Merit Badge Class Guide Troop 339 Updated January 2015 Emergency Preparedness

What, Why? Emergencies and Disasters Unforeseen, unexpected Require immediate attention Mother Nature Hurricane, tornado, snowstorm, flood, wildfire, earthquake, volcanic eruption Man Made Explosion, fire, vehicle crash, chemical and hazardous materials release, terrorism, Zombie Apocalypse Scouts are always PREPARED to help others First Aid, knowledge, discipline, planning, leadership Can and do make a difference

First Aid (1) First Aid Merit Badge Requirement for E-Prep Merit Badge Review “First Aid First” section of E-Prep Booklet

Emergency Situations (2a) Prepare Recognize threats, educate yourself about dangers Make and practice a plan with your family Escape routes, primary and secondary meeting place, contact person(s) Safe places to shelter in bad weather, how to get info from authorities Assemble emergency/disaster supplies kit (3 days, easily accessible) Install warning devices Respond Call 911, implement your plan Help with first aid, shelter, food, blankets, clothing Communicate information to others, get the word out Do not take unnecessary risks Recover Clean-up, assess, rebuild, repair, get things back to normal Stabilize physical and emotional health Mitigate (make less severe) and prevent Manage risk, become aware of and respond to risks/hazards “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” – Ben Franklin

Emergency Situations (2b) Prepare, Respond, Recover, Mitigate and prevent Home kitchen fire (call 911) Fire alarm, smoke detector, appropriate fire extinguisher Check amount and proximity of flammable materials and liquids to flames and hot surfaces Home basement/storage/garage fire (call 911) Flammable gas and liquid in tightly closed metal containers outside of the home Keep 3 to 5 foot zone from home free of grass, woodpiles, debris, overhanging branches Explosion in the home (call 911) Gas – know where it can come from, what it smells like and what to do if you smell it Automobile accident Drive carefully, pay attention, no phone usage, avoid distractions Ensure proper maintenance and condition of vehicle Call 911 if any suspected injuries, fires, gas smell or liquid leaking Food poisoning Follow safe cooking guidelines Keep food at proper temperature and/or properly refrigerated Know first aid for suspected food poisoning Call Poison Control Center (800) , or is the American Association of Poison Control Centers

Emergency Situations (2b) cont’d Prepare, Respond, Recover, Mitigate and prevent any 5 from this list: Fire or explosion in public place Vehicle stalled in desert Vehicle trapped in blizzard Flash flooding in town or country Mountain/backcountry accident Boating accident Gas leak in a home or building Tornado or hurricane Major flood Nuclear power plan emergency Avalanche Violence in a public place

Emergency Situations (2c) Family Emergency Kit Have a family meeting Discuss potential emergency and disaster situations Decide what situations the kit will be geared for Discuss what you need Start with Scout 10 Essentials for Survival, add/remove items as necessary Pocketknife, first aid kit, extra clothing, rain gear, water, flashlight, trail food, matches and/or fire starter, sun protection, map & compass Buy or Build the kit Get everyone involved so everyone knows the kit Family Plan Have another family meeting Roles and responsibilities during an emergency Escape routes In case of fire, explosion, etc. Secondary route in case primary route is blocked Meeting place Outside home and outside neighborhood Contacts Neighborhood, town, out-of-town person(s) that your family trusts and can rely on

Saving Someone (3) (a) They are touching live electric wire Don’t touch them with your hands or metal, avoid water Use a stick or piece of wood to separate them from the wire First Aid Call 911 If trained, use CPR or AED (Automated External Defibrillator) if necessary Treat for shock (b) Room filled with carbon monoxide (CO) Get victim out of room ASAP, open windows Get fresh air to victim, call 911 (c) Clothes on fire Stop, Drop, Roll and Cool Use a blanket, coat, jacket to cover someone and smother flames Cold water to cool skin and reduce burn damage (d) Drowning, using non-swimming rescues Never endanger yourself by swimming to the victim unless you are well trained to do so Reach, Throw and Row Arm, broom, branch, paddle, pole Rope, Ring buoys, life jacket, cushion, sleep pad, kickboard, water jug, coolers, whatever floats Row backwards to person, tow back or pull aboard

Rescuers (4) Where could Rescuers be? Planes, aircraft, vehicles, boats, on foot Attracting them Get to an open area if possible Signaling mirror Alternatives - piece of metal, flat wet rock, knife blade Fire and smoke, but beware of wildfire hazards Three fires in a triangle – Universal SOS Bright colors SOS – spell it with rocks or branches or build squares or triangles Three of anything, visual or audible, repeated at intervals is a distress signal. Distress answer is two of anything. Communicating with Rescuers Know the Standard Body Signals

Transporting The Injured (5) Methods (Reference ‘Lifts And Carries’ doc) One Rescuer Pulls Ankle, Shoulder, Blanket Carries One-Person, Firefighter, Pack-Strap Two Rescuers Human Crutch / Two-Person Drag Four Handed Seat Two Handed Seat Chair Carry Improvised Stretcher Blanket Stretcher Three or more Rescuers Hammock Carry Three Person Carry or Stretcher Lift Conserve energy since you may have a long way to go Ensure safety of the victim and yourself

Emergency Services (6a) Crowd and traffic control Only under supervision of officials in charge of the situation Prepare to deal with a large number of people Know how to get people’s attention Set up and maintain a perimeter Caution tape, rope, line of scouts hand-to-hand Advance slowly towards crowd Keep victims and onlookers safe Messenger service and communication Patrols to handle sections of a map Know short cuts, easiest routes, dead-end streets, trails Find best method to get the latest info to the most people in the most efficient manner Bike, car, snowmobile, boat, horse, skis depending on conditions and terrain Messengers carry personal identification, list of critical phone numbers, cell phone, flashlight, first-aid kit, pencil, paper, multi-tool or bike tool kit, and money Phone centers and radio communication Collection and distribution services Central collection and distribution points Water, food, clothing, blankets Group feeding shelter and sanitation Assemble cooking supplies to prepare food for large numbers of people Set up tents Sanitize water and provide containers for trash

Emergency Services (6b) Government agencies American Red Cross Toll-free telephone: Web site: Environmental Hazards Management Institute Toll-free telephone: Web site: Environmental Protection Agency Ariel Rios Building 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue NW Washington, DC Telephone: Toll-free telephone for literature requests only: Web site: Federal Emergency Management Agency 500 C Street, SW Washington, DC Telephone: Toll-free telephone for literature requests only: Web site: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 14th Street and Constitution Avenue, NW Washington, DC Telephone: Web site: National Weather Service U.S. Department of Commerce National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 1325 East West Highway Silver Spring, MD Web site: U.S. Geological Survey Toll-free telephone: 888-ASK-USGS (or ) Web site: Community agencies How Scouts can help

Emergency Services (6c) Emergency Management Know your local officials to contact to offer help Emergency Command Center Police, Fire Department, Hospital Officials Responsibilities Learn what these officials do to prepare, respond to, recover from, and mitigate and prevent emergency situations in your community.

Emergency Service Project (7) Real Project Practice Drill With a Scouting unit or a community agency

Mobilizing The Troop (8) Written plan (8a) Exercise (mock incident) (8b) Accident scenarios (Bus, boat, plane, etc.) Natural Disasters (Tornado, earthquake, etc.) Personal Emergency Service Pack for mobilization call & Family Emergency Kit for evacuation (8c) See internet site Ready.gov Think first about the basics Water, food, warmth, etc.

Home Safety Inspection (9a) Sample Home Safety Checklist from Workbook Get a parent to help so that you don’t put yourself in danger while doing the inspection Identify safety hazards in your home Stoves, Furnaces and Heaters Porch, Yard and Garage Workshop Electrical Devices and Fixtures General (reference checklist) ‘In case of Emergency’ items

Escape Plan (9b) Review or develop a plan of escape for your family in case of fire in your home Floor plan Doors and windows you can safely use to exit Shortest routes to exits Primary and backup meeting place outside

Accident Prevention Plan (9c) Cover five (5) different family activities List possible hazards Develop plan to correct hazards Explain reasons for corrections