Scouting Safety Resources

Welcome to the Boy Scouts of America Health & Safety Resource Page! 

At the Boy Scouts of America, the safety and well-being of our Scouts, volunteers, and everyone involved is a value we all share! That’s why we’ve put together this extensive Health & Safety Resources page. It’s not just a collection of information; it’s a set of tools to help you make your Scouting experiences safer!

Health and Safety Landing Pages

• Guide to Safe Scouting (GTSS): A cornerstone resource for everyone in Scouting, this guide offers information on the latest policies and procedures, serving as your go-to manual to help you plan and provide a safe Scouting program. From camping protocols to aquatic activities, its detailed sections empower leaders to make informed decisions that benefit all participants’ welfare.
• SAFE Scouting Checklist: To help make Boy Scouts of America activities safer and reduce risk, the SAFE framework was developed with four key points:
  • Supervision (qualified adult oversight),
  • Assessment (risk evaluation and age-appropriateness),
  • Fitness and skill confirmation (evaluating participants’ capabilities) and
  • Equipment and environmental considerations (proper gear and monitoring conditions).
• Annual Health and Medical Record (AHMR): The Annual Health and Medical Record is a form used by the Boy Scouts of America to ensure the health and safety of participants during Scouting activities. It provides medical information, consent for medical treatment, and details about a participant’s health history. This is especially important in the event a medical issue arises.
• Wilderness First Aid (WFA): Anyone can now learn to recognize and address medical issues in the wilderness. This training goes beyond basic first aid, providing vital skills for identifying and responding to medical situations in remote and challenging environments.

Health and Safety Policies

• BSA’s Commitment to Safety: The BSA’s Commitment to Safety emphasizes the priority of safeguarding youth, volunteers, and staff in Scouting. This value is instilled through consistent teaching and accountability.
• Scouter Code of Conduct: For adults engaging in Scouting, this document serves as a standard, illustrating the behavior that nurtures a positive, supportive environment. It outlines the values, ethics, and conduct expected from all adult participants, setting a high standard for role modeling and interaction within the Scouting community.
• Age-Appropriate Guidelines for Scouting Activities: Tailor your activities to the maturity levels of your young members. This reference chart provides information allowing for every experience that can be stimulating and safe. With insights spanning from archery to wilderness adventures, it offers age-appropriateness guidelines that are useful in planning a safe environment for growth.

Health Guidelines  

• Prevention of Communicable Diseases: Address all communicable diseases before, during, and after unit or council events, prioritizing the well-being of everyone involved. By providing practical steps to prevent the spread of diseases, this resource contributes to a safe and healthy Scouting environment.
• Heat and Humidity Conditions Guidelines: These guidelines help to outline considerations and strategies for managing heat and humidity-related health risks. It allows leaders to plan activities that prioritize participants’ well-being.
• Food Allergy Guidelines: Understanding food allergies and sensitivities can be complex, but these guidelines help parents, adult leaders, camp leaders, and youth develop an individualized food allergy/sensitivity plan for any camp or event. Information and resources on prevention, management, and emergency response for food allergies are included in this resource. Severe food allergy reactions can happen anytime, and preparing a plan in advance will work to keep participants healthy and safe.
• Medication Use in Scouting: Guidance on medication use for all Scouting events, ensuring that health and safety go hand in hand. This resource is for parents/guardians, adult leaders, camp leadership, and Scouts regarding medication usage at Scouting events and includes information on developing a plan for your group.

Council Specific Materials 

• Mental, Emotional, and Social Health (MESH) Planning Template for Councils: Use the following to address concerns such as emotional well-being, relationship-building skills, and mental health disorders. A proactive plan is essential for handling crises in the context of Scout activities, which can induce stress. Factors like location, support availability, and response capabilities dictate varied responses, requiring considerations such as staffing, training, and mental health expertise to assist those affected safely. 
• Mental, Emotional, and Social Health (MESH) Training Course for Council Camp Staff: This training is designed to help councils prepare camp staff to support the mental health of camp participants and camp staff. MESH concepts are presented and explained in an easy-to-understand format. Topics include recognizing, supporting, and then advocating for anyone who is experiencing a MESH-related challenge. This training can be used for short- or long-term camps as well as council events. It includes a facilitator’s guide and a slide deck. The facilitator’s guide is fully scripted and includes presentation notes. Both the slide deck and facilitator’s guide can be modified for your specific camp or event.
• Council Communicable Disease Guidelines: These guidelines provide councils with information to help develop a plan for acute (newly diagnosed) or chronic (long-standing) infectious diseases. The safety of all participants is paramount, and any process should include a commitment to protecting the individual’s rights of privacy and confidentiality as well as due regard for the public health interest of others.
• Council Supplemental Risk Advisory Template: This template guides the development of a supplemental risk advisory tailored to your council camp and council high-adventure experience. This template will prepare participants for a fantastic, life-changing experience—instruct participants to share the risk advisory with their healthcare providers during pre-participation physicals. Include the risk advisory in your camp leader’s guides to facilitate this.

Medical Event Tools

• Medical Screening Checklist: This is a tool to help all leaders identify potentially infectious diseases in advance of event participation. Use this checklist to review each participant’s health status for upcoming events before departure and upon arrival at the event. This resource helps leaders and participants assess their health, make informed decisions about participation, and take necessary measures to limit the spread of infectious illnesses.
• First Aid Log: Utilize this log for your council, district, and unit activities to document health and first aid issues and the interventions provided. This log is a written record of medical encounters, responses, and the care providers. Adult leadership may be able to utilize de-identified information for planning future activities.
• Drug Administration Log: Although not required, this form offers an option to keep track of medication taken by a participant during events. By maintaining records of medication usage, you can assist participants with their medical care, maintain records of first aid medication, and allow a council health supervisor and camp/council leadership to be aware of camp health trends. While this form is not necessarily required, some accountability is encouraged. State and local laws regarding any medication may be more limiting than council camps and must be followed.

SAFE Checklists

• SAFE Project Tool Use: Enhance the safety of service projects by referring to this guide, which underscores training, supervision, and the implementation of safety precautions. This checklist provides participants and leaders with the knowledge and the tools to supervise projects while minimizing risks.
• SAFE Service Project Planning Checklist: For service projects, lean on this checklist to help develop a detailed plan and execute your endeavors. Covering planning, risk assessment, and emergency protocols empowers leaders to create service projects prioritizing participant safety and positive outcomes.
• SAFE Transportation/Inspection Checklist: Prioritize safe transportation with these checklists and inspections that set the stage for secure journeys. These resources contribute to smooth and safe transportation experiences for all participants by covering vehicle maintenance, emergency equipment, and driver readiness.

Health and Safety FAQ’s

• General Health and Safety FAQs  
• Scouting’s Barriers to Abuse/Youth Protection FAQ’s  
• Prohibited Activities’ FAQ’s  
• Incident Reporting FAQ’s  
• Annual Health and Medical Record FAQ‘s  
• Wilderness First Aid FAQs  

Risk Management and Evaluation

This document is provided for informational purposes only, and it is acknowledged that it may require updates or revisions in the future.

• Enterprise Risk Management Committee Guidebook: At the council level, this guide aids in effective risk management, ensuring safety remains at the forefront of your planning. Providing a structured approach to identifying, assessing, and mitigating risks equips councils to help create a culture of vigilance and preparedness.
• Program Hazard Analysis: Identify potential hazards with a systematic analysis that pinpoints, assesses, and mitigates potential risks, safeguarding new and existing activities. This resource empowers Scouting leaders to proactively evaluate the safety of activities, from outdoor adventures to educational programs, ensuring that every endeavor is well-prepared.
• Program Hazard Analysis Narrative: Delve into this Word file to document your safety considerations and mitigation measures, fostering accountability in your program analyses. This narrative provides a platform to outline risk assessment steps, safety measures, and strategies for minimizing potential hazards, ensuring an encompassing approach to safety planning.
• Program Hazard Analysis Matrix: Chart out potential hazards, their causes, effects, and the strategies you’ll employ to mitigate them during program execution. This matrix is a visual tool that enables you to systematically map out risk scenarios and their corresponding responses to help you plan programs designed with safety as a top priority.

Council Camp Health Officer Resources

• Council Health Supervisor Position Description: Dive into the role and responsibilities of the council health supervisor, an essential role in developing health standards within the council. From overseeing health lodge operations to coordinating with medical personnel, this description outlines this position’s role in participant safety.
• Camp Health Model Policy and Procedures Manual: This manual provides a foundation for crafting policies and procedures for your camp health lodge operation. Covering a wide range of health-related topics, it guides councils and Council Health Supervisors in creating tailored guidelines that promote participant well-being during camp sessions.
  • Camp Health Officer Training for Day Camps and Short-Term Camp  
  • Camp Health Officer Training for Long-Term Camp 

Program Guidelines

• Unit Money-Earning Application: Raise funds with assurance by adhering to these guidelines, which empower financial safety and benefit your Scouting unit. From planning the activity to documenting funds, this resource supports prudent financial practices safeguarding your unit’s interests and members’ welfare.  
• Flying Plan Checklist: Prepare meticulously for aviation flights, regardless of complexity, using this checklist as your guide. By covering pre-flight preparations, safety measures, and communication protocols, this checklist supports pilots and leaders in ensuring safe and enjoyable aviation experiences.  
• Activity Consent Form and Approval: Prioritize safety by securing parental/legal consent for BSA aviation flights and other activities. This form ensures that parents are well-informed about the activity, associated risks, and safety measures, fostering transparency and informed decision-making.