RichardB

The Red Cross does not do WFA in our area anymore and is dropping it from their offerings.  BSA and others have been doing it so it's no longer feasible to provide it.  I was hoping to get it for free, being an ARC volunteer.  Nope, nothing in our area is offered.

 

BSA or 3rd party.  The question is why isn't BSA putting it on for free?  It's their program after all.

BSA does not teach WFA, it never has.  The course curriculum has been adopted by both American Red Cross and ECSI.   We have worked with both to build instructor capacity in local councils.  

ARC info:   http://www.scouting.org/HealthandSafety/amredcross.aspx

ECSI Info:  http://www.scouting.org/scoutsource/HealthandSafety/Training/ECSI.aspx

To teach the course, one needs to be either an ARC or ECSI instructor.    So, if you are an ARC instructor, add it on.   

And fundimentally, the WFA course helps those running trek and high adventure backcountry camps meet both BSA NCAP and American Camp Association Accreditation standards.    It might be important to the understanding of the concept.   

RichardB

Being that I'm extremely active in scouting and also active at the district level, I'd rather not give an exact location or district.  I'll leave it at Midwest so I don't suffer repercussions...  For those that don't want to believe what I shared to the forum, that's YOUR Choice.  Just remember what I wrote when it starts happening in YOUR Area. A Scout is Trustworthy...

So, just so you know, there is no pilot for this   It's something someone made up and called scouting.  Trustworthy, not so much.  Putting yourself, your district, your CO at risk.   That's the reprocussions.   Calling something scouting that isn't does a disservice to those running the program.    Good luck with whatever that is being "run".  

The html and pdf versions of the Guide to Safe Scouting are now updated and available for your use on www.scouting.org.   

Since you are excited to go review the updates, and will appreciate the positive, proactive guidance provided here is a direct link to the Table of Contents.

http://www.scouting.org/scoutsource/HealthandSafety/GSS/toc.aspx

(are additional commentary added) The updates are:  

Front Matter: Scouter Code of Conduct added.

II. Aquatics Safety: The Safety Afloat section was updated. (Whitewater - Class II or above for helmets - matching industry best practice)

IV. Alcohol, Tobacco, and Drugs: The entire chapter was updated and renamed. (simplified, reference Scouter Code of Conduct)

IX. Insurance: The Automobile Liability Insurance section was updated. (mostly due to updated auto coverages by councils, some wording for clarity)

X. Transportation: The Automobiles, SUVs, and Vans section was updated.  (simplified, removed exceptions that I believe have been debated on the forum)

RichardB

So, still asking, what council and district the "pilot" is in.   Would really like to know.    

The staff advisors / course directors / owners select the faculty members.    Those who are selected get a copy of the faculty guide with their request to register.   RichardB

You folks are hilarious.   So, @@Midwest Scouter Council and District or it doesn't count.   Yeah and @, feel free to provide a source and I'll chat with them so that we can coordinate.......

Please discuss with the local Scout Executive, they can assist.    If you need to point to some policy it would be integral into the barriers to abuse.  http://www.scouting.org/Training/YouthProtection.aspx 

For those that ignore the program, policies, etc. of the BSA in relation to fundraising.    I'd point you to the Scouter Code of Conduct, specifically 5A.   http://www.scouting.org/filestore/HealthSafety/pdf/Scouter_Code_of_Conduct.pdf 

Well, I got this far thinking "tree stand" had to do with deer hunting.

I was confused as well and since hunting is not part of the Boy Scout program I was really confused.    Some councils do have organized hunting and sell trespass licenses on their properties.   

Let it go, it has been terminated with prejudice.  It was so, 2009.   RichardB

Couple more thoughts on some published material.  

http://blog.scoutingmagazine.org/2014/06/03/on-national-cpr-and-aed-awareness-week-share-your-lifesaving-story/  includes a link to a story about Jose, his story could be an example of several folks.  He is one active scouter.   

http://www.scouting.org/filestore/pdf/680-056_Cardiac.pdf is one of the published incident reviews.    

If you have ideas, you might pitch them to a manufacturer, Heartsine is the lightweight of the manufacturers.    Not sure it would be an option in the US market due to regulation and oversight.   

@@qwazse, I've talked with a couple of folks that have carried AED's.   Some on a temporary basis to address a unit member who was awaiting a permanent install, others because members had a history.  

I think you have most of the key points that need to be addressed.    They are not multi-purpose devices, they are medical devices built for solving a particular problem that kills around 325,000 folks a year.  If you have folks in a high risk category then it makes a lot of sense to get them to a hospital with a chance of survival.      

@@CNYScouter the problem is the program has not been changed in years.   The local execution may have changed, the local knowledge may have changed, it appears maybe even evolved to follow the standards, but the BB gun program of the BSA has been stable.    

Huffington post recently put out an article titled "Bernie Sanders Could Replace President Trump With Little-Known Loophole".   It's a great article, has a couple relevant tips. 

Well, hate to derail the thread on one topic.  But as to driving, something to ponder:   http://blog.scoutingmagazine.org/2014/01/22/ask-the-expert-can-scouts-venturers-drive-themselves-tofrom-events/ 

 

 

what is an "area event" anyway?

example - area conclave, OA meeting, board.  The Area is a subset of the Region.  Council, Area, Region is hierarchy.   

To the best of my knowledge 

I just found out that BB Guns, Archery, etc., are no longer allowed as a unit activity for Cubs.

 

http://www.scouting.org/filestore/Outdoor%20Program/pdf/510-322_WEB.pdf

Archery, BB gun shooting, and slingshot shooting are not approved unit activities.

 

Cub Scout shooting sports programs may be conducted only on a district or council level. Archery, BB gun shooting, and slingshot shooting are restricted to day camps, Cub Scout/Webelos Scout resident camps, council-managed family camping programs, or council activities where there are properly trained supervisors and where all standards for BSA shooting sports are enforced.

 

My troop puts on a weekend for our Pack every fall.  One of the activities we offer is BB shooting.  Several of our adults are certified to run the range and this all takes place at out council camp.  So if I can call it a council event it would be fine, but if I call it a unit event suddenly it's a no go.

 

If anyone can explain to me why two activities with the same people, same rules, and at the same BSA owned property aren't both either safe enough to conduct or too dangerous to conduct I'd love to hear it.

So what is interesting to me is that if you have "certified" or trained adults how could they not have known?   Really, really want to understand your situation.    

Now the program material / publication you linked is a new one, however you could go back to the shooting sports manual and the cub scouts shooting sports manual (out of print - superceeded) before that http://www.scouting.org/Home/OutdoorProgram/ShootingSports.aspx.  I'm thinking at least 20 years back where this has been the case.     

Richard

Richard, first, thank you for the information.

 

What is "Scouting Safely"?  I have never heard that term used before, at least not to mean a specific "thing".  How does it relate to the Guide to Safe Scouting?

A publicly facing website

http://www.scouting.org/Home/HealthandSafety.aspx

http://www.scouting.org/Home/HealthandSafety/Alerts/BePrepared_Active_Shooter_Resources.aspx

is a recent update to Scouting Safely.   http://www.scouting.org/sitecore/content/Home/HealthandSafety.aspx

Perhaps you can work it into your Emergency Preparation planning, programs.  

RichardB

Retracking:  " scouts can not use lighters to light fires, stoves, or lanterns only matches.  Because lighters have a liquid accelerant and the G2SS prohibits them "

Actually hadn't heard this one.   

Couple of thoughts you might consider - what does a lay responder vs. an EMT have as a standard of care, duty to respond?   One should teach to ones FA credentials as well, adding is not teaching the course.   Just a couple of thoughts.   

Gotta teach the boys how to make char-cloth.

This is a worthwhile exercise.  

I’m collecting for a safety moment.  http://www.scouting.org/scoutsource/HealthandSafety/Safety_Moments.aspx  (couple of new ones recently posted)  

Feel free to discuss or send to me as a message if you like. 

RichardB

That's what the G2SS states now, but what was it 10 or 15 years ago?  

To the best of my knowledge there has never been a "ban" on white gas / Coleman fuel, back at least 10 years, circa 2006.    

It's an award, it's not advancement and it is available to more than just those at the boy scout level.   I guess you could assume that the boy scout program does include emergency prep, but have no idea what the rest of your point is trying to be.    

Don't want a pin, don't have to do the award.     

When the emergency prep award was revised in 2014, it recognizes local training.     Curious, if anyone has a unit or other group working on this.    If not, why not.   Should it go away?    

http://www.scouting.org/scoutsource/HealthandSafety/New%20CategoryReference.aspx