Guide to Safe Scouting For Unit Activities

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Guide to Safe ScoutingFor Unit Activities

• Henry Nichol

http//www.scouting.org/pubs/gss/gssay.html
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Goal Setting

• Why are you here?
• What do you hope to learn?

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Purpose

• To prepare Adult Leaders to Conduct Scouting
  Activities in a safe and prudent matter.

• Established because of need to protect members
  from known hazards

• Polices and guidelines are really there for safe
  and enjoyable adventures.

• Unit leaders must be aware of state and local
  government regulations that supersede BSA policies

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• How BSA and YOU going to do it?

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Agenda

1. Youth Protection and Adult Leadership
2. Aquatics Safety
3. Camping
4. Drug, Alcohol, and Tobacco Use and Abuse
5. Emergency Preparedness
6. First Aid
7. Fuels and Fire Prevention
8. Guns and Firearms
9. Sports Activities
10. Inspections
11. Medical Information
12. Transportation
13. Winter Activities

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Youth Protection and Adult Leadership

• Question - How Does BSA prevent child Abuse?
• Answer - Policies that focus on leadership
  selection and placing barriers to abuse.
• Question How does BSA attract and train
  fabulous leaders
• Answer - BSA works with Charter Organization to
  attract leaders and review applications

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BSA Barriers to Abuse Within Scouting

• Two deep Leadership
• No-one-on-one Contact
• Respect of Privacy
• Separate accommodations
• Proper preparation for high-adventure activities
• No secret organizations
• Appropriate attire
• Constructive Discipline
• Hazing Prohibited
• Youth leader training and supervision

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Parents Barriers to Abuse Within Scouting

• If parents notice any deviations from BSAs
  approved program, they should call these to the
  attention of the charter organization or unit
  committee
• Parents should also read and review the booklet
  How to Protect Your Children from Child Abuse
  and Drug Abuse Parents Guide

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Other points

• What do most child victims of sexual abuse keep
  the abuse secret?
• What should I do if a child tells me that he has
  been sexually abused?
• How do I know what my reporting responsibility
  are?
• What youth protection education materials does
  the BSA have for youth members
• How can scout leader who are not social workers
  teach children about youth protection
• What are the three Rs of Youth Protection
  (recognize, resist, report)

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Three Rs

• What are the three Rs of Youth Protection
  (recognize, resist, report)

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Youth Member Behavior Guidelines

• Follow the Scout Law and Oath.
• Not acceptable physical violence, hazing,
  bulling, theft, drugs and alcohol, corporal
  discipline.

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Leadership Requirements for Trips and Outings

1. Two Deep Leadership
2. Plan transportation
3. Safety rule of four
4. Male and female leaders separate sleeping
5. Male and female participants separate sleeping
6. Single room or dormitory-type accommodations for
   scouting units.
7. When stay in tent no youth will stay in tend of
   an adult other than his parent
8. Separate shower and latrine for gender and
   adult/scout
9. Two deep adult leadership is required for flying
   activities

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Not for display

• Show yellow sheet in safe guide book and Age
  appropriate guidelines for scouting activities.
  If it is not listed do not do it till you consult
  with council

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Common Themes In Guide for Each Activity

• Qualified Supervision
• Physical Fitness
• Safe area and equipment
• Buddy System
• Discipline

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What do scouts like to do?

• Camp
• Hike
• Swim
• Fire
• Shoot
• Lets talk about Swim next

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II. Aquatics Safety

• Instructors for Safe Swim Defense and Safety
  Afloat Training
• Safe Swim Defense
• Classification of Swimming Ability
• Pool and Surf Swimming
• Safety Afloat
• Personal Floatation Devices (PFDs)
• Water Clarity
• BSA Lifeguard
• Swimming Area
• Diving and Elevated Entry
• Scuba Policy
• Snorkeling
• Kayaking
• Waterskiing
• Boardsailing
• American Whitewater Safety Guidelines

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Instructors

• Training is given by an approved individual by
  the council for the council
• Safe Swim Defense
• Safety Afloat

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Safe Swim Defense

• Qualified Supervision Trained in 8 points of
  BSA safe Swim Defense
• Physical Fitness Health History
• Safe Area
• Three groups (Annually verify level of swimmers)
• Non swimmer - 3 ½ deepest
• Beginners - just over head
• Swimmers - not over 12 feet
• Swimming is not permitted in water more than 12
  feet deep.

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Safe Swim Defense (cont)

• Lifeguards on Duty
• Swim only where they are on duty.
• If in unit swim area, where lifeguards are not
  provided, the supervisor should designate two
  capable swimmers as lifeguards.
• Provide one lifeguard for every 10 people in
  water
• Establish a look out on shore that can see all.
  It can be the adult in charge of the swim
• Buddy System Pair youth with one of same
  ability
• Discipline Each swimmer must know the Safe Swim
  Defense - Be strict and fair about these
  guidelines showing no favoritism.

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Classification of Swimming Ability

• Swimmers test
• Beginner test

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Pool and Surf Swimming

• Safe Swim Defense
• Public facility has a life guard, no need to post
  one.
• Buddy System is still important.
• Pool
• Adult supervision is still required to monitor
  and set guidelines
• Surf
• Swimmers physical condition must be higher.
  Swimmer must be able to swim 5 minutes piously
• Area marked with flags easily seen
• Lifeguard to swimmer is no larger than 1-10

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Safety Afloat

• Adult leader must have completed the Safety
  Afloat Training no 34159C, have a card no 34242A
  with them and is dedicated to full compliance
  with all nine points of Safety Afloat.
• What are the nine points?

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Nine Points

• Qualified Supervision
• Physical Fitness
• Swimming Ability
• Personal Floatation Equipment
• Buddy System
• Skill Proficiency
• Planning
• Equipment
• Discipline

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• Personal Floatation Devices (PFDs)
• US Coast Guard-approved personal floatation
  device (PFD) must be worn at all times
• Water Clarity
• Turbid water should be limited to surface
  swimming
• Snorkeling and scuba skills only practiced in
  clear water
• BSA Lifeguard
• 14 years of age or 8th grade
• Completed the BSA Lifeguard course
• Swimming Area
• Minimum of 40 square feet per swimmer
• Areas as stated before

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Diving and Elevated Entry

• Most dangerous
• No entry at a depth greater than 12 feet
• Feet first if dept is less than 7 feet
• Diving must be in 7 feet clear water but entry
  must be no higher than 18 inches from water
• Diving must be in 9 feet clear water but entry no
  higher than 40 inches from water
• Board diving must be mounted on a fixed platform
  no higher than 40 inches from water, no activity
  on at least 15 feet either side of board.

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Scuba Policy

• Must be certified by or trained by
• National Association of Underwater Instructors
  (NAUIO)
• Professional Association of Diving Instructors
  (PADI)
• Scuba Schools International (SSI)
• Or Council approved organization
• Cub Scouts not authorized
• Other Scouts must be 14 years of age

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Snorkeling

• Safe Swim Defense guidelines
• Instructors
• National Association of Underwater Instructors
  (NAUIO)
• Professional Association of Diving Instructors
  (PADI)
• Snorkeling Safety
• Qualified Supervision
• Physical Fitness
• Safe Area
• Proper Equipment
• Lifeguards/lookouts
• Ability
• Buddy System
• Discipline

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Kayaking

• Limited to Boy Scouts, Varsity Scouts, Ventures
• Kayaking Safety
• Qualified Supervision
• Physical Fitness
• Swimming Ability
• Personal floatation equipment
• Buddy System
• Skill Proficiency
• Planning
• Equipment
• Discipline

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• Water Skiing
• Safe equipment, competent instruction
• Efficient and careful tow boat operator and
  observer
• Follow Water Sports Safety Code
• Limited to Boys Scouts, Varsity and Venture
• Board Sailing
• See Boardsailing BSA Award Application no 19-1935

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American Whitewater Safety Guidelines

• Be a competent Swimmer
• Wear a Personal Floatation Device
• Wear a Solid, Correctly Fitted Helmet
• Keep Your Boat under Control
• Be Aware of River Hazards

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III. Camping

• Age Guidelines
• Family Camping
• Cub Scout Overnight Opportunities
• Trail Safety
• Beware of Lightning
• Treated Drinking Water
• BSA Property Smart
• Hantavirus
• Rabies Prevention

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Age Guidelines

• Tiger, Wolf and Bear den not approved by BSA for
  Den Overnights
• Tiger may participate in boy-parent excisions
  (family camping)
• Wolf Bear and Webolus may participate in resident
  overnight camping program
• Webolus may camp with troop. Den leader, pack
  leaders and parents are expected to join scout on
  trip.
• Boy Scouts and varsity Scouts 12-17 are eligible
  to participate in national jamborees.
• Boy Scouts and varsity Scours 13-17 are eligible
  to participate in world jamborees.

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Family Camping vs. Recreation Family Camping

• Family Camping is an outdoor camping experience,
  other than resident camping, that involves
  Scouting program elements in overnight setting
  with two or more family members, including at
  least one BSA member of that family. Parent are
  responsible for supervision of their children and
  Youth Protection guidelines apply
• Recreation Family Camping is when Scouting
  families camp as a family unit outside of an
  organized program. It is non structured camping
  experience, but is conducted within a Scouting
  framework on local council-owned or managed
  property

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Cub Scout Overnight Opportunities

• Council Organized Family Camp
• Overnight events involving more than one pack but
  sponsored by council
• Overnight events involving more than one pack
  must be approved by the council
• Pack Overnighters
• Overnight events involving more than one family
  from a single pack focus on Cubs Scout
  appropriate activities.
• At lease one Adult on a pack overnight must have
  completed BALOO training.

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Trail Safety

1. Qualified Supervision
2. Keep Fit
3. Plan Ahead
4. Gear Up
5. Communicate Clearly and Completely
6. Monitor Conditions
7. Discipline

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Beware of Lightning

• Stay away of from open doors/windows, fireplaces,
  metal stuff
• Do not use hair dryers, electric
  toothbrush/razor, phones
• Do not take clothes down
• Do not work outside
• Do not handle flammable material
• Do not play golf, fish
• Avoid high ground
• Avoid isolated trees.

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Treated Drinking Water

• A large supply is necessary
• If not sure, do not take a chance
• Treat Questionable water
• Filter Water
• Boil water for a minute
• Add 8 drops of liquid Chlorine Bleach
• Let stand 30 minutes
• If smell like Chlorine it is ok, else do it
  again, if still bad discard
• Note you can do cold water, but it takes 4 times
  as long

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Miscellaneous

• BSA Property Smart Every one has the
  responsibility / obligation to do his or her best
  to care for and protect every property that he or
  she visits.
• Hantavirus identified in 30 states. Spread
  through the urine and feces of infected rodents.
  An airborne virus
• Rabies Prevention 7,000 animals a year, over
  22,000 exposed or infected people

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IV. Drug, Alcohol Tobacco Use Abuse
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V. Emergency Preparedness

• Emergency Preparedness PLAN
• Emergency Preparedness KIT

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Emergency Preparedness PLAN

• Plan ahead
• Recognize Alarm sound
• Agree on outdoor meeting place
• Everyone can call 911 and post other emergency
  numbers.
• Post address near phones
• Plan out of town routes
• Practice evacuating twice a year
• Practice natural disaster
• In emergency keep calm, stay together and explain
  to younger members what might happen next.

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Emergency Preparedness KIT

• Water 1 gallon per person per day
• Food non perishable.
• Flashlight (extra batteries
• First aid kit
• Medications
• Battery operated Radio
• Tools
• Clothing
• Personal items
• Sanitary supplies
• Money
• Contact information
• Pet supplies
• Map
• Note in BSA Guide page 27 is a Emergency Contact
  list

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VI. First Aid

• It is important at least one person trained in
  first aid
• First Aid kits (stocked and easy to get too)
• Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation can be taught to
  Boy Scout and Venture Scout (Not recommend to Cub
  Scout) by American Heart Association.
  Preliminary skills related CPOR are found in
  Scout Handbook and the First Aid Merit badge.
• Protection Considerations for Blood borne
  Pathogens treat all individuals as though the
  blood is contaminated.
• Near-Drowning after a victim has recovered at
  the scene, take to hospital. Reactions can
  happen latter due to the recovery process, (lung
  rupture, pneumonia, and hypothermia)

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VII. Fuels and Fire Prevention

• Chemical Fuels use of liquid fuels is
  prohibited.
• Guidelines for Safely Using Chemical Stoves and
  lanterns
• Flammability Warning
• Extinguishers
• Class A - wood, fabric, etc.
• Class B Gasoline, oil, etc.
• Class C electrical
• Fireworks prohibited unless a licensed
  Fireworks Specialist manages the function

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VIII. Guns and Firearms

• BSA adheres to policy of teaching safe,
  responsible , intelligent handling, care and use
  of fire arms.
• Cub Scouting Standards - is only allowed Archery
  and BB gun shooting restricted to day camps, Cub
  Scout/Webelos Scout resident camps, and
  Council/managed activities.
• Boys Scouting Standards may participate in
  Shotgun, Muzzle Loaders, Rifles with the
  appropriate safety measures taken, Including an
  NRA Instructor.
• Venture Standards May shoot a hand gun with
  appropriate safety measures and an NRA
  Instructor.
• Cannons and Large-bore artillery not allowed

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IX. Sports Activities

• Sweet 16 of BSA Safety
• Caving
• Judo, Tai Chi and Aikido
• Climbing and Rappelling
• Project COPE Activities
• Unauthorized and Restricted Activities
• Carbon Tetrachloride
• Knives
• Rope Monkey Bridges
• Parade Floats and Hayrides
• Unit Fund-raisers
• Tractor Safety
• Bike Safety
• Skating Guidelines
• Horsemanship Activities
• Note - Lets just review Sweet 16

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Sweet 16 of BSA Safety

• These 16 points embody good judgment and common
  sense and apply to all activities.
• Qualified Supervision
• Physical Fitness
• Buddy System
• Safe area or Course
• Equipment Selection and Maintenance
• Personal Safety Equipment
• Safety Procedures and Policies
• Skill Level Limits
• Weather Check
• Planning
• Communications
• Permits and Notices
• First Aid Resources
• Applicable laws
• CPR resources
• Discipline

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X. Inspections

• Meeting rooms inspect for health and safety
• Motor vehicles
• Unit Camping - Before set up, after take down
  and in between
• Boats U.S. Coast Guard can do upon request a
  marine examination of any craft.

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XI. Medical Information

• Class 1 event not exceed 72 hours
• Class 2 event exceeds 72 hours
• Class 3 Any event involving strenuous activity
  also if an adult is age 40
• High Adventure Medical forms Phillmont Scout
  Ranch and Florida Sea base require a special form
  for youth and adults
• Immunization
• Life-Threatening Communicable Diseases a scout
  can continue in a Lone Scout Program

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• Sun Safety
• Religious Beliefs and Medical Care
• is required for all camp attendance except if it
  is waived due to religious beliefs
• All must learn first aid to service others
• Requirements 1-5 of Personal Fitness merit badge
  may be waived with proper church wavier
• Prescriptions
• Responsible of individual unless agreed to by
  Scout leader or guardian

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XII. Transportation

• Automobiles
• Campers, Trailers and Trucks
• Buses
• Trains
• Boats
• Aircraft
• Tour Permits
• Local
• National
• Commercial Drivers License Compliance

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XIII. Winter Activities

• Leadership
• Equipment
• Physical Conditions

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Conclusion

• Have fun safely Scouting
• Thanks for allowing me this time to share.
• hnichol_at_kw.com 972-365-6731