> In the 90s I was taught knife safety before being given blades. Had to pass a test before we were given them.

You can teach kids how to safely handle and use blades. This reduces -but does not prevent- accidents... and some kids will handle them carelessly despite the training. [0]

In other words, the fact that a kid on the trip was cut by his friend doesn't mean that there was no blade safety training prior to the trip.

[0] Source: In another life, I used to teach kids these sorts of safety courses.