Here in Jackson County, the Jackson County Leaders Association (through individual club dues) takes out an annual insurance policy for all enrolled 4-H members and leaders, providing medical/accident insurance through American Income Life Insurance (covers out of pocket medical expenses for accidents or injuries that happen at a 4-H/Extension event). Some exceptions include: Sledding, skiing and tobogganing. Should an accident or injury happen, we want to ensure participants get the medical attention they need, regardless of personal insurance - this policy provides that coverage to participants. Remember, don’t hesitate to call for medical attention.

It is about being sure that you are creating a safe environment for youth and adults. This Risk Management Checklist is a list in which you should go through for each event/activity that you host. You do not need to physically complete the checklist for each event/activity, but you should be going through all of the list in your head before an event to ensure safety of the youth and adults participating.

Please check out the checklist below. It has five main focus areas that include; Facilities, Transportation, Emergency, Activity or Event, and Overnight Events.

All University of Wisconsin-Extension employees and volunteers working with UW-Extension programs must immediately report child abuse or neglect if, in the course of employment or voluntary service for UW-Extension, the employee or volunteer:

• observes an incident or threat of child abuse or neglect
• learns of an incident or threat of child abuse or neglect
• has reasonable cause to believe that child abuse or neglect has occurred or will occur

As a reminder make two contacts, local authorities and UW-Extension Human Resources.

One of the four steps to becoming a 4-H Volunteer is to complete the Mandated Reporter Training. You should have already taken it as a leader. However, if you have adults interested in becoming volunteers and going through the process, please follow the instructions below.

County Purchased Liability Coverage

This is volunteer liability coverage through UW-Extension and local counties. This covers volunteers when they are acting in their role as a volunteer. The coverage is only in effect when you are in that specific role.

Personal Liability Insurance

This includes things such as your personal auto, health, and homeowner insurance. Your Personal Liability Insurance is considered primary in the following situations:

• When you are driving
• If you are injured
• If you hold an evetn at your home and you are found negligent in a loss or you are acting outside the scope of your volunteer role

Annual Insurance

This insurance covers both youth and adults enrolled in the 4-H program. Here in Jackson County, the Jackson County Leaders Association takes out an annual insurance policy for all enrolled 4-H members and leaders, providing medical/accident insurance through American Income Life Insurance (covers out of pocket medical expenses for accidents or injuries that happen at a 4-H/UW-Extension event).

Some exceptions include: Sledding, skiing and tobogganing. Should an accident or injury happen, we want to ensure participants get the medical attention they need, regardless of personal insurance - this policy provides that coverage to participants. Remember, don’t hesitate to call for medical attention.

Club dues that are paid to the Parent and Leaders Association help pay for the Annual Insurance coverage that is provided in Jackson County.

Activity Insurance

There is another optional insurance coverage open to ALL UW-Extension programs. This is the optional activity insurance. Programs coordinated on the county level will take out the activity insurance. Most often it is volunteers in these key roles across program areas that will be working with staff to determine if additional insurance is needed.

This is additional, accident insurance to cover specific events - camps, fairs, trips - for both youth and adults NOT covered by annual Insurance, for extra protection. If you are hosting events where there will be non-4-H youth/adults at the event and there is some risk/liability involved that is a time to consider additional Activity Insurance. You can submit your own Activity Report through American Income Life if you have an event that needs Activity Insurance. Your club will need to pay for the fee of the Activity Insurance (ranges from $0.20 to $0.30 per person). Link to file the Activity Report: https://www.ailife.com/specialriskdivision/activityreport

If you have any questions about if you should be purchasing Activity Insurance for an activity or event that your club has coming up (or just Insurance questions in general), reach out and talk with your 4-H Program Coordinator.

What is the primary insurance for each of these? Could additional insurance be available or how could you reduce personal risk?

• You are transporting others to a UW-Extension event.
  • Primary: personal automobile insurance. No secondary insurance is appropriate.
  • Reduce risk: by arranging bus transportation or having families transport.
  • Considerations to create a safe environment: Volunteers are encouraged to avoid transportation of youth. Never transport one youth alone.
• A volunteer is holding a workshop at her farm.
  • Primary: County purchased liability insurance for programs and volunteers (Check to see if your county has purchased this.)
  • Primary: Homeowners insurance. (When there is negligence or the volunteer has acted outside the scope of their role.)
  • Reduce Risk: Take out AIL activity insurance. Consider moving meeting/workshop to public property.
  • Considerations to create safe environment: Orientation, sufficient adult supervision, proper safety apparel (if a high-risk event)
• The meeting location you usually use is not available, so you have a club meeting at your house.
  • Primary: Homeowners insurance (regular scheduled club meetings at homes are highly discouraged.)
  • Reduce Risk: Find an alternate location to hold meeting.
  • Considerations to create a safe environment: Is your building/facility accessible to all (wheelchair, bathroom, etc.) and liability issues.
• Someone injures themselves while at the community garden.
  • Primary: Personal Health Insurance.
  • Reduce Risk: $1/$2 per year policy could cover medical costs. Optional activity insurance would provide additional coverage.
  • Seek medical attention if needed, document using incident report form, report to Extension Staff.
• Your club is trying to increase membership so is holding an event for potential members.
  • What additional insurance would you want to consider for non-members?
  • Reduce Risk: Take out optional activity insurance policy to cover youth who aren’t members

What are some things that you need to consider when looking at the following scenerios?

1. You are having a picnic at the lake.
   • Lifeguard
   • Lifeguards are required when youth are swimming or participating water-related activities including canoeing, kayaking and boating.
   • Personal floatation devices (PDF’s) are required for boating, canoeing and kayaking
   • Lifeguards must be certified
   • Lifeguards must be 16 years of age
   • Adult supervision if a youth event
   • Event insurance
   • First aid kit
   • Food safety
   • Access for all participants
2. You are holding a tree pruning clinic for the public.
   • Adult supervision
   • First aid kit
   • Event insurance
   • Require personal protective equipment (goggles, leather gloves)
   • Review of safety procedures
   • Accessible for all participants
3. Your club is offering horse riding lessons.
   • Helmets - required by state policy for 4-H Youth Development
   • Horse/pony project agreement form on file
   • Insurance
4. Your group is traveling to a plant sale.
   • Transportation/bussing
   • Seatbelts
   • Event insurance
   • Communication tree distributed to all
   • Orientation prior to event
   • What to do if someone is separated from group?