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Home contact

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Description

It is important that you invite someone to be the home contact to act as the first point of call if plans change, or an accident or emergency occurs, during an activity that takes place outside the normal meeting place and time. The home contact should be a responsible adult who is not related to any member of the party.

The home contact must:

  • be able to be contacted at any time during the activity/event.have complete details of the activity/event (including locations, travel arrangements, routes, schedules, activities and expected return time)
  • have the names of all participants with emergency contact telephone numbers for each one during the event. There is a report that can be run in Go! to produce this list
  • have details of the home Commissioner (or her nominee) and, for residential events, the host Adviser.

In the event of an accident or emergency the Leader, or a participant, must ensure that:

  • emergency or rescue service procedures are initiated
  • the home contact is given details of the accident or emergency, including the names of the participant(s) requiring assistance and the action that has been taken.

The home contact then, depending on the situation:

  • informs the emergency contacts of the participant(s) involved
  • contacts the home Commissioner or her nominee giving names and telephone numbers of next of kin
  • maintains communication to ensure that the appropriate emergency and guiding personnel are kept informed of the situation
  • if appropriate, notifies the host Commissioner or Adviser of the accident or emergency.

The home contact must shred all personal data after the event.

 

Home contact guidance on how to deal with the media, if approached, regarding an incident

Don't respond to any media enquiries – take the caller's details, say someone will call them back and ring the Commonwealth Headquarters (CHQ) Press Office where someone will support you. 

For more information please see the dealing with a crisis advice from the CHQ Press Office.

Girlguiding UK’s emergency PR line 020 7834 6242 (an out-of-hours number is given when the answer phone is switched on).

Page last updated: 5/18/2012