Re: BSA Lifeguard Award
(no name) ((no email))
Wed, 15 May 1996 09:50:59 -0500
Comiskey asked:
>> Anyway could someone tell me what the BSA Lifeguard Award is, i.e. what
>> the exam is and basic details about the course.
The BSA Lifeguard recognition actually started out as an alternative to the
Red Cross's excellent Lifeguard training program. The requirements for the
Scout Lifeguard recognition (which is a patch that the Scout or Explorer
wears on his or her swim trunks) is the following:
Explain and demostrate when applicable the following requirements:
1. Aquatics skill:
(a) Swim 800 meters (one-half mile)
(b) demostrate skill and knowledge in CURRENT requirements of the
following merit badge subjects:
(note here: this does NOT mean that the person HAS TO EARN THE
MERIT BADGE, just demostrate the skills that the badges have. This
allows Explorers to earn the Lifeguard recognition WITHOUT having
to earn the individual merit badges. Of course, if you have earned the
merit badges, this gives you a step upwards)
* Swimming (an option for Eagle)
* Lifesaving (an option for Eagle)
* Rowing
* Canoeing
* First Aid (required for Eagle)
2. Throw line for accuracy 10 meters three times in 1 minute
3. The Safe Swim Defense
4. The BSA Safety Afloat program
5. First Aid
6. Emergency action
The Lifeguard BSA program is offered in most summer camp operations
and normally requires the Scout or Explorer to be present EACH DAY and
to complete ALL REQUIREMENTS in the prescence of a BSA Aquatics
Camp School -qualified instructor. This in many cases precludes the
Scout from doing much of anything else the majority of the week.
The course instruction varies from year to year, but generally follows a
standards of instruction, practice, and then review and examination.
Different camps do this in different methods. Note that the BSA
Lifeguard certification is NOT THE SAME AS WSI or LIFEGUARD
CERTIFICATION OFFERED THROUGH THE ARC (American Red
Cross). The ARC course is much more intensive than the BSA's
course, which was originally designed to allow older boys in the Troop
or Post the opportunity to supervise unit-level aquatic events and
activities, and perhaps some inter-unit aquatic events.
The BSA Lifeguard application, BSA #4435 (which I don't have a copy
of here), goes into much more detail of each requirement.
Hope this helps you out!
Settummanque!
(MAJ) Mike L. Walton (Settummanque, the blackeagle) (
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