HeadquartersLandForces

Personnel and Support Command – Youth & Cadets

Lieutenant Colonel R J Ayres

10 Betchton Road, Malkins Bank,

Sandbach, Cheshire CW11 4XL

Tel: 01270 767527

Fax: 0870 123 1515

15 November 2010

See Distribution

Ref: LF/PSC/Cadets/1601

USE OF CAMPING STOVES - ADVICE ON POLICY

References:

  1. The Cadet Adventurous Training and Other Challenge Pursuit Manual July 2010.
  2. Cadet ATOCP Manual – Amendment 2 dated 9 Oct 10.
  3. Cadet ATOCP Manual – Amendment 2.1 dated 16 Oct 10.
  4. Land/Cadets/JAL/TC1 dated 11 May 06.
  1. All of those responsible for the planning and conduct of Cadet Outdoor Adventurous Activities (OAA) including Adventurous Training (AT) and Other Challenge Pursuits (OCP) must follow the various policies contained in Reference A, whichincludes the amendments in References B and C. Reference D is the original policy on the use of Trangia stoves and has been superseded by Reference A.
  1. The Policies on use of camping stoves in Section 7 of Reference A are MANDATORY.

Case Study

  1. This summer an expedition toCanadahad an incident involving two cadets. They were refueling a Trangia stove and were very seriously burned. The policy in Reference A was not being followed. The burner was being re-fuelled in-situ. A 5litre fuel can was being used to refill the burner. The fuel had not been decanted into a Trangia fuel bottle fitted with a safety cap. The cadets had not been trained to carry the empty burner with their bare hands to the fuel dump thus ensuring that the burner was not alight. If a Trangia fuel bottle with safety cap had been used the effects of ignition of the fuel being poured from the bottle would have been greatly diminished.
  1. If the policy found at Annex B to Section 7 of Reference A had been followed this incident would not have happened. Unfortunately the instructor, an Army section officer, leading the expedition was not aware that a policy on the use of Trangia stoves existed. At unit level there had been a failure to pass on essential policy to those delivering the training.

Reducing the Risk

  1. Cooking on camping stoves is an integral part of OAA. This is one of the major attractions of camping to cadets. It is recognized that using such stoves poses recognised dangers, which are mostly present when the stove is being refueled or if it is knocked over. Burns are the most commonrisk followed by fire. The risk of carbon monoxide poisoning is present when cooking in a confined space. If cadets are not allowed to cook their own food a major element of self-reliance training and a good part of the attraction of OAA will be lost.
  1. Using camping stoves can be a safe activity if the risks are well managed. To this end all cadets must receive the appropriate training for the use of a particular stove and instructors must ensure that the policies in Section 7 of Reference A are adhered to.

Access to the Cadet AT and OCP Manual

  1. Commandants and Contingent Commanders must ensure that all of those in their units responsible for the planning and delivery of training that requires the use of camping stoves are familiar with References A,B and C and that they have their own copy or have access to a copy.
  1. Every CCF and ACF HQ has two copies eachof Reference Aand every ACF Company 1 copy. The amendments were circulated by e-mail from SO2 Cadet Activities for distribution down the chain of command. There is no reason why every individual should not have access to it. Digital copies of all three documents can be downloaded from Westminsterand from the CCAT website The latest .PDF version of Reference A incorporating amendments 2 and 2.1 will be available soon.

Summary

  1. Following an avoidable incident involving the use of a camping stove those responsible for the planning and delivery of outdoor adventurous activities must be made aware of the existence of the Cadet AT and OCP Manual and the policies contained therein acted upon. Commandants and Contingent Commanders are asked to ensure that this happens. The intention is not to stop cadets using camping stoves; it is that the cadets must be instructed and supervised in the correct use of these stoves.

Original signed

R J Ayres

LtCol

Cadet AT Adviser

Distribution:

Action:

Dist/Bde G7 Cadet Branches

CCF Contingent Commanders

ACF Commandants

ACF CEOs

OC CTTs

TSAs

Information:

HQs 2, 4 and 5 Divs for G7 Cadets

SO1 Cadets

SO2 Cadet Activities

General Secretary ACFA

DFOT ACFA

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