I'm no longer on my Council's Risk Management Committee, but I think I will eventually find out the true story about the Scout in Utah who had a knife stuck between his eyes. I simply do not believe that a Scoutmaster with an open knife "tossed" it away to catch a falling Scout.
First, you would have to throw a knife at high speed to have it penetrate a skull.
Second, the knife on those Leatherman Micras do not have a sharp point, nor do I think they can be honed to a truly sharp edge. I've tried; the metal is just not a high enough quality steel to sharpen well.
Third, I cannot imagine the odd shape and weight distribution of an open Micra resulting in a rotating object that would stick straight in as it did.
I'm certain there's more to the story. I think the knife was in someone's hand when it entered the skull.
Even if it happened as explained, the Scoutmaster who "tossed" the knife doesn't need to be carrying one.
I'd agree that I shake my head at the actions of some adult leaders. My Council had a Troop that insisted on doing its own rock climbing, before the BSA had the rock climbing merit badge or the "Climb On Safely" program. On one outing, they had an Assistant Scoutmaster critically injured as a result of (depending on who you listend to, and I was on the Risk Management Committee) poorly maintained equipment or incorrect use of climbing knots and equipment. Within two years, they had a Scout fall to his death on a climbing trip. Despite requests from the Council, they insisted on "top roping" their own climbs, without assistance from qualified instructors.
Even with all safety procautions taken Scouts can still die in accidents. We had a Scout die in our district. He and his buddy went fishing and he fell in. It was sad.