Marshals and Emergency Procedures
Role of the Marshals
To assist safe running of a shoot (Parking, Practice Butt monitoring, walking the courses) to ensure safe shooting by visitors.
Respond to complaints about behaviour and provide participants with general and safety information and instructions as needed.
In the event of an accident or incident in the course of a shoot:
To provide a focal point and safety instructions to participants;
To assist emergency services onto or off site and to the location of any incident/injured person;
To assist with co-ordinating evidence and witnesses
General Functions and Equipment
There should be sufficient marshals at every shoot, likely to be a minimum of 6.
Marshal should be designated in advance of the shoot and report to the Events Officer so that their attendance can be logged and any specific Marshal tasks on the day be conveyed.
Marshal where possible should arrive in good time to affect their duties as visiting archers arrive. Marshals may be appointed on the day of the shoot by the Event’s Officer or any Committee Member should circumstance require.
Marshals should not shoot in the event as they are the ‘eyes and ears’ and provide support
Each Marshal should be reasonably familiar with the Co60 woods and the courses used in the shoot.
Equipment
Each Marshal should wear on of the hi-viz vests provided by the Events Manager for the entire duration of the shoot, including before shooting and afterwards, as questions may come from visitors at any time.
Each Marshal is also required to carry a whistle (spares can be provided), mobile phone, contact numbers for the Events Manager and other Marshals on the specific shoot
The Hut should keep a roll of hazard tape in case of emergency, and copies draft statements.
At least one Marshal (and preferably all) should have an up-to-date copy of the NFAS Rule Book.
Pre-Shoot Functions
Grab a well-earned free breakfast roll from catering as time and tasks allow!
Marshals should attend the Events Officer pre-shoot welcome briefing for the shooting archers as they may later be asked questions by visiting archers during the shoot about special scoring requirements set out for individual targets on the courses being used.
Marshals will be likely be requested to lead walk-outs of group of archers to specific target groups, hence previously knowledge of the courses used is highly recommended. If needed, walk the courses during registration so you are comfortable with this.
You may be required to start the shoot on a signal from the Events Officer (by air horn from the Club hut or mobile phone call from Events Officer). This may require you to carry a working air-horn (or any alternative means of starting/stopping and restarting a shoot is announced at the briefing for participants.
During the shoot
You may be asked to be a ‘Roaming Marshal’ for a given course, observing groups of archers as they go, helping search for arrows or encouraging them to leave these and move on if they group searching is causing other groups to be delayed.
Deal with reported or witnessed breaches of the safety rules or Rules of Shooting or any incidents.
Assist in stopping groups shooting in the event of an emergency to assist emergency services to get into and off site and to the location of any casualty or incident.
After the shoot
Please offer to collecting in 3Ds (only if needed) and if you can stay to end of the day to assist the return of catering equipment and other items to the containers – we know you want to get home, but this job has to be done and the more people help, the faster it gets done!
Bask in the knowledge you have contributed to a whole load of people enjoy a safe and fantastic day, whilst also being very visible ‘ambassadors’ for the club to those visiting archers, thus furthering the positive reputation Company of 60 within the NFAS membership and beyond!
WHAT TO DO IN AN EMERGENCY
Marshals
If you witness or are the first Marshal called to an incident STOP THE SHOOT WITH THREE BLASTS ON A WHISTLE then:
Provide to the Event’s Officer with the following minimum information:
Location of the incident (e.g Course and Target Number)
Nature of the problem
How many people are injured
Patient’s estimated Age and whether they are Male or Female
Is he/she conscious
Is he/she breathing
If you are the first Marshal on the scene (subject always to further directions from the Events Officer) you should :-
remain with the casualty at the site of the incident if you are the first Marshal on the scene; or
If the incident is a minor injury, no other persons are involved and if the casualty requests it you may first inform the Events Officer then escort the casualty to the safety of the Hut for first aid. If in any doubt DO NOT MOVE THE CASUALTY
Ask all potential witnesses to wait /accompany you until their details and/or statements can be taken by a Club Official
If designated as the Gate Marshal when directed to do so by a Club Official attend at the main gate and escort emergency services to the site of any casualty.
If you hear the stop whistle you should (subject to alternative directions):-
Immediately pass along the targets ahead of you for which you are responsible to ensure participants have stopped shooting;
(if appropriate) ask if any participant has first aid or medical training;
Report to and obey instructions from the Events Officer.
Each Marshal MUST keep a detailed chronological note of what he/she did and provide a copy to the Events Officer or the Club Secretary.
Under no circumstances should any Marshal acknowledge or admit formally or informally any liability for any injury, damage to property or other incident. ANY SUCH ADMISSION WILL AVOID OUR INSURANCE COVER.
A single blast on an air horn or similar pre-announced signal will indicate that it is safe to resume shooting.
EMERGENCY PROCEDURES
Co-ordinating Marshal
The Event Officer should, subject to conditions, himself, or appoint one or more Marshals or club officials to :-
Sound the pre-announced STOP SIGNAL (e.g three blasts on an air horn)
Attend the site of the incident;
If necessary call 999;
The Operator will ask for the following minimum information. Be ready with it:
The telephone number you are calling from
Location of the grounds/incident:
Woodland Park, Oxshott of A244 Leatherhead Road. Nearest Post Code KT22 0ET
Grid Ref TQ15195 59550 Lat:- 51.323401 Long:- 0.3489365
Nature of the problem
Whether you are with the casualty
How many people are injured
Patient’s estimated Age
Male/Female
viii.Is he/she conscious
Is he/she breathing
Direct any medically or first aid trained person to the site of the incident.
Direct a Marshal to attend at the Gate and direct emergency services to the casualty;
Take name, address telephone and NFAS Membership card details of all persons involved in or potential witnesses to any incident;
Ask witnesses what they saw and take a written note of what they say. GET WITNESSES TO SIGN, DATE AND TIME THEIR STATEMENT;
Tell witnesses how to contact the club if they later recall anything else;
Prevent other people from entering the area – this could distress the casualty or disturb evidence;
Require participants to evacuate the course or parts of it.
Take photographs (or make sketches) and measurements of the area of any incident as soon as practicable;
Collect reports from Marshals and make a note (in chronological order) of what club members/officials/marshals did after the incident.
Under no circumstances should any Marshal acknowledge or admit formally or informally any liability for any injury, damage to property or other incident. ANY SUCH ADMISSION WILL AVOID OUR INSURANCE COVER
When safe to do so, direct the restarting of the shoot using a single air horn blast or similar pre-announced signal.
Advise the Club Sec of the above and of the need to file an incident report to NFAS within seven days and to notify insurers as soon as possible.
Please contact the Club Secretary or any member of the committee in order to report and complete a Draft Witness Statement Form and/or NFAS Incident Reporting and Investigation Form for Marshals.
Thank you for helping to deal with and report incidents at our club
Example Emerrgeny Scenarios
Scenario 1
During the shoot Joe Soap, a visiting archer, whilst attempting to fire a damaged wooden arrow impales his hand. A person with Joe determines that he needs to leave the course quickly.
Three blasts on a whistle are given and shooting stops.
Archers hearing the blasts should ensure that all around them have stopped shooting and if necessary additional sets of blasts are given to alert other archers further around the course.
As Joe and his party have no knowledge of the woods, a marshal is making his or her way around the course in a forwards direction (back tracking may be dangerous).
Upon reaching Joe and having determined all shooting has stopped the marshal rings the co-ordinator in the hut with an update on the situation.
Joe has decided he needs to get to the hut for first aid but does not need an ambulance.
All marshals around the course prevent any shooting.
Joe is escorted by the safest route possible back to the hut for first aid. Any witnesses are asked to accompany the Marshal and asked to complete a witness statement in the pro-forma attached.
Marshals are contacted by the Events Officer to update them that the situation is over. Marshals make their way back to their last positions/targets.
The single blast on an air horn or other device is given to continue shooting.
Marshals complete an NFAS incident report form.
Scenario 2
The briefing as detailed in Scenario 1 has been carried out.
Whilst moving from one target to another Ann Soap falls down a rabbit hole and injures her ankle. Unsure as to whether it is broken Ann determines she cannot be moved and requires medical assistance.
Three blasts on a whistle are given and shooting stops.
Archers hearing the blasts should ensure that all around them have stopped shooting and if necessary additional sets of blasts are given to alert other archers further around the course.
General STOP signal is sounded (eg three air horn blasts or as announced)
As Ann and her party have no knowledge of the wood a Marshal is making his or her way around the course to them in a forwards direction. Upon reaching Ann and having determined all shooting has stopped the Marshal rings the co-ordinator in the hut with the required information set out in the emergency procedures crib sheet.
Ann’s party asks for an ambulance or the Marshal determines this to be necessary The Events Officer instructs the Marshal to call 999 to request an ambulance.
The Events Officer sends a Marshal to the gate to wait for the ambulance. The Marshal should wear his/her hi-viz vest, have their mobile phone with them and stand prominently outside the entrance to direct the ambulance crew to the entrance and the hut.
Archers in the locality sent back to the hut.
Gate Marshal escorts/directs the ambulance crews.
Other Marshals ensure no archers stray into the area to be isolated using tape or otherwise. One Marshal asks for witnesses to complete witness form.
On ambulance arrival, Events Officer and Course Layer discuss with Ambulance crew on the best method to get the ambulance crew to Ann
Ann removed by the ambulance crew to Hut/ambulance.
Marshals to control exit of ambulance by preventing archers from putting vehicles on the drive at a critical time.
Marshals can be rung or text by mobile to update them that the situation is over.
Marshals take archers back to their previous positions.
The single blast on an air horn or other device is given to continue shooting if appropriate.
Marshals take careful note/plan/picture of the location/incident and the steps taken by them to Events Officer or other committee member as required. Use the NFAS Pro-Forma Reporting Form.
Scenario 3
As for scenario 2 save that Anne is injured by an arrow.
The procedures would be as for Scenario 2 save that:
the circumstances may require that the police are called as well as the ambulance service.
The Marshal should ensure that names of witnesses and contact details are taken and those people asked to remain on site until the attendance of the police;
Care is taken to ensure no other persons enter the area immediately surrounding the incident.
Scenario 4
Group complains to Marshal that in their opinion a target has a dangerous overshoot and should be moved.
Marshal assesses situation and if necessary, stops the shoot. STOP signal is sounded. Marshal calls Events officer with target location
Marshals and Course Layer attend the target to confirm problem and assess requirements.
Target approved or adjusted as thought fit. If this cannot be done quickly, the target is deemed closed, and a Marshal remains present to enforce non-shooting of the offending target when the shoot resumes.
The single blast on an air horn or other device is given to continue shooting if appropriate.
Marshal takes careful note and provides report of the incident to Course Layers and/ or other committee member as required. USE NFAS Reporting Form.