Emergency preparedness means being prepared for all kinds of emergencies, able to respond in time of crisis to save lives and property and to help a community—or even a nation—return to normal life after a disaster occurs. To encourage Scouts of all ages to be prepared for emergency situations, the BSA has approved an Emergency Preparedness Award program for members of all ages.
When a member has fulfilled the requirements, a completed application is submitted to the council. Upon approval, the Emergency Preparedness Award, No. 19-304 is awarded. The pin may be worn on civilian clothing or on the uniform, centered on the left pocket flap. The award may be earned more than once; for instance, as a young person advances through the ranks and is capable of more complex preparedness activities, but only one pin may be worn.
It is a challenge to be prepared for emergencies in our world of man-made and natural phenomena. The Emergency Preparedness BSA program is planned to inspire the desire and foster the skills to meet this challenge in our youth and adult members so that they can participate effectively in this crucial service to their families, communities, and nation.
The emergencies of today's world demand more than ever that our young people and adults be trained as individuals and as units to meet emergency situations. The importance of this training is not new to the Boy Scouts of America, as Scouting has always taught youth to be prepared for all types of emergencies. Since Scouting began in the United States, Scouts have responded to the needs of their communities and nation in time of crisis.
When an emergency occurs, it affects every youth and adult member of BSA in the immediate area, creating the responsibility to respond first, as an individual; second, as a member of a family; and third, as a member of a Scouting unit serving the neighborhood and community. Because of these multiple levels of responsibility, the Emergency Preparedness BSA plan includes training for individual, family, and unit preparedness. Special training in all three areas is a prerequisite for BSA members conducting any type of emergency service in their communities.
Individual Preparedness
The primary emphasis of this initial step in the program is to train members to be mentally and emotionally prepared to act promptly and to develop in them the ability to take care of themselves. Teaching young people to know and be able to use practical survival skills when needed is an important part of individual preparedness.
Family Preparedness
Since family groups will be involved in most emergency situations, this part of the plan includes basic instructions to help every Scouting family prepare for emergencies. Families will work together to learn basic emergency skills and how to react when faced with fires, floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, explosions, warning signals, fallout protection, terrorism attacks, and other emergency situations.
Community Preparedness
The program fosters the desire to help others and teaches members how to serve their communities in age-appropriate ways. By taking the age-appropriate First Aid for Children course (Tiger Cubs) and Basic Aid Training (Wolf and Bear Cub Scouts), these boys help ease the burden on the family and community resources. Through all Scouting ranks and for adult members, the responsibilities and skills for community service increase with the members' maturity.
All emergency activities carried out by Scouting units must be appropriate for the ages and abilities of the young people involved. Units should participate only under the supervision of their own leaders, and plans for unit help must be coordinated with community agencies responsible for disaster preparedness.
Emergency Preparedness BSA Award requirements
When a member has fulfilled the requirements, a completed application is submitted to the council. Upon approval, an Emergency Preparedness pin is awarded. The pin may be worn on civilian clothing or on the uniform, centered on the left pocket flap. The award may be earned more than once; for instance, as a young person advances through the ranks and is capable of more complex preparedness activities, but only one pin may be worn.
Individual Emergency Preparedness Award Requirements
Tiger Requirements
Wolf Requirements
Bear Requirements
Webelos Scout Requirements
Boy Scout and Varsity Scout Requirements
Venturer Requirements
Unit Volunteer Scouter Requirements
This award is available to all registered Scouters who serve a unit, including all leaders and committee members.
Do any three of the following:
Council/District Volunteer Scouter Requirements
Do any three of the following:
District-, Council-, and Unit-Level Achievement
District- and Council-Level Achievement
Bronze Level: If completed three of the above and if 30 percent of your traditional units have achieved the award.
Silver Level: If completed three of the above and if 40 percent of your traditional units have achieved the award.
Gold Level: If completed three of the above and if 50 percent of your traditional units have achieved the award.
Unit-Level Achievement
Achieve the mandatory requirements below, and:
Mandatory Unit Requirements
Mandatory for troops and teams only: Greater than 40 percent of registered Scouts have earned the First Aid merit badge and are certified in CPR/Wilderness First Aid.
Mandatory for Venturing crews only: All youth with a driving permit or driver’s license have taken Venturing Out: Keys to Safe Driving online or attended a group presentation of the Risk Zone: Transporting Scouts Safely.
Mandatory for Venturing crews only: Greater than 40 percent of registered crew members are trained in CPR/AED by a nationally recognized agency such as the Emergency Care and Safety Institute, the American Red Cross, or the American Heart Association.
Mandatory for troops/teams/Venturing crews only: Greater than 40 percent of registered Scouts and adults have completed IS-100.b, Introduction to Incident Command System (see http://training.fema.gov/IS/NIMS.asp ).
Do one of the following:
All Emergency Preparedness BSA items are available to local councils as Supply items, though the National Distribution Center.
Individual Emergency Preparedness Award Requirements
Tiger Requirements
- Cover a family fire plan and drill, and what to do if separated from the family.
- Discuss a family emergency plan with the family.
- Create, plan, and practice summoning help during an emergency.
- Take a nationally recognized first-aid course geared toward children such as American Red Cross First Aid for Children Today (FACT).
- Join a safe kids program such as McGruff Child Identification, Internet Safety, or Safety at Home.
- Show and tell your family household what you have learned about preparing for emergencies.
Wolf Requirements
- Create a checklist to keep your home safe.
- Discuss a family emergency plan with the family.
- Create, plan, and practice summoning help during an emergency.
- Learn emergency skills and care for choking, wounds, nosebleeds, falls, and animal bites. The emergency skills should include responses for fire safety, poisoning, water accidents, substance abuse, and more.
- Join a safe kids program such as the McGruff Child Identification program. Put on a training program for your family or den on stranger awareness, Internet safety, or safety at home.
- Make a presentation to your family on what you have learned about preparing for emergencies.
Bear Requirements
- Create, plan, and practice summoning help during an emergency.
- Learn how to shut off utilities to your home in an emergency.
- Learn simple rescue techniques.
- Learn emergency skills and care for choking, wounds, nosebleeds, falls, and animal bites. The emergency skills should include responses for fire safety, poisoning, water accidents, substance abuse, and more.
- Put together a family emergency kit for use in the home.
- Organize a safe kids program such as the McGruff Child Identification program. Put on a training program for your family or den on stranger awareness, Internet safety, or safety at home.
- Make a small display or give a presentation for your family or den on what you have learned about preparing for emergencies.
Webelos Scout Requirements
- Learn rescue techniques.
- Build a family emergency kit, with an adult family member participating in the project.
- Take a first-aid course.
- Learn to survive extreme weather situations.
- Learn about stranger awareness, Internet safety, or safety at home.
- Give a presentation to your den on preparing for emergencies.
Boy Scout and Varsity Scout Requirements
- Participate in creating an emergency plan for your home and for your troop or team's Scouting activities. Be sure you know the details of both emergency plans.
- Earn the First Aid or Emergency Preparedness merit badge.
- With your troop or team, including its adult leaders, participate in emergency preparedness training conducted by community emergency preparedness agencies.
- Complete IS-100.b, Introduction to Incident Command System (see http://training.fema.gov/IS/NIMS.asp ).
Venturer Requirements
- Complete a nationally recognized first-aid course or complete a nationally recognized Wilderness First Aid course.
- With your crew, including its adult leaders, participate in emergency preparedness training coordinated by community emergency preparedness agencies.
- Complete IS-100.b, Introduction to Incident Command System (see http://training.fema.gov/IS/NIMS.asp ).
- Plan and execute an emergency preparedness training event for a pack, troop or team.
Unit Volunteer Scouter Requirements
This award is available to all registered Scouters who serve a unit, including all leaders and committee members.
Do any three of the following:
- Provide input to develop or improve an emergency preparedness program plan and kit for your home and be sure all family members know the plan.
- Participate actively in preparing an emergency action plan for your Scouting unit meeting place. (This includes all locations where you might have a meeting.)
- Put together a unit emergency kit to be kept at your unit meeting location. (This includes all locations where you might have a meeting.)
- Take a basic first-aid/CPR/AED course.
- Participate as an active volunteer in a community agency responsible for disaster preparedness.
- Complete IS-100.b, Introduction to Incident Command System (see http://training.fema.gov/IS/NIMS.asp ).
Council/District Volunteer Scouter Requirements
Do any three of the following:
- Provide input to develop or improve an emergency preparedness program plan and kit for your council or district.
- Take a basic first-aid/CPR/AED course.
- Participate as an active volunteer in a community agency responsible for emergency disaster preparedness.
- Participate actively in developing an emergency preparedness program for a council or district activity such as a camporee or Scouting show.
- Complete IS-100.b, Introduction to Incident Command System (see http://training.fema.gov/IS/NIMS.asp ).
District-, Council-, and Unit-Level Achievement
District- and Council-Level Achievement
Bronze Level: If completed three of the above and if 30 percent of your traditional units have achieved the award.
Silver Level: If completed three of the above and if 40 percent of your traditional units have achieved the award.
Gold Level: If completed three of the above and if 50 percent of your traditional units have achieved the award.
Unit-Level Achievement
Achieve the mandatory requirements below, and:
Mandatory Unit Requirements
- Bronze Level: If 30 percent of your youth and adult members have achieved the award.
- Silver Level: If 40 percent of your youth and adult members have achieved the award.
- Gold Level: If 50 percent of your youth and adult members have achieved the award.
- The unit members conduct a check or create a unit and personal first-aid kit.
- The unit members conduct a safety check of their meeting place using the checklist in the Guide to Safe Scouting.
- The Cubmaster, Scoutmaster, Coach, or Advisor and the assistant Cubmasters, Scoutmasters, Coaches, or Advisors, and the unit committee chair have in their possession and have read the most current Guide to Safe Scouting.
- The unit members create an emergency action plan for unit use during regular meetings, tours, and activities. See http://www.scouting.org/filestore/doc/680-029.doc .
- Greater than 40 percent of registered adults are trained in Safety Afloat and Safe Swim Defense.
- Greater than 40 percent of registered members, including at least one adult, are trained in first aid and CPR/AED by a recognized agency such as the Emergency Care and Safety Institute, the American Red Cross, or the American Heart Association.
- Greater than 40 percent of unit members completed the SCOUTStrong fitness program or earned the Quest Award.
Mandatory for troops and teams only: Greater than 40 percent of registered Scouts have earned the First Aid merit badge and are certified in CPR/Wilderness First Aid.
Mandatory for Venturing crews only: All youth with a driving permit or driver’s license have taken Venturing Out: Keys to Safe Driving online or attended a group presentation of the Risk Zone: Transporting Scouts Safely.
Mandatory for Venturing crews only: Greater than 40 percent of registered crew members are trained in CPR/AED by a nationally recognized agency such as the Emergency Care and Safety Institute, the American Red Cross, or the American Heart Association.
Mandatory for troops/teams/Venturing crews only: Greater than 40 percent of registered Scouts and adults have completed IS-100.b, Introduction to Incident Command System (see http://training.fema.gov/IS/NIMS.asp ).
Do one of the following:
- The unit conducts a safety promotion with the community about emergency preparedness and/or readiness.
- Identify a unit’s risk management or health and safety officer. Attach a copy of the duties and responsibilities assigned to this position to the application.
All Emergency Preparedness BSA items are available to local councils as Supply items, though the National Distribution Center.
- Emergency Preparedness BSA pin, No. 00540 (civilian wear/uniform, centered on left pocket flap). Awarded when requirements are met. Only one pin may be worn.
All emergency activities carried out by Scouting units must be appropriate for the ages and abilities of the young people involved. Units should participate only under the supervision of their own leaders, and plans for unit help must be coordinated with community agencies responsible for disaster preparedness.
| 680-602_emergencypreparednessaward.pdf |
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