranking police and politicians who could arrange police escorts. I politely refused because I didn't like the driving on the right and felt that having to rely on the constabulary being on time was a deterimental thing. In addition I was more than happy with the bus company that we employed and their staff and drivers.

 

But I remember once when they messed up and I called them into my office. They presented me with a huge basket of fruit and goodies that I put to one side before I i shut my office door for privacy (my staff outside always knew something was up when i did this) and then despite their wais ripped into them telling them that their contract would be ended if they didn't address the issues. I was backed up by my headmaster. They followed through and continued to serve us and our clientele.

 

Yes, it was the engagement with Thais and Thai companies in improving standards, that was my key point but there is so much more to this issue. 

 

I often tell the story that in 15 years of 200 plus trips the only accident was my own son who broke his toe when on a primary trip in Khao Yai!!

 

Daft 'apeth.

 

regards

 

Rooster

[BostonRob2]

11 minutes ago, Grusa said:

I'm sorry Rooster, I liked your weekly written piece, but of the four, so far, "reports" I have partially watched one and hated it.

 

Quite frankly the opening picture is enough to put me off forever, however sexy you may think you look or sound. Better to leave some things to the imagination.

I haven't stopped writing. I contribute dozens of news stories every week but the column is discontinued for the forseeable future.

 

I don't think I'm sexy and who likes the sound of their voice? I have never done blogging or videos before and I am determined to improve the product and content. 

 

Try and give it, and me, a chance ok?

 

Rooster

[Mark mark]

 

I think that this talk, by a man that has now got a very Poignant story, about freedom for children, and getting them ready to be able to Evaluate risks, and make the right decisions in managing them. ? ... Like make the mistakes in the small risks, ? Like take more chances with them, (And learn from them ? ) ... but be much more careful with the Big ones !!! ... ... Like be able to judge the difference !!! .... And vary the risk allowances accordingly, .... Like he and his friends did to get those Kids out of the cave up in Chamg Rai.

[DJ54]

Great format Rooster…

[Mark mark]

1 hour ago, Grusa said:

I'm sorry Rooster, I liked your weekly written piece, but of the four, so far, "reports" I have partially watched one and hated it.

 

Quite frankly the opening picture is enough to put me off forever, however sexy you may think you look or sound. Better to leave some things to the imagination.

(The Picture of the Rooster) ...What is this  one called ? A Texan Rhoan ? ... Yes the ones with the Yellow Neck feathers usually win from my limited experience of Philipine cock fights !!! Liek bet on them !!!! Right ??? (It was more interesting when they made my Girl friend walk out through the middle of the ring, and the whole hall exploded in Cheers and clapping !!! ... Much to her Anger and anoyance, needless to say !!! .... Maktan Island, Cebu. .... How to be a celebratory with out even trying ! OR deserving it !!!  ... (Me who had to walk with her !!! ... Which ... Well, ... WAS OK Actualy !!! ... Right ???)

[richard_smith237]

2 hours ago, BostonRob2 said:

At my school we always had high ranking police and politicians who could arrange police escorts. I politely refused because I didn't like the driving on the right and felt that having to rely on the constabulary being on time was a deterimental thing. In addition I was more than happy with the bus company that we employed and their staff and drivers.

When my son was 3-4 years old his school at the time (a mid-range international school) were going on a day trip to a butterfly farm. I contacted the school and asked how they were going to transport 3-4 years olds... what ‘car-seat’ arrangements were being made. I was appalled at the response and let them know.

 

The children would have ‘lap-belts’, but full car seats were the responsibility of the parents or we could drive them there ourselves (I already had a Plan B - something called a Mi-fold), something we had recently been using when travelling overseas when we went in a taxi etc.

 

I had other questions which the school couldn’t answer, but were forwarded on to the bus company (a famous one we see around Bangkok... starting with Mon... and ending in tri !!!)... 

 

One of the questions was about ensuring its drivers were no under the influence (after a recent news of this occurring on school trip - not that company though. 

Their response was that ‘drivers were breathalysed in the morning and if they are over the limit they are suspended for the day’ !!!! - for the DAY !!... thats it...  Guy gets pished and is about to take a bus load of kids, but gets caught and given the day off !!!! 

 

 

So... this leads me to my question for you Rooster...   When you carried out your inspections of activity venues, did you also inspect the transport options to the same degree ??

IMO this is one of the greatest risks with our children going on residential trips. 

 

On another concurrently running thread - a bus had ‘break failure’ before it even picked up the staff it was supposed to be taking on a ‘residential trip’...  it was reporting that the specific vehicle involved in the accident had had numerous accidents before.

 

So... Who checks the vehicles ???.... It is a question I’ll be asking of my Son’s school come his next residential. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[bangkok19]

9 hours ago, BostonRob2 said:

I haven't stopped writing. I contribute dozens of news stories every week but the column is discontinued for the forseeable future.

 

I don't think I'm sexy and who likes the sound of their voice? I have never done blogging or videos before and I am determined to improve the product and content. 

 

Try and give it, and me, a chance ok?

 

Rooster

You're doing a good job!

At least you're having a 'go'.

As a long time user of this Forum you've obviously read the comments uploaded by some readers to certain news stories that would be better left 'uncommented' on.

There is a small minority of members of this Forum that have too much spare time on their hands and must make a  smart_rse  comment on anything and everything!

Keep up the good work.

[BostonRob2]

5 hours ago, bangkok19 said:

You're doing a good job!

At least you're having a 'go'.

As a long time user of this Forum you've obviously read the comments uploaded by some readers to certain news stories that would be better left 'uncommented' on.

There is a small minority of members of this Forum that have too much spare time on their hands and must make a  smart_rse  comment on anything and everything!

Keep up the good work.

Thanks for the positivity, much appreciated.

 

Regards,

 

Rooster

[Mark mark]

Har Har !!! ... A Dozen Good Esan Sausages !!! To be plugged up you Bungs Hole !!! … WELL Done Mate ! … You must have plenty left over for a good feed for you and the Kids ! Right ? 

 

(Was it this video blog that you mentioned that request in ??? Har Har .... Yes just great UK ribald humor, and as they all say, That IS what make you all British Right ? ... A GOOD sense of humor, ,,, and I think also entertaining as well. )

 

I was a Visitor at our Local Primary school a few years ago now, and when I started being "A Visitor" at their assembly’s occasionally, … and talking to the Children in English a bit, ... The Teachers ALL had little sticks which they carried every day just about. ... Like Just Little ones, only about as big as conductors Batons, ... Like nothing like this big disaster stick here !!! … But it was a uniform Policy, as they all either had them ! ? On School teachers Uniforms days, …. Or none of them had them ???  Like on Sports Teachers days ??? …. But it did scare the Little Kids a bit as well I do think.  ... Though I never ever saw any of them actually hit any of the Kids, or even get them out from under their arms, … and well in the class room they used them as Pointers on the black board I think ? ... But they just carried them at assembly, and in the playground as well. … Like as part of their Uniform I guess ??? … So on most days like, not all of them though, just Teachers Uniforms days I think. ! ? …

 

… So I said "Hey Those Little sticks" ... "If you had them in Australia you would probably be arrested"... and well they listened to me ... but then just went on with Business as usual ... But, … BUT !!! … And No imagination here ... About a week or two later I guess, … all of the little sticks suddenly disappeared !!! … And I quite honestly have never seen them again !!! …  Like they must have had a meeting, and discussed it ? And decided or got directions NOT to carry them with their teachers Uniforms.

 

TIT, …. It takes a while but I DO think that in most cases they usually do, … Eventually get to the best outcome ! ? … As they ARE very smart people underneath I think. Thais. … Like that is also why I still live here right ! ?

 

Maybe the head master at that time, even made enquiries of the Management Above ? ... But the answer WAS clearly, … NO LITTLE STICKS !!! … And well that was back in about ? Oh ? 2016 or 17, and I have never seen them since. So they CAN change if they want to.

 

Yes Rooster, in a school, and Institution that is supposed to be an EXAMPLE to you !!! … And for the world !!! ??? … The Schools, … they should set a better example I think, than the somewhat Feudal society still left about, here, in dribs and Drabs, the Older Woman controlling the families right and some of them being !!! VERY OLD. … But the schools are the Future !!! And they should be better.

 

… So well I fully agree with you here Rooster.

 

Mark mark  ….