Guide to Safe Scouting

Guide to Safe Scouting All participants in official Scouting activities should become familiar with the Guide to Safe Scouting. Overview of Scouting policies and procedures Updates published quarterly if there are any Covers just about everything.

May 2018 Updates Youth Protection and Adult Leadership Aquatics Safety Camping Medical Information and First Aid Activity Planning and Risk Assessment Sports and Activities Incident Reporting Appendix

Chapters Youth Protection Sports and Activities Aquatics Safety Camping Alcohol, Tobacco and Drug Use and Abuse Medical Information and First Aid Chemical Fuels and Equipment Activity Planning and Risk Assessment (NEW) Sports and Activities Shooting Sports (moved under Sports & Activ.) Insurance Transportation Winter Activities Animal and Insect Hazards Incident Reporting Appendix

Appendix In the appendix you’ll find these helpful documents and more: A Meeting Place Inspection Checklist Incident Reporting Instructions Service Project Planning Guidelines Age Appropriate Camping Guidelines Age Guidelines for Tool Use Campout Safety Checklist Event Safety Checklist

Fact or Fiction? WEBELOS can attend camporees and camp overnight if invited by a host troop. Fiction. Per the AGE-Appropriate Camping Guidelines, WEBELOS can “Day Visit Only” to a Camporee. Sort of. Overnight Pack camping must be conducted at council-approved locations with BALOO trained adult. Den leaders, pack leaders, and parents are expected to accompany the youth on approved trips.

Age Appropriate Camping Guidelines (Appendix)

Fact or Fiction? Two-Deep Leadership requires two adults to be at the campsite or with the scouts at all times. Fiction. Don’t confuse Two-Deep Leadership with one-on-one contact. Two-Deep Leadership just requires two registered adults for all outings. One-on-one contact can be mitigated with one adult and two or more youth—but two registered adults must be on the trip or outing.

Fact or Fiction? Snorkeling outside designated swimming areas (open water) is allowed. Fact, but there are additional Safe Swim Defense requirements. Supervisor must be an experienced snorkeler. Participants must complete Snorkeling BSA requirement or be scuba certified. Snorkel vests or life jackets are required in most scenarios. And more.

Fact or Fiction? Patrols can camp on their own without adult supervision. Fiction. It used to be that way and patrols can still hold patrol activities without adult supervision with the permission of the SM and parents, but two registered adult leaders must be present for all overnight Scouting activities.

Fact or Fiction? Use of marijuana is allowed on a camping trip if it is prescribed. Fiction. Scouting activities are not a place to possess, distribute, transport, consume, or use any of the following items prohibited by law or in violation of any Scouting rules, regulations, and policies: alcoholic beverages or controlled substances, including marijuana. Scouter Code of Conduct also talks about not using medications that impair judgement. Stay home if you must.

Fact or Fiction? Scout medications do not need to be locked up and controlled by an adult. Fact. Taking of prescription medication is the responsibility of the individual taking the medication or that individual’s parent or guardian. A leader can agree to accept the responsibility of making sure a youth takes the necessary medication at the appropriate time, but the BSA does not mandate or necessarily encourage the leader to do so.

Fact or Fiction? Isopropyl alcohol-burning “Aluminum Can” stoves can be used for ultra-light camping. Fiction. All handcrafted, homemade, or modified chemical-fueled equipment is prohibited. Additionally, isopropyl alcohol is listed as one of the not-recommended chemical fuels.

Fact or Fiction? You can host knife and tomahawk throwing at one of your Scouts BSA campouts. Fact. Knife and tomahawk throwing are deemed age-appropriate for Scouts BSA troops. Just be sure you follow the “Sweet 16 of BSA Safety” which includes qualified supervision, a safe area or course, and proper safety discipline by everyone involved.

Fact or Fiction? Speaking of knives, fixed-blade knives longer than 5 inches are prohibited. Fiction. Many councils or camps may have limits on the type or style of knife that should be used. The BSA neither encourages nor bans fixed-blade knives nor do they set a limit on blade length.

Fact or Fiction? Motorized personal watercraft (PWC), such as Jet-Skis, are allowed if you file a tour plan and get council approval. Fiction. They are not approved for unit use in any capacity. That said, council-run PWC programs are allowed. All-terrain vehicles (ATVs) fall in the same category. Some BSA run summer camps have great PWC and ATV programs.

Fact or Fiction? You can no longer rent a 15-pax van to transport your scouts to and from events. Fact & Fiction. If the van was manufactured before 2005, this is FACT. It is FICTION if the van was manufactured in 2005 or later and is equipped with Electronic Stability Control and has seat belts for all passengers as well as the driver.

Fact or Fiction? Helmet use is mandatory for skiing and snowboarding. Fact. The use of helmets is required for the following activities: downhill skiing, snowboarding and operating snowmobiles (requires full face helmets). It is recommended for sledding and riding other sliding devices.

Fact or Fiction? Guide to Safe Scouting provides guidance and resources for mosquito bite prevention. Fact. - www.cdc.gov/features/stopmosquitoes - www.cdc.gov/malaria/toolkit/DEET.pdf - www.epa.gov/insect-repellents - www.healthychildren.org/English/safety-prevention/at-play/Pages/Insect-Repellents.aspx

Fact or Fiction? Any incident that requires the intervention of medical personnel, involves emergency responders, or results in a response beyond Scout-rendered first aid must be reported. Fact. The extent of the reporting requirements are based on the severity of the incident. See the Incident Descriptions and Reporting Instructions page in the GSS appendix.

Resources Guide to Safe Scouting http://www.scouting.org/scoutsource/HealthandSafety/GSS.aspx

Risk Managment “... books lay down definite principles and examples which serve to guide the leaders when applying their common sense to the situation before them. No two situations are ever precisely the same, and it is therefore impossible to lay down exact rules that should guide in every case, but a [person] who carries precedents and principles in [their] head has no difficulty in applying their teaching in supreme moments of sudden emergency ...” ~Sir Robert Baden-Powell from his 1914 book Quick Training for War

Questions?