ASM416

Why wouldn't you assist your scouts with prescription medication? They already have an order from a doctor (or other health care professional) and all they my need is a reminder. I wouldn't want to be responsible for what happens if one of my scouts did not take the prescribed medication.

Over the counter is another problem all together. I think a lot depends on were you are going and the experience level of your "first aiders." If your out in the wilderness a day or more from getting help, sometimes you may need to make some arrangements. If you have experienced health care providers with you it becomes easier, we have a Nurse and a Paramedic.

I think the best way to go is to include it on your medical forms. List the OTC medication you will have and let the scouts doctor decide if they should have it. Also have them list reasons and dosages. This way the decisions are from the doctor in consultation with the parents and all you have to do is follow the directions, just like a prescription. Lets face it, sometimes stuff happens and when your out of the loop you might need to take care of something you wouldn't if you were closer to civilization.

Its also important to have someone "in charge" of your medical supplies. This should be the most experienced provider and everything should be done based on their comfort level. If they are uncomfortable giving OTC medication then don't have them with you.

As for Epi Pens, I wouldn't recommend it. We have carried them with us on backwoods trips "for personal use" but using them on someone without a prescription would probably get you into some trouble. On the other hand, if it means saving a life, I would use it and worry about it later. If you don't have the knowledge base to know when you need to use it I would stay away. Epinephrine has a lot of side effects that could kill someone who doesnt need it.

If I am leaving something out I apologize, I am a bit tired today. As Beavah mentioned, I am not a lawyer or a doctor and did not stay in a Holiday Inn Express last night. Everything mentioned my not be legal, its just how I see things and I have been wrong once or twice.

How about torches? I have seen some very bright and long lasting ones made from a roll of TP. I don't know the specifics (if there are any other ingredients) but maybe someone else can help with that. Have fun!

Hello,

I am an emergency medical dispatcher and they did away with the breathing in CPR for pre-arrival instructions more than a year ago. It was for many of the reasons already stated. It also was less complicated to explain over the phone to an untrained person.

There are some exceptions (in EMD anyway). Situations were there was an underlying respiratory problem still get breathing (if the caller will comply, if not just compressions are better than nothing). These are situations like lighting strikes and pediatric calls.

MarkS is absolutely right. Don't change what you do based on an AP story or any other unofficial word. The old version still works and you should use it until trained otherwise.

Welcome!

To my knowledge, as long as your OA dues are up to date you should be OK with the OA bolo and pocket flap. Now, you may want to choose more cub oriented neck wear, but there's no rule against it (as far as I know).

Have fun and good luck! Don't let uniform frustrations get in the way.

Remember, I'm not the BSA insignia guide, but I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night!

BSA Insignia guide - http://www.scouting.org/Media/InsigniaGuide.aspx

Hello all,

I work as a Paramedic and you would be surprised at how often I use things I first learned as a Boy Scout or only learned as a scout. If fact, no matter how much advanced training I take, I find that some of the old school stuff (triangle bandages, board splints, etc.) work a lot better than the new gadgets they come up with.

It still surprises me the number on EMT's I have to teach how to use board splints and triangle bandages! Everyone wants to use the fancy new stuff. Sometimes it just doesn't work as well!

"How have I resolved receiving any recognition. By working harder, camping in the cold, working in the heat, driving Scouts to camp and looking to staff the needs within the District."

Just what I was thinking!

Congratulations!

You can't just post the pictures and run! Tell us how it went. Did everyone have as much fun as it looked like? Were on earth did you find the storm troopers!

I can't speak for either of those programs, but if you or anyone else is interested the GNFC runs a program for tripping in Algonquin Park. We went with the GNFC program once and this year plan to go on our own. Either way Algonquin is a beautiful trip. Tons of routes of all skill levels to choose from and if you want to go yourself lots of outfitters.

Birchbark (GNFC) - http://www.wnyscouting.org/openrosters/ViewOrgPageLink.asp?LinkKey=17417&orgkey=1977

Algonquin Park - http://www.algonquinpark.on.ca/

Algonquin Outfitters - http://www.algonquinoutfitters.com/

Even if you don't use their outfitting service you should still stop in the Algonquin Outfitters store, very cool.

"This is really important when it comes to Eagle Badges."

I have never been questioned when I bought Eagle insignia in either of the two councils I have shopped in. OA insignia on the other hand, don't try to buy any without your membership card in hand!

Funny, I would prefer they be picky abut the Eagle Stuff!

Don't forget about aged out Life, Star and other scouts. One of the best leaders in my troop at home never got his Eagle Scout. Not everyone will be an eagle, doesn't mean they don't want to support the program.

I don't have much help for you other than to say that volunteers are out there. I am also in emb's situation. I moved to a new area and didn't really want to get involved on a troop level. I got in touch with the local DE and now I am on the district committee.

That being said, I think we do a terrible job of recruiting adult volunteers. I had to contact the local council 3 times before they got back to me. I shouldn't have to try so hard to volunteer. On top of that, we keep asking more and more of the volunteers we have. I don't know how to fix it, but I sure hope somebody does because its broken.

Well, after going back and reading this post, I guess I didn't help much. Good luck with your recruiting!

Tim

Hello All,

I am dual registered with my troop in one council and as a member of a District committee in another council. I am also a member of the OA registered with the lodge in my troops council.

My question is what are my options for wearing a pocket flap on my District Committee uniform? Can I just wear the flap from my troops council or do I need to register with the lodge in the committee's council?

It doesn't seem like a big deal to me but I like to wear a correct uniform. Thanks!

I think the march crossover was meant to coincide with charter renewal time. My council recently changed to December for recharter but before that it was in march. I believe in some councils it still is march.

I have to say this problem boggles my mind a bit. Our meetings go 2 hours, 6:45 to 8:45 and there is a group of adults hanging out until well past 9:15 most nights. The idea that there's not one ASM willing to hang out for 10 minutes drives me nuts! How can you not be committed enough to the program to give 10 minutes!

Maybe the solution is to have the meeting with the SPL and the ASPL. This would allow them to follow YPT and not have any adults stay. I mean, we wouldn't want to inconvenience them would we!

That Jim Lovell video was pretty good. Glad I watched them. Thanks for the idea stevejb! I hope it works.

(mostly posted to get the tread back on the "24 hours" page)(This message has been edited by asm416)

Hi,

I am also a paramedic and have served as Health and Safety Officer for many BSA events. I have never had or been asked to distribute medication to any youth and am not quite sure how I would handle it. I have seen a very green EMT acting as the Health Officer at summer camp. I think the important difference here is that he was paid staff and I believe the camp had a doctor giving medical direction.

I agree with BW that this would be a very risky responsibility for you to take by yourself. You might want to talk with you council's summer camp staff, either the Director or the Health Officer, and see how they handle things. I would also be careful with advise from the Internet as the laws can very significantly between counties and states.

As far as #3 goes, you seem to have a good idea there. Only provide BLS care and if anything else is needed call and ambulance or take them to the local ED. Depending on the size of the event you may want to notify the local hospital and ambulance service so no one is surprised. Always err on the side of caution and let whoever is responsible for the child make the decision for them not to be seen in an ED. If there is no one willing to take that responsibility then they need to be seen by a doctor.

Lastly, If you don't already, I would take out some personal liability or malpractice insurance. Since you will be volunteering it will be your butt if anything goes wrong. Remember, everyone sues for everything these days and insurance isn't that expensive.

Tim

Yea, We have a canoe trip to Algonquin planned this summer so we have been paying a lot of attention to this. With the way things are going these days with border security, we are encouraging participants to get a passport. The last thing we want is a problem with a group of scouts at the Canadian border on the way home.

So how does one become a Jamboree staff member?

Tim

If the Council Executive "blessed" the patch then I would not call it unauthorized. That being said, if you like to keep your uniform by the book, you should not wear it on the sleeve. The only place, to my knowledge, that it can "legally" be worn is on the right pocket.

I would probably wear it on the right pocket but not on the sleeve. I like to make sure my uniform is by the book, I think it sets a good example. I would not give anyone a hard time about putting it on the sleeve, thats just rude.

Another idea might be to put the patch on the front of a plain baseball cap. Some of us in our district did and it looks pretty good.

Tim

After looking at the Eagle application closely, I have to agree with NealOnWheels. I would check to be sure but I do not believe you have to turn in the application before your birthday, just have the requirements finished.

Tim

You need to complete the requirements for Eagle before your 18th birthday. The BOR can be held after as long as the requirements are done and the application is turned in before your birthday. I only know this from personal experience but i am sure someone can quote the rules on this one.

I would suggest you sit down and have this talk with your Scoutmaster, Advancement Chairman or Eagle Coach. They will not only have advice for you but will be able to help you along the way.

Tim

Wow, I guess this is what I get for posting and not checking it for a couple days!

Anyways, This entire plan was discussed with and approved by the higher ups (I don't recall who exactly but I know my SM knows who). There was no pulling the wool over anyone's eyes.

As far as the price, about $1800 is correct. We were very careful not to over charge for this event and actually charged less than normal. Due to the theme we expected a high turnout which got even higher when the other camporees didn't pan out. We had a large portion of the council there, not just our district.

As far as the legal aspects and benefits and such, this was all researched before hand and presented to the above mentioned higher ups.

On top of the I have worked in EMS for 7 year and my SM has been a registered nurse since the early 80's and worked in EMS before that. We are both very familiar with the benefits of this equipment.

The fact is that if AED's were like fire extinguishers we could save hundreds of thousands of lives a year. I would think that as someone else mentioned, "To help other people at all times" might fall in there somewhere.

So anyways, now that I am done ranting, the fact of the matter is that yes, it is the council's money and yes, they can do what they want with it. I have a feeling that when all of this was approved they didn't expect us to pull it off. Now that the money is there, maybe the fire extinguishers do need to be replaced.

Tim

So my local council is boggling my mind. Myself and my troops scoutmaster ran a camporee last fall. It went very well and we actually turned a profit on it, something that usually doesn't happen. In our budget we planed on using the profit to purchase a portable AED that the council can take to off site events to have the EMS or first aid people use (or hopefully not use).

So now here it is, a year later and they still haven't made the purchase. We are being told my the financial guy that we aren't allowed to to that. We don't understand because we budgeted for a piece of medical equipment we felt we needed for our event but did not have available. On top of that this is a lift saving piece of equipment. AED's should be like fire extinguishers and they have a chance to get one without any cost to them and the are dragging their feet.

I will bet if it was some type to scouting equipment instead of medical equipment they would have bought it already. Anyways, what are your thoughts? does this sound right?

Tim

The York-Adams area council runs the Gettysburg Heritage Trails Program. My troop did this as a long weekend trip in 1999. It includes visits to Eisenhower's farm, the Gettysburg visitor center and a trail along the Union and Confederate lines. These hikes include trips to little and big round top and the devils den. We ended the trip with a "ghost tour" and a nice dinner.

The YAAC has a lot of resources for this including places to camp and a guide book. We had a great time and are thinking about going back again soon.

http://www.yaac-bsa.org/activities/gettysburg/gettysburg.htm

Maybe you were already thinking of this......

You could include in your service hours the total "person" hours. For example, 24 scouts participated in an 8 hour service project for a total of 192 hours. I think it gives a better idea of how much service you really give. You can also do this with camping days and nights.

I also like many of the other ideas. I think having a thorough report is better than a brief report. Maybe even consider a presentation (power point?) with any pictures, videos and newspaper clippings.