Scouting tragedy spurs renewed focus on safety

A fatal accident at the 2005 National Scout Jamboree has put safety

on the minds of a Newport Beach Boy Scout leader and his troops who

attended the 10-day event.

On the opening day of the Jamboree, held at an eastern Virginia

Army base, three Alaska Scoutmasters and a camp ranger were killed

when a dining tent pole they were raising apparently came into

contact with a power line.

The electrical accident occurred on the morning of July 25, about

half an hour before National Jamboree Troop 834 arrived at the base.

The troop’s members live in Orange County, about half of them in

Newport-Mesa.

“When we got into camp, ambulances and helicopters were already on

the premises,” said National Jamboree Scoutmaster Stephen Skahen. “We

found out from relatives exactly what had happened.”

Skahen, a Newport Beach resident and physician at Hoag Memorial

Hospital Presbyterian, said he took his Scouts aside and reminded

them to think about safety.

“Everyone felt really sad about what had happened,” Skahen said.

“But no one came to me and said they felt frightened.... It was

easier to get them to do what they were supposed to do.”

The four Jamboree deaths came during an ominous week in which

lightning struck a group of Boy Scouts in California, killing one

troop leader and leaving a 13-year-old Boy Scout brain-dead.

The string of tragedies has continued since then. In July, a

15-year-old Boy Scout drowned while on an expedition. Last week, an

8-year-old girl was killed when a tree fell on her during a first-aid

class at a Boy Scout camp.

After a period of mourning at the Jamboree, the event continued

for the 40,000 Boy Scouts in attendance. Skahen said a program

educator instructed each troop to review its safety policies.

Those measures came into play when a series of lighting storms

threatened the base just days after the deadly tent accident.

Skahen asked his scouts to keep the outside areas around their

tests clear of debris.

“We were probably more aware of our surroundings,” said Alex

Swanson, a 14-year-old Corona del Mar resident and Eagle Scout.

During the Jamboree, hundreds of Scouts suffered from heat-related

illnesses. One of those who became ill was Alex’s brother,

12-year-old Greg Swanson, who said he became severely dehydrated

during an arena show.

Three Troop 834 members received Scout patches for their work in

securing water for fellow Scouts throughout the Jamboree.

Lara Fisher, spokesperson for the Orange County Council of the Boy

Scouts of America, said the recent events have raised awareness of

the need for medical training among Scout volunteers.

She said the council offers annual lifesaving-skills training to

500 volunteers.

Before National Jamboree Troop 834 left for last month’s event,

each member had to earn a series of safety merit badges, including

emergency preparedness training, first aid, water training and CPR.

Stephen Skahen said prior to the trip, his group discussed where

they would meet and what they would do in case of an emergency.

Skahen’s son, James, who attended the Jamboree four years ago,

said he hopes Boy Scouts learn a lesson from the tent accident.

“There could have been more preparation,” said James, 17. “You

can’t foresee everything. Stuff like that happens, and it has to be

publicized widely.”

The next Jamboree is set for 2010, to coincide with the Boy

Scouts’ 100th anniversary.

Stephen Skahen said he is approaching Scout training with a new

message.

“You can’t do anything alone,” he said. “We always need other

people to help us.”

o7* ELIA POWERS f7o7 may be reached at (714) 966-4623 or by

e-mail at f7elia.powers@latimes.como7.

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