The First Aid adventure is an important part of the Arrow of Light rank in Cub Scouting. This adventure teaches Scouts how to handle emergencies and help others in need. By learning first aid, Arrow of Light Scouts become more aware of safety and how to respond in different situations. This knowledge is not only useful for Scouting activities but also in everyday life.
During the First Aid adventure, Arrow of Light Scouts learn to manage a variety of emergency situations. They practice skills like treating cuts, burns, and bites, as well as helping someone who is choking. These skills prepare Scouts to act confidently and calmly when faced with medical emergencies.
The adventure also focuses on personal safety. Scouts watch a video that teach them how to protect themselves and recognize harmful situations. This is crucial for their safety in and out of Scouting activities. It helps Scouts understand the importance of awareness and caution in their daily interactions.
Overall, the First Aid adventure empowers Arrow of Light Scouts by giving them the tools to take care of themselves and others. They learn practical skills that can make a big difference during emergencies. This adventure builds their confidence and readiness to face various challenges, making them more responsible and prepared individuals.
Requirements for the Arrow of Light First Aid Adventure
First Aid Adventure Requirements
- With permission from your parent or legal guardian, watch the Protect Yourself Rules video for the Arrow of Light rank.
- Explain what you should do if you encounter someone in need of first aid.
- Demonstrate what to do for hurry cases of first aid: serious bleeding, heart attack or sudden cardiac arrest, stopped breathing, stroke, poisoning.
- Demonstrate how to help a choking victim.
- Demonstrate how to treat shock.
- Demonstrate how to treat the following: cuts and scratches, burns and scalds, bites and stings of insects and animals, and nosebleed.
- Make a personal first aid kit. Demonstrate the proper use of each item.
Printable requirements for the Arrow of Light First Aid Adventure
Checkoff sheet to keep track of your den’s progress on the Arrow of Light First Aid Adventure
Resources for the Arrow of Light First Aid Adventure
Protect Yourself Rules
With permission from your parent or legal guardian, watch the Protect Yourself Rules video for the Arrow of Light rank.
Here are some tips for den leaders to help Arrow of Light Scouts with the first requirement of the First Aid adventure:
- Get Permission: Remind parents to give permission for their Scouts to watch the Protect Yourself Rules” video. This can be a simple note or email.
- Plan a Viewing: Arrange a time during a den meeting for Scouts to watch the video together. This can encourage discussion and ensure all Scouts have the opportunity to view it.
- Access the Video: The video can be streamed online or downloaded to a device. Make sure you have a reliable internet connection if streaming.
- Discuss the Video: After watching, talk with the Scouts about what they learned. Ask them how they can use this information to stay safe. This discussion helps reinforce the lessons from the video.
Here is an option for fulfilling Arrow of Light First Aid Adventure requirement 1:
- Protect Yourself Rules Arrow of Light
- Watch the Protect Yourself Rules video with your parent or legal guardian.
- Supplies: Parent Notification, computer or smart device, Protect Yourself Rules” video
- indoor, low energy, 1 to 3 days prep
Someone in Need
Explain what you should do if you encounter someone in need of first aid.
Here are simple steps for Arrow of Light Scouts to follow if they encounter someone who needs first aid:
- Stay Safe: Make sure the area is safe for you and the injured person. Do not enter if it is dangerous.
- Get Help: Call an adult or dial 911 if it’s a serious injury. Tell them what happened and where you are.
- Check the Person: See if the person is awake and breathing. Do not move them unless they are in danger.
- Provide Comfort: Stay with the person, keep them comfortable, and talk to them calmly until help arrives.
- Use First Aid Skills: If you know first aid, like bandaging a cut or treating a burn, you can help the person carefully until an adult or professional help arrives.
Here is an option for fulfilling Arrow of Light First Aid Adventure requirement 2:
- First Aid First Response
- Cub Scouts explain what to do if they encounter someone who needs first aid.
- Supplies: Emergency Contact Information, pencils
- indoor, low energy, 1 to 3 days prep
Hurry Cases
Demonstrate what to do for hurry cases of first aid: serious bleeding, heart attack or sudden cardiac arrest, stopped breathing, stroke, poisoning.
Here are simple steps for Arrow of Light Scouts to follow in hurry cases of first aid:
- Serious Bleeding: Put on gloves if you have them. Press firmly on the wound with a clean cloth to stop the bleeding. Keep pressure until help arrives.
- Heart Attack or Sudden Cardiac Arrest: Call 911 immediately. If the person is not breathing and has no heartbeat, perform CPR if you are trained. Continue until help arrives.
- Stopped Breathing: Call for help. If you know CPR, start giving breaths and chest compressions. Keep doing this until professional help takes over.
- Stroke: Notice if the person has trouble speaking, drooping on one side of the face, or can’t move one arm. Call 911 right away. Keep the person calm and lying down.
- Poisoning: Do not make the person throw up. Call Poison Control or 911. Tell them what the person took and follow their instructions.
In all cases, it’s important to get help quickly and not to move the person unless they are in more danger by staying where they are.
Here are some options for fulfilling Arrow of Light First Aid Adventure requirement 3:
- “Hurry” Cases
- Cub Scouts demonstrate what to do for first aid “hurry” cases.
- Supplies: gloves, eye protection, neckerchiefs, CPR breathing barriers
- indoor, high energy, 1 to 3 days prep
- Visit a Paramedic
- Visit an emergency services station and do some hands-on learning from a professional
- Supplies: Activity Consent Form
- requires travel, high energy, a week or more prep
Choking
Demonstrate how to help a choking victim.
Here’s how Arrow of Light Scouts can help someone who is choking:
- Ask if They Can Speak: See if the person can talk or cough. If they can’t make any sound, they need help right away.
- Call for Help: Yell for an adult and tell them someone is choking. If no adult is there, dial 911.
- Give Back Blows and Abdominal Thrusts: If trained, stand behind the person. Lean them forward slightly and give 5 firm back blows between their shoulder blades with the heel of your hand. If that doesn’t work, do 5 abdominal thrusts. Place your fist above their belly button, grab it with your other hand, and push inward and upward quickly.
- Keep Trying: Alternate between 5 back blows and 5 abdominal thrusts until the object is dislodged or help arrives.
- If the Person Becomes Unconscious: If the person stops responding, start CPR if you’re trained, and keep doing it until help arrives. Always make sure someone has called 911.
Here is an option for fulfilling Arrow of Light First Aid Adventure requirement 4:
- Heimlich Maneuver
- Cub Scouts demonstrate how to perform the Heimlich maneuver.
- Supplies: none
- indoor, high energy, 1 to 3 days prep
Shock
Demonstrate how to treat shock.
Here’s how Arrow of Light Scouts can help someone who is in shock:
- Call for Help: Tell an adult or dial 911 immediately. Explain that someone might be in shock.
- Keep Them Calm: Help the person lie down on their back. Keep them still and calm by talking to them in a gentle voice.
- Elevate Their Feet: If there are no injuries to the head, spine, or legs, carefully lift their feet about 12 inches higher than their head. This helps increase blood flow to their heart and brain.
- Keep Them Warm: Use a blanket or coat to keep the person warm, but don’t overheat them.
- Do Not Give Anything to Eat or Drink: It’s important not to give them food or water, even if they ask for it.
- Stay With Them: Keep the person company until help arrives. Continue to reassure them and keep them as comfortable as possible.
Here is an option for fulfilling Arrow of Light First Aid Adventure requirement 5:
- Shock First Aid
- Cub Scouts demonstrate how to treat shock.
- Supplies: none
- indoor, moderate energy, 1 to 3 days prep
Minor Injuries
Demonstrate how to treat the following: cuts and scratches, burns and scalds, bites and stings of insects and animals, and nosebleed.
Here’s how Arrow of Light Scouts can treat some common injuries:
Cuts and Scratches
- Rinse the cut with clean water.
- Gently clean around the cut with soap and water.
- Dry it and cover with a clean bandage.
Burns and Scalds
- Cool the burn under cool (not cold) running water for about 10 minutes.
- Cover the burn with a sterile, non-fluffy cloth or bandage.
- Do not put creams or butter on the burn.
Bites and Stings of Insects and Animals
- Wash the area with soap and water.
- Apply a cold pack to reduce swelling and pain.
- If there is a stinger, gently scrape it out with the edge of a credit card.
Nosebleed
- Have the person sit and lean slightly forward.
- Pinch the soft part of their nose just below the bony bridge.
- Hold it for about 10 minutes.
- Tell them to breathe through their mouth and not to tilt their head back.
These simple steps can help treat minor injuries until further help can be provided if needed.
Here is an option for fulfilling Arrow of Light First Aid Adventure requirement 6:
- Common First Aid Practices
- Cub Scouts learn how to treat common first aid needs.
- Supplies: bowls with water, soap, hand towels, first aid ointment, latex free gloves, eye protection, sterile gauze pads, first aid tape, aloe vera or cooling lotion, tweezers, playing card or credit card, clean cloth
- indoor, low energy, 1 to 3 days prep
First Aid Kit
Make a personal first-aid kit. Demonstrate the proper use of each item in your first-aid kit.
Here’s how to put together a simple home first aid kit for Arrow of Light Scouts:
- Adhesive Bandages: For covering small cuts and scrapes. Choose various sizes.
- Sterile Gauze Pads: To cover and protect larger wounds. Place on the wound and secure with tape.
- Adhesive Tape: To hold gauze pads and bandages in place.
- Antiseptic Wipes: To clean wounds before bandaging to prevent infection.
- Soap: For cleaning around wounds and washing hands before treating injuries.
- Antibiotic Ointment: To apply on cuts and scrapes to prevent infection.
- Cold Pack: To reduce swelling and relieve pain from injuries like sprains. Keep it in the freezer.
- Tweezers: For removing splinters or debris from wounds.
- Scissors: To cut tape, gauze, or clothing if necessary.
- Disposable Gloves: To protect both the caregiver and the injured person from infections.
- Thermometer: To check for fever.
- Calamine Lotion: For soothing bug bites, stings, or poison ivy rashes.
- Pain Relievers: Such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen, for relieving pain or fever. Always follow dosage instructions.
- Emergency Blanket: To keep someone warm in case of shock or if they are cold.
- First Aid Manual: To refer to for instructions on how to handle various injuries.
It’s important to know how to use each item correctly, so read the instructions for each. Always keep the kit in a known and easily accessible place, and check it regularly to replace used or expired items.
Here is an option for fulfilling Arrow of Light First Aid Adventure requirement 7:
- DIY First Aid Kit
- Cub Scouts make and demonstrate the use of a first aid kit.
- Supplies: quart sized bags, markers, adhesive bandages, moleskin, first aid ointment, gloves, optional items (gauze pads, adhesive tape, soap, scissors, mouth barrier, pencil and paper, antiseptic wipes)
- indoor, low energy, 1 to 3 days prep
Before any activity, check the SAFE Checklist to make sure everyone is safe. Everyone involved in Scouting America activities should know the Guide to Safe Scouting and other relevant guides or books. Also follow any state or local rules that are more strict than Scouting America rules and guidelines.
Before starting this Adventure:
- Review the BSA Youth Protection content.
- Watch the Protect Yourself Rules – Arrow of Light video.
- Requirement 1 can be completed at home or as a den. Inform parents, legal guardians, and adult partners about the Adventure and its content before the meeting. See the document “Arrow of Light First Aid 1 Parent Notification” in the Additional Resources section for Requirement 1.
- Review and become familiar with the first aid content to ensure proper information and techniques are being taught.
- If you need help, seek assistance from a Scouts BSA Troop adult leader with Wilderness First Aid or Standard First Aid Certification, a medical professional, EMT, or another adult with formal first aid training. Share the Adventure content with them to ensure it remains age-appropriate.
- Consider becoming certified in Red Cross First Aid. Learn more about the American Red Cross and BSA Training Agreement.
During the Adventure:
- A child may disclose something that raises suspicion of abuse. If you suspect abuse, follow the reporting guidelines on the BSA Youth Protection site.
Frequently Asked Questions for the Arrow of Light First Aid Adventure
What is the purpose of the First Aid Adventure?
The First Aid Adventure teaches Arrow of Light Scouts how to handle emergencies and take care of injuries. It helps them be prepared and know what to do to help others.
Do Scouts need to complete all the requirements to earn the adventure pin?
Yes, Scouts need to complete all listed requirements to earn the First Aid Adventure badge. Each step is important for learning how to handle different first aid situations.
Can parents help with the First Aid Adventure?
Yes, parents are encouraged to help, especially by watching the Protect Yourself Rules video with their Scout and discussing it afterward.
What should we do if we don’t have all the items for the first aid kit?
You can start with what you have and slowly add more items over time. Many items can be found at local drugstores or supermarkets.
How often should first aid skills be practiced?
It’s a good idea to practice first aid skills regularly, at least once a year. This helps Scouts remember what to do in an emergency.
Band-Aids, Bug Bites, and Brave Scouts
The Arrow of Light First Aid adventure is a crucial part of the Cub Scout program for Scouts preparing to transition to Scouts BSA. This adventure equips them with essential skills to handle emergency situations effectively and safely. It’s designed to make Scouts more aware and prepared to deal with unexpected injuries and health issues, whether on a campout or in daily life.
During this adventure, Scouts learn through practical, hands-on experience. They start by watching the “Protect Yourself Rules” video, which educates them about personal safety and the importance of recognizing dangerous situations.
The core of the adventure involves learning how to respond to various medical emergencies, including serious bleeding, heart attacks, strokes, and cases of poisoning. Scouts practice techniques for dealing with these emergencies until help arrives, which builds their confidence and skills. They also learn how to treat more common injuries like cuts, burns, and insect bites.
Furthermore, Scouts put together their own first aid kits. They select items for the kit, such as bandages, antiseptic wipes, and gloves, and learn how to use each item. This activity not only teaches them about the tools needed for first aid but also about responsibility and preparedness.
The First Aid adventure prepares Arrow of Light Scouts to be attentive, responsible, and ready to act in emergencies. It’s a vital step in their development as young leaders and responsible citizens, embodying the Scout motto to “Be Prepared.”
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