“Be Prepared” is the Scout motto and emergency preparedness is promoted in Cub Scouts, Scouts BSA, and Venturing. The founder of the Scouting movement said:
The scouts’ motto is founded on my initials, it is:
BE PREPARED,
which means, you are always in a state of readiness in mind and body to do your DUTY;
Be Prepared in Mind by having disciplined yourself to be obedient to every order, and also by having thought out beforehand any accident or situation that might occur, so that you know the right thing to do at the right moment, and are willing to do it.
Be Prepared in Body by making yourself strong and active and able to do the right thing at the right moment, and do it.
Lord Baden Powell
Scouting teaches youth to be ready to face unexpected situations calmly and to think through their actions rather than just acting out of fear. This allows the Scout to help himself or herself in emergency situations and it helps the Scout give aid to others.
See some examples below of how Scouting helps youth to “Be Prepared”.
Fire Drill Time!
Fire drills are encouraged throughout scouting programs, from the Lions to Scouts BSA. Print out a basic plan for conducting a home fire drill.
First Aid Demonstration for Cuts
When you are doing first aid instruction, it is best to demonstrate it as much as possible. Here is a way they showed us at a Pow Wow a few years ago. I did this with my previous Webelos den…
Emergency Preparedness BSA Award (Cub Scouts) Helps and Ideas
Cub Scouts learn to “Be Prepared” for emergency situations by working on the Emergency Preparedness BSA award. There are different age appropriate requirements for Tigers, Wolves, Bears, and Webelos. (This award is not available for Lions.) The award is a…
Emergency Phone Number List
Emergency preparedness is part of every level of Scouting program. For younger Scouts, that primarily means knowing how to get help.
First Aid Ranger Elective Helps and Documents
To complete the First Aid elective for the Venturing Ranger award, Venturers must put together a personal first aid kit and teach others how to put a kit together. They must also take an emergency first aid course, emergency response…
Wilderness Survival Ranger Core Requirement Helps and Documents
To complete the Wilderness Survival core requirement for the Venturing Ranger award, Venturers must learn and practice outdoor skills.
Bear Paws for Action Adventure: Cub Scout Helps and Ideas
Paws for Action is one of the Bear required adventures. For this adventure, Bears learn about history, law enforcement, and conservation.
Webelos First Responder Adventure: Cub Scout Helps and Ideas
First Responder is one of the Webelos Adventure Requirements. For this adventure, Webelos learn some basic first aid and emergency preparedness skills. They learn to respond to situations like choking, shock, bites and stings, cuts, cuts, burns, and more.
Wilderness Survival Troop Program Feature for Scouts BSA
The Wilderness Survival program feature helps Scouts learn how to stay safe, warm, and dry when the unexpected happens during an outdoor adventure.
First 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.
Emergency Preparedness BSA Award (Scouts BSA) Helps and Ideas
Scouts BSA can earn this award by creating an emergency plan, earning the First Aid or Emergency Preparedness merit badge, and completing an online course from the Federal Emergency Management Institute (FEMA).
Home Safety Checklist for Cub Scouts
There is a longer BSA home safety checklist for use with some Scouts BSA merit badges, but this abbreviated list will be easier for Cub Scouts to use.
Emergency Preparedness BSA Award (Venturers) Helps and Ideas
Venturers who prepare themselves for emergencies can earn this award. To complete the requirements for the Emergency Preparedness BSA award, a young man or woman must take a first aid course, participate in emergency preparedness training, and conduct an emergency…
Prevention and Treatment of Chafing at Camp
With all of the first aid information in the various Cub Scout and Scouts BSA handbooks, I never come across much information about the one problem we see most frequently at summer camp
First Aid Ranger Core Requirement Helps and Documents
First Aid is one of the core requirements for the Venturing Ranger award. To earn this award, a Venture must complete an American Red Cross Wilderness First Aid course or the equivalent.
Fake Wounds for First Aid Demonstrations
If your Webelos or Scouts BSA are working on first aid requirements, you can add in some fun by making a fake wound on a “victim” or two.
Emergency Preparedness Troop Program Feature for Scouts BSA
The Emergency Preparedness feature teaches Scouts how to develop the first aid and leadership skills needed to deal with an emergency. Scouts learn to be prepared for accidents and natural disasters and to make informed decisions.
Sweet 16 of BSA Safety | CPR Resource
The fifteenth point of the Sweet 16 is CPR Resource. Why take a chance? Encourage some adults in your unit to learn CPR. It’s one of those things you hope you never need, but if you do it could save…
First Aid Program Feature for Scouts BSA Troops
The focus of the First Aid troop program feature is learning to assess an emergency and practical first aid skills.
Blister Treatment – First Aid
Blisters are a common injury for outdoor and physical activities. Correct blister treatment can prevent further irritation. Learn blister first aid.
Weather Hazards Online Course
Recent storms in our neighborhood remind us more than ever that we must be prepared for unexpected changes in the weather. The Weather Hazards online course from BSA will help you be prepared for all types of weather.
Even more resources for Emergency Preparedness
Emergency Preparedness Ranger Core Requirement Helps and Documents
By completing this requirement, a Venturer is not only prepared to deal with emergencies which he or she encounters, but has also passed this knowledge on to other
In this hospital tag game, players pretend they are wounded and go to the hospital to get fixed up.
Sweet 16 of BSA Safety | First Aid Resources
No matter what the situation, you should “Be Prepared” for first aid. Even at den meetings I keep a very small personal first aid kit on hand for dealing with scrapes and small cuts which can occur during games.
Avoiding Hypothermia During Cold Weather Activities
Avoiding hypothermia is key to a successful outdoor activity in cold weather, be it camping, hiking, skiing, ice skating, or snowman building.
Tiger Safe and Smart Adventure: Cub Scout Helps and Ideas
Tiger Safe and Smart is one of the Tiger elective adventures. For this adventure, Tigers and their adult partners how to be safe at home and in emergencies.
How Many Meetings Does It Take to Complete the First Responder Achievement?
A reader asks a question about how many meetings for First Responder: ” I have a parent who’s trying to tell me it can be done in a 1 hr trip to our local fire station. I’m thinking it should…
Kim’s 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 described by Rudyard Kipling. This version of the game helps Scouts learn what should be in a home first aid…
First aid baseball is a fun way to review first aid skills with Scouts BSA and Webelos. There are instructions for the game and a set of question cards included in the printable file.
Scouts are going to build fires. That is pretty much a given. So they should be trained to use fire safely. This BSA Firem’n Chit certification provides a set of rules which can be used for training with Scouts BSA.…
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