In my old troop we didn't go real deep into what the boys carried exactly, however before they would be allowed to go camping they would go through a basic woodsman's tools, firebuilding, first aid, and survival course. We would try to keep it as simple and basic as possible, as we found some boys it takes a whole meeting to teach using a BSA flint/steel to start a fire. We did however require a basic survial/first aid kit be carried almost at all times. The biggest thing is to look over what they carry and make sure they know how to use it properly. We would inspect the kids survival/first aid kits often, check their knives often, ect. You find that some boys really get into it, while others could basically care less. So you have to go over everything as often as possible, both gear and how to use it. It always seemed to me when you told them you have to carry something they never would carry it, so you have to make it fun to carry and use.

So Tom,

No whistles, huh!

I feel vindicated from my pangs of doubt and guilt. I haven't stressed them in my troop either. While I have addressed the issue, I haven't pushed it. My theory is that the more serious scouts will probably carry them and cause no trouble. The impish and more troublesome, will, in their own casualness about everything, tend not to have one more potential engine of my destruction. I suppose I would press the point for an outing where it might be indicated. God has heretofore protected me from that eventuality.

I know I am a something of a hypocrit because I have required my own sons to carry a SAK with a tethered Hot Spark, Maglite Solitaire (any upgrades must be able to survivere the likely trip through the washing machine), and Fox Mini-40. However, my own sons can be and actually are well controlled (by themselves). Anyway that issue arose before I became Scoutmaster. While the use of the Solitaire lanyard is somewhat inconvenient in some uses of the knife, it absolutely guarantees the presence of the other tools.

Incidentally Tom, what is your reservation about sun block?

Best scouting wishes always,

John

To the best of my knowledge, no BSA, Red Cross, or other imprimatur applies to invasive procedures, which I presume would include an injection of epinephrine. Therefore, a scoutmaster (or assistant) would appear to be on his own in the legal world, not a pleasant thought to contemplate. Please understand, I am not saying that such an injection would not be useful; and I am certainly not saying that Tom would not practically be the appropriate person to administer it. But in the legal arena, he'd be naked on thin ice. In my own situation, only one scout in my troop might benefit. Since he is my youngest son, <img src="/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" /> the contraindication does not apply. One caveat, I've been a defense attorney a whole lot longer than I've been a plaintiff's attorney. So I do acknowledge my own cautiousness.

I agree that releases and waivers require parents and guardians to acknowledge risks and authorizations. They also dissuade parents and guardians from lawsuits. Furthermore, they may be upheld by the courts.

Randjack, Thanks. It really is nice to have another lawyer in this forum. You just can't have a good legal disagreement without another good legal argument. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

John

Yeah, a fanny pack could be something very different on the other side of the ocean...

Susan,

A very good point!

In a previous life I had fairly extensive training in lots of potentially useful skills like starting IVs, suturing, etc. One of the items I was trained on and carried for many years was a Hollister Anakit (no longer made - see http://tinyurl.com/82def for some interesting alternatives).

I have seen, on three occasions in truly remote parts of the continent, when the swift and proper use of an Anakit unquestionably saved a life - and we were unable to get a medevac on two of those occasions due to weather (the third one was medevaced about an hour after we radioed for it). I did not personally administer the treatment on any of those occasions, but rather directed the whole episode.

After I retired from the Army it got expensive to keep all the 'scripts current. And BSA totally freaks at the mere thought of a mortal possessing an Epipen. What I do and don't carry just in case is going to remain occult.

Regards,

Tom

John,

Good deal with the knives etc.

IIRC, I didn't express reservations about sunblock - poor choice of words if that's what I wrote. What I mean is that I don't regard it as very important here (this from a guy who has had the inside of his nostrils sunburned from snowfield reflections...). The bug juice is more important to me. The majority of the boys get brown as a nut each spring while I'm still blinding pilots with the reflection off my legs. Sunblock is extremely important to some people, of course, and it's probably a smart thing for all of us to use. I just don't make a fuss about it if it's not in the pack.

YiS,

Tom

Pleased to meet you! I've been plaintiffs' PI for about 20 years with a little bit of defense work sprinkled in -- which, interestingly enough, was often defense of mass tort cases.

In one of my other lives, we kept epi pens and rattlesnake so-called antidote on hand at ranch HQ. Thank god we never had to use the venon antitox - in those days, it could be worse then the bite. The epi pens got used a few times, as did vitamin K injectable we kept for my Dad who was on Coumadin anticoagulant.

I would not like to be responsible for a bunch of urchins. Probably like you, I know just enough medicine to be dangerous.

randjack,

Hi!

I didn't actually go enthusiastically seeking the job of scoutmaster. In fact, I declined it for over a year. Eventually it became advisable to keep the troop (and my own 2 boys) on track. However I have eventually come to like it.

I have enjoyed three particularly encouraging successes:

1. I have been able to redirect our somewhat nontraditional troop into more conventional modes.

2. We have changed the focus of our meetings so as to tremendously upgrade our basic scouting skills.

3. One boy was the perfect enfant terrible. I'd have sworn he was out get me. We have worked on his behavior using positive and negative conditioning. He is now fairly well self-disciplined.

Regards,

John

Brennan Hawkins graduated from High School today, planning to pursue a career in the Park Service inspired by a childhood mishap. M eanwhile, the ETS forum submitted this thread to the Guiness Book Of Records. Said tread is 15 years old, contains 18,523 posts and is still going strong, surpassing even Whats the best knife? for the most poplular subject <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />