Boy Scout Archives: First Aid Merit Badge

First Aid Merit BadgeFirst aid – caring for injured or ill persons until they can receive professional medical care – is an important skill for every Scout. With some knowledge of first aid, a Scout can provide immediate care and help to someone who is hurt or who becomes ill. First aid can help prevent infection and serious loss of blood. It could even save a limb or a life.

The First Aid merit badge is required for the rank of Eagle Scout

First Aid Merit Badge Requirements

  1.  Satisfy your counselor that you have current knowledge of all first-aid requirements for Tenderfoot, Second Class, and First Class ranks.
  2. Do the following:
    1. Explain how you would obtain emergency medical assistance from your home, on a wilderness camping trip, and during an activity on open water.
    2. Explain the term triage.
    3. Explain the standard precautions as applied to bloodborne pathogens.
    4. Prepare a first-aid kit for your home. Display and discuss its contents with your counselor.
  3. Do the following:
    1.  Explain what action you should take for someone who shows signals of shock, for someone who shows signals of a heart attack, and for someone who shows signals of stroke.
    2. Identify the conditions that must exist before performing CPR on a person. Then demonstrate proper technique in performing CPR using a training device approved by your counselor.
    3. Explain the use of an automated extrenal defibrillator (AED).
    4. Show the steps that need to be taken for someone suffering from a severe cut on the leg and on the wrist. Tell the dangers in the use of a tourniquet and the conditions under which its use is justified.
    5. Explain when a bee sting could be life threatening and what action should be taken for prevention and for first aid.
    6. Explain the symptoms of heatstroke and what action should be taken for first aid and for prevention.
  4. Do the following:
    1. Describe the signals of a broken bone. Show first-aid procedures for handling fractures (broken bones), including open (compound) fractures of the forearm, wrist, upper leg, and lower leg using improvised materials.
    2. Describe the symptoms and possible complications and demonstrate proper procedures for treating suspected injuries to the head, neck , and back. Explain what measures should be taken to reduce the possibility of further complicating these injuries.
  5. Describe the symptoms, proper first-aid procedures, and possible prevention measures for the following conditions:
    1. Hypothermia
    2. Convulsions/seizures
    3. Frostbite
    4. Dehydration
    5. Bruises, strains, sprains
    6. Burns
    7. Abdominal pain
    8. Broken, chipped, or loosened tooth
    9. Knocked out tooth
    10. Muscle cramps
  6. Do TWO of the following:
    1. If a sick or injured person must be moved, tell how you would determine the best method. Demonstrate this method.
    2. With helpers under your supervision, improvise a stretcher and move a presumably unconscious person.
    3. With your counselor’s approval, arrange a visit with your patrol or troop to an emergency medical facility or through an American Red Cross chapter for a demonstration of how an AED is used.
  7. Teach another Scout a first-aid skill selected by your counselor.

Related Articles:

Emergency Preparedness BSAEmergency Preparedness BSA – Boy Scout Requirements  The Emergency Preparedness BSA award for Boy Scouts recognizes young men who are ready in an emergency. Boy Scouts will be able to help in a disaster.

 

LifesaverSafety Programs Feature for Boy Scouts  The Boy Scout Roundtable Planning Guide suggests a Safety troop program feature for August 2012. This program feature offers the opportunity to introduce kids to safety programs in a troop setting.

 

EmergencyEmergency Preparedness Troop Program Feature for Boy Scouts  The Boy Scout Roundtable Planning Guide suggests an Emergency Preparedness troop program feature for Boy Scouts for May 2012.

 

First Aid Merit BadgeFirst Aid Merit Badge for Boy Scouts  Knowing first aid is a basic Boy Scout skill. Even if a Boy Scout doesn't use his first aid knowledge to save a life someday, at least he will have the skills he needs to take care of common injuries. And that will help him develop independence.

 

water bottlePowdered Sports Drink Recipe  Sports drinks like Gatorade or Power Aid are designed to replenish the water and salt your body loses when you are active or exercising. You can mix up your own powdered mix to accomplish this for a fraction of the cost of purchasing these drinks by the bottle.

 

National Outdoor BadgesNational Outdoor Badges - Camping   If you have some enthusiastic campers in your troop, they might have completed the requirements already.

 

Personal Management Merit Badge for Boy ScoutsRequirements and Helps for Boy Scout Merit Badges  You can learn about sports, crafts, science, trades, business, and future careers as you earn merit badges. There are more than 100 merit badges.

 

First aidKims Game with Items for a Home First Aid Kit  Kim’s game is a traditional Scouting game which was introduced by Sir Robert Baden-Powell. It is based on a game describe by Rudyard Kipling. This version of the game helps Scouts learn what should be in a home first aid kit.

 

First aidFake Wounds for First Aid Demonstrations  If your Webelos or Boy Scouts are working on first aid requirements, you can add in some fun by making a fake wound on a "victim" or two.

 

First aidFirst Aid for Tick Bites  Scouts like to get outdoors, but in many areas that brings the danger of tick bites. While most tick bites won't cause more than minor irritation, if treated incorrectly complications can occur.