Post by Freddie on Aug 31, 2019 20:29:07 GMT 1
Safe Scouting Newsletter Spring/Summer 2019
Newsletter
When people ask why each local council should have a
volunteer Safe Scouting Champion, the answer is twofold:
First, the Boy Scouts of America is, at its core, a volunteerled organization. Volunteers make our program happen,
and it is vital that all leaders understand our commitment
to health and safety as well as youth protection—functions
that now work together under our national Safe Scouting
Support Committee. So really, we need volunteers to make
our Scouting program happen AND happen safely!
However, even experienced leaders may find it challenging
to know everything about the programs their youth want
to enjoy and all of the current guidance in the Guide to Safe
Scouting. We work to make it easier with memory tools like
the Sweet Sixteen of BSA Safety. Learning all the safety
details of our extensive program can be a daunting task
for leaders and parents. This is where the Safe Scouting
Champions come in as a resource for all in Scouting.
Second, the safety of our Scouts is NOT a support role.
It is the primary responsibility of all the leaders and
parents running our program. Sure, our programs are fun,
adventurous, and challenging. Young ladies and young
men would not be attracted to them if they weren’t! But the
parents of our Scouting families would not entrust their
children to our volunteer leaders if the program was not
known to be conducted in a safe manner.
Safe Scouting Champion volunteers should be in place at
all levels of the Scouting movement where there are other
volunteers! Safe Scouting Champions are the informed
resource to Scouters who are leading our program. They
stay informed about the contents of the Guide to Safe
Scouting and the changes to it that come from our
safety experts.
The prominence of the Safe Scouting Champion in a
council’s hierarchy reflects the importance that the
council’s Key 3 and board place on safety. This person
is an advocate for youth protection, safe programs, and
health and safety requirements. Safe Scouting Champions
team up with commissioners, trainers, council Health
and Safety committees, and council leaders to promote
continuous learning about safe practices and safety
policies. Unit leaders are busy people. On top of family
and professional responsibilities, they have volunteered
to work with our terrific Scouts. They deserve the support
of unit, district, and council committees, and they deserve
an informed volunteer encouraging them to conduct our
program in the safest manner!
Resource
www.scouting.org/training/youth-protection/ypchampions
Why Launch a Safe Scouting Champion?
Safe Scouting Newsletter Spring/Summer 2019
Newsletter
Many people who become certified in BSA Wilderness
First Aid (WFA) comment after the course that they
value the hands-on skills practice and feel that it is the
most important component. By incorporating wilderness
first aid skills in an outdoor scenario, students are able
to practice physical assessments, give care, formulate
plans, and work through potential problems in a safe
environment.
Practicing wilderness first-aid skills in a hands-on
environment helps to
• Reinforce the training
• Significantly increase retention
• Improve critical thinking
• Instill confidence in handling medical issues that could
be encountered in the outdoors
WFA scenarios will soon be available on the BSA
WFA webpage
Although WFA scenario practice has been incorporated
into the BSA WFA curriculum from the start, instructors
were previously left to develop their own scenarios. Many
have suggested scenarios should be developed specific to
Scouting. We heard their comments and did just that! WFA
scenarios will soon be available on the BSA WFA webpage.
There are many to choose from, including everything
from single victims with minor wounds to multiple-patient
scenarios. WFA instructors can pick scenarios based on
the specific needs of their students and help them to be
prepared for their next adventure!
Check the BSA WFA webpage for the new scenarios when
planning your next course:
www.scouting.org/health-and-safety/training/wilderness-fa/
Gaga Ball
A fun activity enjoyed by many Scouts in council camps
and district events is gaga ball. However, this fast and
furious game can quickly lead to someone getting injured
if everyone doesn’t “play by the rules.”
Before offering gaga ball at any event, develop a program
hazard analysis (PHA) that camp or activity planners will
use to review the game and the possible injuries that could
occur for players. The PHA should include a list of rules
to follow. For example, Scouts of similar age should play
against each other; younger Scouts should never play
against older Scouts, as those Scouts may play rougher.
There have been a number of incidents playing gaga ball.
The Safe Scouting Support Committee suggests that
camps and activity planners review the BSA Incident
Review sheet on the game, which can be found on the
Scouting Safely website:
www.scouting.org/health-and-safety/incident-report/
incident-reviews/gaga-ball/
Wilderness First Aid—What’s New?
BSA Wilderness First Aid Scenarios
Safe Scouting Newsletter Spring/Summer 2019
Newsletter
Using the Campout Checklist
Camping is a long-honored tradition for many families,
including the BSA family. As summer approaches and
everyone starts planning campouts, be sure to start
a campout checklist. It will help you establish your
schedule, supplies, and location ahead of time so you can
make the most of your camping experience.
There may have been times when you overthought
or underestimated your needs for a camping trip, but
with good planning there are many ways to enjoy the
adventure, fun, discovery, and teamwork involved. Using
the BSA Campout Safety Checklist will help to ensure
these aspects of camping are accomplished while also
keeping you safe.
Camping can be enjoyable in almost any outdoor setting—
from the backcountry to summer camp and national highadventure bases, to name a few. In deciding on a camping
trip, you need to consider who, what, where, when, how,
and why.
The Campout Safety Checklist will help you cover each of
the following:
• Documentation needed. This includes medical records,
guidebooks, and permission slips. A Scout leader can
ensure your safety and his or her own when you are
both better informed of any limitations, hazards, or
permissions.
• Training. General training, such as Youth Protection
training, CPR/first aid, and Hazardous Weather
training—or specific training like Trek Safely or
Wilderness First Aid, will give you the confidence to
know what to do in the event of an emergency.
• Planning. Planning is important. Become familiar
with your campsite location and do some research
about the weather, licensing/permit requirements, and
project or activity guidelines so you can be prepared.
• Equipment. Plan for vehicles involved or tools
necessary for your camping experience. Also consider
trailer requirements and first-aid or emergency kits.
• Emergency Planning. A prepared Scout is a confident
Scout. Keep a cell phone handy as well as a list of
local authorities (fire department, police, hospitals,
etc.) in case an emergency occurs, such as inclement
weather or a lost Scout. If you are in the backcountry,
canyons, or a remote location, coverage may be one
to two hours away. A GPS tracking/messaging device
is helpful in these locations; for more information
on personal locator beacons (PLBs) and satellite
messengers, visit www.REI.com.
• Program. Know your program. There should be ageappropriate activities, safety equipment, proper
supervision, and a discussion on potential hazards.
Resources
Campout Safety Checklist
Guide to Safe Scouting, “Camping”
Safe Scouting Newsletter Spring/Summer 2019
Newsletter
As a means of making the program safer for all
participants, the Boy Scouts of America continues to
require the use of an Annual Health and Medical Record
(AHMR) for all members. The form has two levels of
completion, depending on the duration and intensity
of activity.
Parts A and B, required for all—All participants are required
to complete and submit Part A: Informed Consent,
Release Agreement, and Authorization and Part B: General
Information/Health History. Parts A and B provide the
basis of safe Scouting in the unit and for shorter term
(less than 72-hour) events and activities. These two
components can be completed at home by a parent or
guardian and do not require a visit to a medical provider.
Part C, required for experiences of 72 or more hours—
Those who will experience a summer camp or other
outdoor activity of 72 hours or more are also required
to complete Part C: Pre-Participation Physical. This
component requires completion by a health-care provider
(an M.D., D.O., nurse practitioner, or physician’s assistant)
and must include a physical examination and a statement
by the provider that the participant is able to participate in
the Scouting experience.
Risk advisory statements—To aid the provider and parent/
participant, the BSA Medical Task Force, in conjunction
with experts and the BSA’s four high adventure bases,
has provided risk advisory statements for each of the
high adventure bases. These documents are designed
to help everyone understand the physical demands of
the experience. It is important to note that all four high
adventure bases will, if necessary, prevent participants
from leaving the base camp if a participant is not
medically capable of experiencing the trek or adventure.
Using the risk advisory statement before arriving at the
base can help avoid a disastrous return home. Local
councils may also prepare and use risk advisories for
local camps and programs to make sure participants are
prepared for any special conditions that may exist.
Availability—The AHMR is available only from the BSA
national website (www.scouting.org/health-and-safety/
ahmr/). This ensures that all are using the most current
form since no other forms can be accepted. The website
also provides the correct form and the appropriate risk
advisory statement if one is needed.
Privacy—Maintaining the privacy of all participants is the
responsibility of the adult or adults charged with receiving,
handling, and storing the participants’ completed AHMRs.
Paper copies of the documents should be held in a sealed
envelope or other secured carrier and removed only for use
by a medical provider or given to the camp health officer.
Because some states require the camp to keep the AHMR
after the participant leaves camp, a copy of the form
should be maintained by the unit and parent or guardian.
For the safety and privacy of all, it is not permissible to
electronically scan or electronically save the completed
AHMR except as directed for a national BSA event when
private storage and transmission has been provided.
Resources
The BSA has an extensive FAQ and a Safety Moment sheet
providing education and details on the AHMR to leaders,
parents/guardians, and participants. These are available
on the BSA website at www.scouting.org/health-andsafety/ahmr/medical-formfaqs/ and www.scouting.org/
health-and-safety/safety-moments/. Both resources are
especially useful when new families enter the program and
may be confused or concerned.
Annual Health and Medical Record (AHMR) Reminders
Safe Scouting Newsletter Spring/Summer 2019
Newsletter
Online Access to Safety Materials
Do you sometimes wonder where to get BSA safety
information and material? The answer is on the BSA
website, www.scouting.org. In 2018, there were 51,355
downloads of the Guide to Safe Scouting on the website.
Compare that to the 5,319 copies of the printed version
sold in the same year, and you can see that the favored
method today is downloading.
How about the number of times safety information was
viewed at Scouting.org? There were 522,501 views of the
Guide to Safe Scouting HTML version and, of that number,
407,032 were unique views (from individual visitors), with
an average time on the page of 2:02 minutes. In some
areas, the viewing time was longer. People spent more
time online reading the webpages on aquatics, Scouting’s
Barriers to Abuse, and camping, and the medical sections;
for those, an average of more than three minutes was
spent per page.
If you haven’t yet ventured to the BSA website, try it today
by going to www.scouting.org/health-and-safety/.
You will find an almost endless variety of safety materials,
from the Guide to Safe Scouting to Safety Moments, Health
and Safety Alerts, Youth Protection, and much more.
Save the Date
May 29–31, 2019
National Annual Meeting
Gaylord Rockies Resort & Convention Center,
Aurora, Colorado
July 15–20, 2019
Energize Your Enterprise Risk Management Committee
Philmont Training Center
July 22–Aug. 2, 2019
24th World Scout Jamboree
Summit Bechtel Family National Scout Reserve,
West Virginia
September 15–21, 2019
Wilderness First Aid Instructor Trainer Development Course
Philmont Training Center
September 25–29, 2019
National Outdoor Conference with ERM/Safe Scouting track
Philmont Scout Ranch
Newsletter
When people ask why each local council should have a
volunteer Safe Scouting Champion, the answer is twofold:
First, the Boy Scouts of America is, at its core, a volunteerled organization. Volunteers make our program happen,
and it is vital that all leaders understand our commitment
to health and safety as well as youth protection—functions
that now work together under our national Safe Scouting
Support Committee. So really, we need volunteers to make
our Scouting program happen AND happen safely!
However, even experienced leaders may find it challenging
to know everything about the programs their youth want
to enjoy and all of the current guidance in the Guide to Safe
Scouting. We work to make it easier with memory tools like
the Sweet Sixteen of BSA Safety. Learning all the safety
details of our extensive program can be a daunting task
for leaders and parents. This is where the Safe Scouting
Champions come in as a resource for all in Scouting.
Second, the safety of our Scouts is NOT a support role.
It is the primary responsibility of all the leaders and
parents running our program. Sure, our programs are fun,
adventurous, and challenging. Young ladies and young
men would not be attracted to them if they weren’t! But the
parents of our Scouting families would not entrust their
children to our volunteer leaders if the program was not
known to be conducted in a safe manner.
Safe Scouting Champion volunteers should be in place at
all levels of the Scouting movement where there are other
volunteers! Safe Scouting Champions are the informed
resource to Scouters who are leading our program. They
stay informed about the contents of the Guide to Safe
Scouting and the changes to it that come from our
safety experts.
The prominence of the Safe Scouting Champion in a
council’s hierarchy reflects the importance that the
council’s Key 3 and board place on safety. This person
is an advocate for youth protection, safe programs, and
health and safety requirements. Safe Scouting Champions
team up with commissioners, trainers, council Health
and Safety committees, and council leaders to promote
continuous learning about safe practices and safety
policies. Unit leaders are busy people. On top of family
and professional responsibilities, they have volunteered
to work with our terrific Scouts. They deserve the support
of unit, district, and council committees, and they deserve
an informed volunteer encouraging them to conduct our
program in the safest manner!
Resource
www.scouting.org/training/youth-protection/ypchampions
Why Launch a Safe Scouting Champion?
Safe Scouting Newsletter Spring/Summer 2019
Newsletter
Many people who become certified in BSA Wilderness
First Aid (WFA) comment after the course that they
value the hands-on skills practice and feel that it is the
most important component. By incorporating wilderness
first aid skills in an outdoor scenario, students are able
to practice physical assessments, give care, formulate
plans, and work through potential problems in a safe
environment.
Practicing wilderness first-aid skills in a hands-on
environment helps to
• Reinforce the training
• Significantly increase retention
• Improve critical thinking
• Instill confidence in handling medical issues that could
be encountered in the outdoors
WFA scenarios will soon be available on the BSA
WFA webpage
Although WFA scenario practice has been incorporated
into the BSA WFA curriculum from the start, instructors
were previously left to develop their own scenarios. Many
have suggested scenarios should be developed specific to
Scouting. We heard their comments and did just that! WFA
scenarios will soon be available on the BSA WFA webpage.
There are many to choose from, including everything
from single victims with minor wounds to multiple-patient
scenarios. WFA instructors can pick scenarios based on
the specific needs of their students and help them to be
prepared for their next adventure!
Check the BSA WFA webpage for the new scenarios when
planning your next course:
www.scouting.org/health-and-safety/training/wilderness-fa/
Gaga Ball
A fun activity enjoyed by many Scouts in council camps
and district events is gaga ball. However, this fast and
furious game can quickly lead to someone getting injured
if everyone doesn’t “play by the rules.”
Before offering gaga ball at any event, develop a program
hazard analysis (PHA) that camp or activity planners will
use to review the game and the possible injuries that could
occur for players. The PHA should include a list of rules
to follow. For example, Scouts of similar age should play
against each other; younger Scouts should never play
against older Scouts, as those Scouts may play rougher.
There have been a number of incidents playing gaga ball.
The Safe Scouting Support Committee suggests that
camps and activity planners review the BSA Incident
Review sheet on the game, which can be found on the
Scouting Safely website:
www.scouting.org/health-and-safety/incident-report/
incident-reviews/gaga-ball/
Wilderness First Aid—What’s New?
BSA Wilderness First Aid Scenarios
Safe Scouting Newsletter Spring/Summer 2019
Newsletter
Using the Campout Checklist
Camping is a long-honored tradition for many families,
including the BSA family. As summer approaches and
everyone starts planning campouts, be sure to start
a campout checklist. It will help you establish your
schedule, supplies, and location ahead of time so you can
make the most of your camping experience.
There may have been times when you overthought
or underestimated your needs for a camping trip, but
with good planning there are many ways to enjoy the
adventure, fun, discovery, and teamwork involved. Using
the BSA Campout Safety Checklist will help to ensure
these aspects of camping are accomplished while also
keeping you safe.
Camping can be enjoyable in almost any outdoor setting—
from the backcountry to summer camp and national highadventure bases, to name a few. In deciding on a camping
trip, you need to consider who, what, where, when, how,
and why.
The Campout Safety Checklist will help you cover each of
the following:
• Documentation needed. This includes medical records,
guidebooks, and permission slips. A Scout leader can
ensure your safety and his or her own when you are
both better informed of any limitations, hazards, or
permissions.
• Training. General training, such as Youth Protection
training, CPR/first aid, and Hazardous Weather
training—or specific training like Trek Safely or
Wilderness First Aid, will give you the confidence to
know what to do in the event of an emergency.
• Planning. Planning is important. Become familiar
with your campsite location and do some research
about the weather, licensing/permit requirements, and
project or activity guidelines so you can be prepared.
• Equipment. Plan for vehicles involved or tools
necessary for your camping experience. Also consider
trailer requirements and first-aid or emergency kits.
• Emergency Planning. A prepared Scout is a confident
Scout. Keep a cell phone handy as well as a list of
local authorities (fire department, police, hospitals,
etc.) in case an emergency occurs, such as inclement
weather or a lost Scout. If you are in the backcountry,
canyons, or a remote location, coverage may be one
to two hours away. A GPS tracking/messaging device
is helpful in these locations; for more information
on personal locator beacons (PLBs) and satellite
messengers, visit www.REI.com.
• Program. Know your program. There should be ageappropriate activities, safety equipment, proper
supervision, and a discussion on potential hazards.
Resources
Campout Safety Checklist
Guide to Safe Scouting, “Camping”
Safe Scouting Newsletter Spring/Summer 2019
Newsletter
As a means of making the program safer for all
participants, the Boy Scouts of America continues to
require the use of an Annual Health and Medical Record
(AHMR) for all members. The form has two levels of
completion, depending on the duration and intensity
of activity.
Parts A and B, required for all—All participants are required
to complete and submit Part A: Informed Consent,
Release Agreement, and Authorization and Part B: General
Information/Health History. Parts A and B provide the
basis of safe Scouting in the unit and for shorter term
(less than 72-hour) events and activities. These two
components can be completed at home by a parent or
guardian and do not require a visit to a medical provider.
Part C, required for experiences of 72 or more hours—
Those who will experience a summer camp or other
outdoor activity of 72 hours or more are also required
to complete Part C: Pre-Participation Physical. This
component requires completion by a health-care provider
(an M.D., D.O., nurse practitioner, or physician’s assistant)
and must include a physical examination and a statement
by the provider that the participant is able to participate in
the Scouting experience.
Risk advisory statements—To aid the provider and parent/
participant, the BSA Medical Task Force, in conjunction
with experts and the BSA’s four high adventure bases,
has provided risk advisory statements for each of the
high adventure bases. These documents are designed
to help everyone understand the physical demands of
the experience. It is important to note that all four high
adventure bases will, if necessary, prevent participants
from leaving the base camp if a participant is not
medically capable of experiencing the trek or adventure.
Using the risk advisory statement before arriving at the
base can help avoid a disastrous return home. Local
councils may also prepare and use risk advisories for
local camps and programs to make sure participants are
prepared for any special conditions that may exist.
Availability—The AHMR is available only from the BSA
national website (www.scouting.org/health-and-safety/
ahmr/). This ensures that all are using the most current
form since no other forms can be accepted. The website
also provides the correct form and the appropriate risk
advisory statement if one is needed.
Privacy—Maintaining the privacy of all participants is the
responsibility of the adult or adults charged with receiving,
handling, and storing the participants’ completed AHMRs.
Paper copies of the documents should be held in a sealed
envelope or other secured carrier and removed only for use
by a medical provider or given to the camp health officer.
Because some states require the camp to keep the AHMR
after the participant leaves camp, a copy of the form
should be maintained by the unit and parent or guardian.
For the safety and privacy of all, it is not permissible to
electronically scan or electronically save the completed
AHMR except as directed for a national BSA event when
private storage and transmission has been provided.
Resources
The BSA has an extensive FAQ and a Safety Moment sheet
providing education and details on the AHMR to leaders,
parents/guardians, and participants. These are available
on the BSA website at www.scouting.org/health-andsafety/ahmr/medical-formfaqs/ and www.scouting.org/
health-and-safety/safety-moments/. Both resources are
especially useful when new families enter the program and
may be confused or concerned.
Annual Health and Medical Record (AHMR) Reminders
Safe Scouting Newsletter Spring/Summer 2019
Newsletter
Online Access to Safety Materials
Do you sometimes wonder where to get BSA safety
information and material? The answer is on the BSA
website, www.scouting.org. In 2018, there were 51,355
downloads of the Guide to Safe Scouting on the website.
Compare that to the 5,319 copies of the printed version
sold in the same year, and you can see that the favored
method today is downloading.
How about the number of times safety information was
viewed at Scouting.org? There were 522,501 views of the
Guide to Safe Scouting HTML version and, of that number,
407,032 were unique views (from individual visitors), with
an average time on the page of 2:02 minutes. In some
areas, the viewing time was longer. People spent more
time online reading the webpages on aquatics, Scouting’s
Barriers to Abuse, and camping, and the medical sections;
for those, an average of more than three minutes was
spent per page.
If you haven’t yet ventured to the BSA website, try it today
by going to www.scouting.org/health-and-safety/.
You will find an almost endless variety of safety materials,
from the Guide to Safe Scouting to Safety Moments, Health
and Safety Alerts, Youth Protection, and much more.
Save the Date
May 29–31, 2019
National Annual Meeting
Gaylord Rockies Resort & Convention Center,
Aurora, Colorado
July 15–20, 2019
Energize Your Enterprise Risk Management Committee
Philmont Training Center
July 22–Aug. 2, 2019
24th World Scout Jamboree
Summit Bechtel Family National Scout Reserve,
West Virginia
September 15–21, 2019
Wilderness First Aid Instructor Trainer Development Course
Philmont Training Center
September 25–29, 2019
National Outdoor Conference with ERM/Safe Scouting track
Philmont Scout Ranch