Scouting Safely

Health & Safety Alerts
Subscribe to Scouting Safely Alerts
*Help Us Improve Scouting Safely!* Take our March survey here.
Special AED Limited-Time Offer Our AED program supporter, Cardiac Science, has created a promotion for BSA local councils and units to support the ongoing effort to help reduce cardiac fatalities.
Weaver Popcorn Voluntary Recall Weaver Popcorn Company is making a voluntary recall of products containing peanuts, some of which may have been sold in your council. Councils should post the Weaver statement to their Web site or otherwise make it available to units, and encourage them to follow the instructions in the statement.
Parade Safety The attached tip sheet, Safety Tips for Parades, has been distributed by the Cradle of Liberty Council. It follows the Sweet 16 of BSA Safety.
Insurance Programs Check here for brief outlines of insurance coverages available to volunteers and chartered organizations.
SHIFT Happens: Be Prepared to Move Quickly Scouting units from all over Southern California are encouraged to participate in the largest earthquake drill in American history. Find out how.
AEDs Available to Councils and Units As reported in the Spring 2008 Health and Safety Newsletter, only 21 percent of council offices and 58 percent of council camps have automated external defibrillators, or AEDs, in place to be prepared for sudden cardiac arrest emergencies. We are working to make 100 percent coverage a reality for your offices and camps as well as making AEDs available for units and community service projects.
Norovirus FAQ Noroviruses cause stomach flu, or gastroenteritis, complete with nausea, vomiting, diahrrea, and stomach cramping. The Center for Disease Control recommends frequent hand washings and a thorough cleansing and disenfecting of contaminated surfaces after an episode. Do what you can to keep camp attendees safe.
Paintball Is Prohibited In Scouting! A paintball that hits the eyeball can result in severe injury to the eye or even blindness. Three deaths have been noted between 2002 and 2005 from paintball gun equipment.
Traditional CPR Technique Still Official The much-discussed compression-only (or "hands-only") CPR technique may be suitable for some situations, but it is not an all-encompassing method for every CPR-related circumstance.
West Nile Virus To help protect Scouts, Scouters, and camp staff against the threat of West Nile Virus, the BSA advocates a two-pronged program directed at mosquito reduction and personal protection.
Past Alerts

The Boy Scouts of America has nearly a century of experience conducting high-adventure outdoor activities in a manner that is safe for all participants. The following resources and information are provided to enable adult leaders and youth to help us maintain our impeccable safety record.

General Resources

Weather Smart Resources: The Health and Safety Service offers online news, links, and resources to help you plan and prepare for hazardous weather.
Managing Risk (from the Fieldbook): The best way to stay safe in the outdoors is to avoid getting into trouble in the first place. That requires planning, training, leadership, good judgment, and accepting responsibility—in short, risk management.
Age-Appropriate Guidelines for Scouting Activities: This chart provides an at-a-glance reference to activity guidelines that are based on the mental, physical, emotional, and social maturity of youth members.
Guide to Safe Scouting: The Guide to Safe Scouting is the unit leaders' guide to current policies and procedures.
The Sweet 16 of BSA Safety: As an aid in the continuing effort to protect participants in Scout activity, the BSA National Health & Safety Committee have developed 16 points that embody good judgement and common sense for all activities.
The Driver's Pledge: This pledge outlines five key points that a driver should attend in order to safely convey Scouts of their outings.
Risk Management Newsletter: The Risk Management Newsletter provides timely news about current issues and recent updates to our policies and procedures.
Health and Safety News: The Health and Safety Service provides periodic updates for Scouting leaders on a variety of relevant health- and safety-related topics.
Safe Swim Defense
The Safe Swim Defense is a plan for conducting swimming activities in a safe manner.
Safety Afloat: Safety Afloat has been developed to promote boating and boating safety and to set standards for safe unit activity afloat.
Policy on Use of Chemical Fuels: This policy is intended to encourage safe practices when using chemical fuels - liquid, gel, and gas.
Emergency Preparedness Award: Working with the United States Department of Homeland Security, the Boy Scouts of America has developed an award program to help Scouts to be prepared for emergencies of all kinds.
BSA Bike Safety Guidelines: This set of guidelines and procedures provides guidance for the use of bicycles in program activities on every level of the organization.
The Latest First Aid for Wounds and CPR: The BSA has checked with experts in the federal government’s Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and with
the American Red Cross.

Training

American Red Cross and Boy Scouts of America Training Agreement

Is your Unit, District, or Council taking full advantage of the National Agreement that Boy Scouts of America has with the American Red Cross?

Planning and Preparing for Hazardous Weather

- Weather Smart News, Links and Resources

Planning and Conducting a Safe Scout Outing: Safe Scouting can happen if you follow the Scout motto: Be Prepared. This unit of supplementary training will describe how to plan for and conduct a safe Scout outing.

Health and Safety Training Course Syllabus: An outline explaining the “sandwich principle” with emphasis on the importance of qualified supervision and discipline.; Watch Scouting Safety Begins with Leadership Video 19-201

Youth Protection Training: An online course that guides adults in creating the most secure environment possible for our youth members.

Safe Swim Defense: The Safe Swim Defense is a plan for conducting swimming activities in a safe manner.

Safety Afloat: Safety Afloat has been developed to promote boating and boating safety and to set standards for safe unit activity afloat.

Camp Health Officer Training (Powerpoint): This powerpoint presentation provides requisite information for camp health officers.; Watch Scouting Safety Begins with Leadership Video 19-201

Health and Safety/Risk Management Conference: Philmont Training Center will conduct a conference on Health and Safety and Risk management.

Awards

Cub Scouting

Cub Scout Leader Fast Start: This training is provided to get new leaders in the Cub Scout program up to speed quickly, familiarizing them with their role and responsibilities in supporting a Cub Scout den or pack.

Basic Leader Training: Every Cub Scout leader should complete Basic Leader Training; it prepares leaders to deliver a quality, fun-filled program.

Outdoor Skills for Webelos Leaders: Designed specifically for Webelos den leaders and their assistants, the Outdoor Leader Skills for Webelos Leaders course teaches outdoor-related skills through demonstration and hands-on practice.

Basic Adult Leader Outdoor Orientation (BALOO): Basic Adult Leader Outdoor Orientation (BALOO) is a one-day training event that introduces leaders and parents to the skills needed to plan and conduct pack outdoor activities, particularly pack camping.

Boy Scouting

Boy Scout Leader Fast Start: This training is provided to get new leaders in the Boy Scout program up to speed quickly, familiarizing them with their role and responsibilities in supporting a Boy Scout troop.

Fieldbook, No. 33104: The Boy Scout Fieldbook contains an excellent discussion of outdoor risk management in chapter 6, "Risk Management."

Climb on Safely: Climb On Safely is the Boy Scouts of America's recommended procedure for organizing BSA climbing/rappelling activities at a natural site or a specifically designed facility such as a climbing wall or tower.

Principles of Leave No Trace: In addition to preserving the wilderness, Leave No Trace practices help Scouting units stay safe during backcountry expeditions.

Venturing

Venturing Advisor Fast Start: This training is provided to get new leaders in the Venturing program up to speed quickly, familiarizing them with their role and responsibilities in supporting a Venturing crew.

Venturing Out: Keys to Safe Driving: "Smart Choices" is a presentation for Venturers that discusses the dangers of drinking and driving.

Forms

Local Tour Permit Application - Use this form for trips and camps under 500 miles.
National Tour Permit Application - Use this form for tours 500 miles or more and tours outside the U.S.A.
Flying Permit Application - Includes FAQ
Activity Consent Form and Approval by Parents or Legal Guardian - Required for BSA Aviation flights, recommended for all activities.
Meeting Place Inspection Checklist
Annual Health and Medical Record [Prints on single 8.5 x 11 sheets] [Prints on 11 x 17 sheets] - The one health and medical record for your use. Replaces former Class 1, 2, and 3 forms, which will be phased out in 2009. The use of the new form, No. 34605, will be required effective January 1, 2010, as well as for the 2010 National Scout Jamboree.
FAQs concerning the new Annual Health and Medical Record Form
Immunization Exemption Request – Request for exemption from tetanus immunization requirement.
Medical Care Exemption Request – Request for exemption from medical care.
Immunization Information – Updated (October 2008) immunization policy and support information. The Boy Scouts of America encourages all members of the Scouting community to become fully protected with vaccines that are now available to prevent infectious diseases that are dangerous for children and adults living in the United States.

Got Questions?

For immediate response, contact your local council service center with questions regarding Scouting safely.

Click here to e-mail questions specific to health, safety, or risk management to the national council.