Guide to Safe Scouting

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Guide to Safe Scouting

• Presented by Bill Mulvihill
• Vice Chairman, Programs Huguenot Trail
  District, Heart of VA

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Who am I?

• Involved in BSA for over 30 years (Eagle Scout)
• Presently serving on Huguenot Trail District
  Staff
• 6 years as a Cubmaster Pack 861, Bon Air
  Presbyterian Church in Heart of VA Council and
  Pack 184 Transatlantic Council
• Former Den Leader, ASM
• Have planned over 60 Pack meetings
• Dad of a Eagle Scout and Life Scout

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What this presentation is not

• Everything in the Guide to Safe Scouting, A Guide
  For Current Policies and Procedures

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What this presentation is

• What are the highlights of the Guide
• Nothing more than tips and suggestions
• Situations and experiences that I learned from
• A pointer to good online resources
• Hopefully, a time where we can share ideas
• What should you say

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Agenda

• Intro
• What is a Leaders responsibility to providing a
  safe setting?
• How to teach others about Safe Scouting
• Sandwich Principle
• Sweet 16 of BSA Safety
• Vehicle Safety
• Youth Protection
• Medical Information
• Age Appropriateness of Activities
• Resources
• Quiz Scouting Safety

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Leaders Responsibilities

• Are All Leaders and accompanying adults aware of
  the risks of an event/outing
• Have Unit Leaders been trained in the necessary
  Risk Mitigation skills
• Aquatics Safety
• Camping OR other Outdoor Event
• Hazardous Weather
• Transportation
• First Aid
• Insurance
• YOUTH PROTECTION
• Is a copy of Guide To Safe Scouting on hand as a
  Reference?

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How to Teach Others about G.S.S.

• Set Aside Time at a Parent Meeting/Leader Meeting
  to discuss risk mitigation for an upcoming event.
• Ensure that at all Committee Meetings, Safety and
  Risk Mitigation is discussed for every activity
• Have Flyers and Handouts available which drive
  the point home
• Have a Quiz available.
• Document who attended the training
• Ensure this gets added to the curriculum of the
  Pack Trainer

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The Sandwich Principle

• What is the Bread? Discipline and Leadership
• Required to make Scouting Safety a reality

THE SANDWICH PRINCIPLE SCOUTING
SAFETY QUALIFIED SUPERVISION DISCIPLINE
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Sweet 16 of BSA Safety

• 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
• Plans and Notices
• First-aid Resources
• Applicable Laws
• CPR Resource
• Discipline

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Vehicle Safety

• Dont Enter the Risk Zone
• Make sure to get plenty of sleep the night before
  the trip
• Ensure that you get plenty of sleep the night
  before
• Take breaks every 75 to 100 miles
• Travel with multiple adults in the car, if
  possible
• Ensure driver licenses are in force with the
  proper vehicle insurance before you allow youth
  to get into a car driven by someone not a family
  member.

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Youth Protection

• Understanding Scoutings Barriers to Abuse
  Starts with 2-deep leadership
• One on one contact between adults and scouts is
  prohibited
• Separate accomodations for adults and Scouts
  required
• Privacy for youth respected
• Inappropriate use of cameras, imaging, or digital
  devices
• No secret organizations
• No hazing or bullying
• Youth leadership monitored by adult leaders
• Discipline must be constructive
• Appropriate attire for all activities
• Required to act in accordance with Scout Oath and
  Law
• Units are responsible for enforcing Youth
  Protection policies

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Youth Protection continued

• Education materials available
• Power Pack Pals comic books available in English
  and Spanish
• Age appropriate videos in English and Spanish
• It Happened to Me
• Personal Safety Awareness
• A Time to Tell
• Insert in every scout handbook How to Protect
  Your Child From Child Abuse
• Youth Protection Guidelines, No 100-023
• Three Rs of Youth Protection to convey to
  Youth
• Recognize, Resist, and Report

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Medical Information

• Part A and B are required to be completed
  annually for all participants in all Scouting
  events.
• This should be available to the leader in charge
  for each scouting event.
• Part C is a Physical Exam signed by a physician.
  It is required to be completed in any event that
  exceeds 72 consecutive hours, is a high adventure
  base activity, or when the nature of the activity
  is strenuous and demanding (potentially service
  projects)
• Height to weight limits must be adhered to when
  an event will take place more than 30 minutes
  away from an emergency vehicle accessable roadway
• Leaders need to be aware of the following medical
  risk factors Excessive Body Weight,
  Cardiovascular Disease, Hypertension, Diabetes,
  Asthma, Sleep Apnea, Allergies, Seizures, Recent
  surgeries, Emotional difficulties, ALL OTHER
  MEDICAL CONDITIONS

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Age Appropriate Events

• CONSULT THE GUIDE TO SAFE SCOUTING FOR ALL
  EVENTS. Just because your unit has been doing the
  same activity every year, make sure you are
  comfortable that the activity is within the
  Guidelines.
• These are not recommended Guidelines, they are
  Mandatory.
• Aquatics
• Camping
• Shooting Sports did you know that units can not
  do unit level archery or BB guns?
• Sports and Activities

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Medical Information continued

• A leader can administer the necessary medication
  to youth if proper authority is given by the
  parent. However, BSA does not mandate that the
  leader do so
• Depending on the event, First Aid, WFA or CPR
  will be required training by at least one
  particpant

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Resources

• BSA Guide to Safe Scouting
• BSA Health and Safety Guide

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Quiz Scout Safety and Age Appropriateness

• Which of the following activities can be
  performed by Tigers, Cubs, Webelos in certain
  conditions?
• Motorized Go Carting
• Paintball at Targets
• Parasailing
• Bungee Jumping
• Competitive Eating Events
• Karate or Boxing
• Exploring Abandoned Mines
• Caving
• Rapelling
• Climbing
• Back of Truck transportation

• Which of the following activities can be
  performed by Tigers, Cubs, Webelos in certain
  conditions?
• Resident Overnight Camps
• Den Overnights
• Family Camping
• Scuba activities
• Open Water Snorkling
• Air Rifles
• Laser Tag
• Rifle Shooting
• Knife Throwing
• Use of ATVs

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Thank You!

• SAFETY BEGINS WITH YOU