Safety Policies
High-Risk Waiver Policy
Programs that involve potential high risk activities will require signed high risk waivers to be returned to the office two weeks before the event date or the program’s start. If a release has not been returned by the deadline, participation will not be permitted for that specific event or program.
Medication
NSSRA uses ePACT to securely save health information, emergency contacts, medication information, and more. You can update this information anytime a change happens.
At times participants may require assistance taking medication during programs. If a participant cannot self–medicate or take the medication before or after the program, NSSRA requires additional paperwork regarding the medication and that a guardian delivers pre-packaged medication to our office on a specified date before the program.
Safety/Insurance Information
NSSRA is committed to conducting its recreation programs and activities in the safest manner possible and holds the safety of participants in the highest possible regard. Participants and parents registering for recreation programs must recognize, however, that there is an inherent risk of injury when choosing to participate in recreation activities. NSSRA continually strives to reduce such risks and insists that participants follow all safety rules and instructions which have been designed to protect the participant’s safety.
Please recognize that NSSRA does not carry medical accident insurance for injuries sustained in its programs. The cost of such would make program fees prohibitive. Therefore, each person registering themselves or a family member for a recreation program/activity should review their own insurance coverage. The absence of health insurance coverage does not make NSSRA automatically responsible for the payment of medical expenses.
Due to the difficulty and exorbitant cost of obtaining liability insurance, the agency providing liability coverage for NSSRA requires the execution of a Waiver and Release.
Please contact Safety Coordinator Meggan Davies at (847) 509-9400 x6828 or mdavies@nssra.org with any questions.
Inclement Weather Policy
If inclement weather occurs, NSSRA may still decide to hold programs. If the weather turns dangerous (100 degrees or higher actual temperature or heat index, 2 degrees or lower actual temperature, -30 degrees or lower wind chill or severe snow/ice), NSSRA will call participants before the start of a program to cancel the program. If you are not sure whether a program will meet due to inclement weather, call NSSRA. Refunds are issued for canceled programs.
Sign In & Out Policy
For the safety of all participants, a parent, guardian or authorized representative of parent/guardian must personally check in with a program leader/driver at drop off and at pick up for every NSSRA program. NSSRA staff will not be available to escort an individual to or from a vehicle.
Participants must be signed out of program every day by an authorized ePACT emergency contact or pick up contact. The individual picking up the participant must be 16 years or older and should be prepared to provide a photo I.D. The individual will be required to sign out the participant with a program leader or driver.
For new individuals who arrive to program to pick up a participant, NSSRA staff will ask their name, verify it is on the list and ask to see a photo I.D. If someone arrives to pick up a participant and their name is not on the authorized pick up list, NSSRA staff will not release the participant to the individual until the authorized parent or legal guardian confirms in writing via email that staff may release the participant to the individual.
Authorized participants aged 16 and above are permitted to check themselves in and sign themselves out of programs, provided they are listed as a pick up contact or their own legal guardian in ePACT and have a current signed release on file. NSSRA staff reserve the right to prevent a participant from leaving independently if they determine the situation to be unsafe. NSSRA Late Pick Up Policy may apply.
Late Pick Up Policy
If a participant has not been picked up at the scheduled program end time or transportation drop off time, the parent/guardian/group home staff will be contacted. If not able to reach the parent/guardian/group home staff, emergency contacts will be called. A fee of $1 per minute after the scheduled program end time or transportation pick up time may be charged. An invoice will be emailed to the primary contact if a fee is incurred . All late pick up fees must be paid in full before the participant is able to register for future programs. Any parent/guardian/group home staff who repeatedly violates this policy will be required to meet with NSSRA staff.