Counter Strike

Yanks LHG Guidelines

 

Behaviour 

 
The transportation and erecting of a typical Yanks LHG display demands a fair team effort from the group members, both in making transport available and in helping to put up tentage, perimeter ropes, props and displays. With this in mind, all Yanks LHG members are requested to make every effort arrive at a display venue in good time, to prevent the same few people doing the bulk of the 'pre display' work.

Yanks LHG members are asked to arrive at a display venue on the afternoon or evening prior to commencement of the event, if at all possible. When this is not possible, members are asked to arrive as early as possible on the morning of the show, but no later than 09:00, and they are asked to be ready to take part in the display by no later than 10:00.

Every effort will be made by Yanks LHG members, at every display venue, to ensure that all members have an equal chance to explore the other displays and visit any militaria dealers, displays or features of the event that may be present. The Yanks LHG display must not be left short of members, but it is recognised that during the preparation for, and the participation in, firing demonstrations and 'battles' there may well be such a shortage of members available to man the display. In this instance, any 'off display' time will be curtailed until there are sufficient numbers of members available to allow it. Public access may also be minimised.

Former service personnel, present serving personnel and wartime veterans of all services & all nations should be invited to inspect the display as a matter of course. These people should be treated with particular courtesy, as a mark of respect by all Yanks LHG members.

After an event has closed for the evening, Yanks LHG members are free to do as they prefer, whether it be returning home, finding somewhere to stay locally, camping on site, etc. After hours is a social time, where authenticity rules are relaxed and food & drink are allowed. Fires are also allowed with permission of the event organisers.

Camping overnight. Yanks LHG always has a core of members camping on the display overnight. As long as members have the appropriate sleeping bags, folding cots, and shelter, or there is space in a tent available, then any member of the group is more than welcome to stay.

Food and drink. If camping on the display, Yanks LHG members are free to choose whether to provide their own food, or whether to muck in with other members and pay an equal share. A little notice is usually required to do the latter, and food will be provided for two meals a day. If mucking in, it can work well, as with a field kitchen, but members participating are requested to help out with preparation and clearing up afterwards. Food should be kept securely & out of sight during show open hours.

Group members with children present are asked to understand that the living history display must take precedence. Every effort will be made to allow for the children, and the demands of their care & entertainment, within the constraints of authenticity levels.

 

After a show has ended, it can take a considerable time to dismantle, pack & load a typical Yanks LHG display.  This demands a team effort from the group members. With this in mind, all Yanks LHG members are requested to remain at a display venue until breaking camp and loading has been finished, unless specific personal circumstances prevent this, to prevent the same few people doing the bulk of the 'post display' work.

Authenticity

Yanks LHG realise that living history is an expensive hobby and that those new to the hobby may not have the resources to create instant collections of authentic uniforms and equipment. Some members of the group have been collectors, re-enactors and living history enthusiasts for many years, and it is understood by everyone that there is no need for anyone to feel the need to match the quit extensive collections of authentic equipment & clothing held by these individuals.

However, Yanks LHG do consider that authenticity is probably the most important aspect of the hobby. New and near new members of Yanks LHG will be encouraged to develop their personal collections of uniforms, equipment and weapons in an orderly and focussed manner, based on proper research, to produce accurate, authentic portrayals of US WW2 service personnel.

Yanks members will give feely of advice on accuracy, authenticity, the sourcing of correct clothing & equipment for any given impression used on the Yanks display. A limited amount of webbing and clothing is available on a 'show by show' basis to help very new or inexperienced members complete an impression, but in return, Yanks LHG expects it's members to make every effort, within the constraints of personal circumstance, to purchase the minimum amount of clothing and equipment needed, as quickly as possible. Within the group, we have reference material freely available, explaining the detail differences between units, the development and change in clothing & equipment as WW2 went on, and where to get the said items.

All members involved or participating in group activities within the Yanks LHG display area shall ensure that they are appropriately and correctly dressed in accurate period U.S. military uniform, in keeping with the 1941-1945 time period, or any more specific time period to which Yanks may conform, if requested to do so by event organisers.

No modern clothing, eyeglasses, watches or footwear will be worn in the display area during public opening hours.

All members involved or participating in group activities within the Yanks LHG display area shall ensure that all non-period items, such as cameras, clothing, chairs, tables, stoves, water containers, food & drinks containers, litter, etc. be kept out of sight during public opening hours. This is a group wide responsibility. All group members will monitor the display area accordingly for the benefit of all.

Other individuals and members of other groups and associations shall be asked to conform to the guidelines immediately above, while within the Yanks LHG display area and accept that the standards applied to the Yanks Living History display should not be compromised.

 Public Access

Yanks LHG is a 'show and tell' display group, encouraging the public and others to enter the display and handle weapons, clothing and equipment under close, controlled supervision. This supervision by ONE OR MORE YANKS LHG MEMBER IS MANDATORY within the terms of the Yanks LHG Public Liability Insurance.

To ensure the safety of group members, visitors and to ensure the security of items on display, the number of visitors allowed on the display at any one time will me restricted to a maximum of two per group member present, unless by prior arrangement. Wartime veterans, former & serving members of HM forces & their families will be given precedence in access, as a mark of respect.

In the event of a sudden influx of visitors, unruly or undesirable elements, access to the display will be closed until such time as safe and secure control can be maintained.

For safety, members of the public will be asked to take particular care of their children & watch out for potential hazards. Parents should be reminded, if necessary, that their children are their responsibility. Small children should not be allowed to handle items which may be too heavy for them to hold safely. Children will be restrained from 'grabbing' at items on display, to protect member's equipment & weapons. 

 Weapons

Yanks LHG membersMUST treat ANY firearm type weapon, be it replica, deact, blank firer or live as a live and potentially loaded weapon, until the said weapon can be safety checked.

Members WILL carry out a normal safety check when picking a weapon up for the first instance.

Members should demonstrate to the visitor, or member of the public, etc. a) the correct, responsible way to handle weapons &  b) show the visitor that the particular weapon is safe before they are allowed to inspect it. 

Members will NEVER point any weapon, of any kind at another person, or in the direction of other people. Third parties, such as visitors and members of the public, inspecting weapons under supervision, MUST also be prevented from doing this.

Members of the public and visitors ARE NOT allowed to handle weapons UNLESS UNDER THE CLOSE SUPERVISION of a Yanks LHG member. THIS IS A MANDATORY INSURANCE REQUIREMENT.

Weapons entering the display should be safety checked, with specific reference to blank firing and live weapons which may have been recently used in a firing display or battle scenario. In the first instance, this is the responsibility of the weapon owner.

Weapons capable of being fired WILL NOT be carried loaded with blank ammunition while on the Yanks LHG display.

Live and blank firing weapons ARE NOT to be handled by members of the public.

Members of the public and visitors ARE NOT allowed to handle EDGED WEAPONS or BLADES of any kind. THIS IS A MANDATORY INSURANCE REQUIREMENT.

Safety

General:
Yanks LHG members will conform to any safety regulations that may be imposed by event organisers and/or site owners for the duration of any given event. Members should be aware at all times of potential hazards, for their own safety and the safety of others & must not act in such a way as to present a hazard to others. This is the law.  It should be accepted by members that participation in the Yanks LHG display presupposes a competent level of personal responsibility and the acceptance of that responsibility,  for self and others. Members should be personally responsible for locating, assessing and avoiding regular display hazards such as tent pegs, ropes, temporary fencing and barriers, fires, vehicles, boxes, crates and other display paraphernalia. Common sense assumes that everyone knows that these items should be treated with care. Group members will look out for the safety of others as a matter of course, but may not be able to watch out for them all the time. Parents please be aware that your children are not insured by Yanks LHG against injury, nor are they covered by the Yanks LHG Public Liability insurance. Further, please be aware that a period camp is a potentially dangerous place, with many trip hazards & many potentially heavy items which may easily topple onto a child. Group members will look out for the safety of others as a matter of course, but may not be able to watch your child, or any other, all the time. Parents must accept primary responsibility for their children, as in all normal day to day activities.
Tents:
Tentage should be correctly erected. Ropes and pegs should be secure & monitored periodically. Location, while having a view to authenticity, should also ensure that access is available 24 hours a day, all around each tent, in case of fire/evacuation. Tents will be heated, if necessary, with specifically designed tent heaters only . These heaters will not be left operating without at least one group member being present. Lighting shall be secured safely and operating in such a manner as to minimise risk.
Fuel:
Inflammable fuel  for stoves, lights, heaters, etc. should be stored away from sources of heat or flame. Firewood/coke/charcoal will be kept in a dry, safe place, away from sources of heat or flame
Fires:
Open fires should be situated a safe distance away from tents, awnings, shelters & vehicles and should not be left unattended.
Stoves:
Cooking stoves should be placed securely & operated safely. Barbeques should not be used inside tents.
At least one fire extinguisher and a full water container should be nearby whist using stoves or fires,
Vehicles:
Period Military vehicles on the display should be manoeuvred with the aid of a safety man. Vehicle movement should be kept to a minimum.
Vehicles should be parked a minimum of 2 meters from any obstruction. Vehicles should be parked in such a way as they can be moved in a hurry, if required.

Risk Assessment

Ongoing. Once complete, a copy will be held 'on site' on the Yanks LHG display for the reference of group members

These guidelines have been created to encourage co-operation, teamwork, safety and enjoyment within the Yanks LHG display during events and to comply with present and future legislation.

 

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