This section is from the book "Camping Manual For Troop Scouters", by Boy Scouts of America. Also available from Amazon: Camping Manual For Troop Scouters.
This period will be a combination of study, discussion and demonstration. First study the material and then mark the "OK" and "X" statements at the end of this section. These will form the basis of the discussion.
(a) Shoes to be of suitable size and shape to permit comfort in walking-sufficiently large to allow use of one pair of heavy socks, but close fitting enough to prevent slipping at the heel.
(b) If blisters or cuts appear on heel, apply antiseptic and tape. If blister, open with sterilized needle at a lower edge, protect with sterile dressing.
(c) Feet and socks to be kept clean and dry. Wet shoes to be dried out at night by stuffing them with paper, shavings, hot oats, or any flexible material that will take up the moisture and prevent shrinking. Keep away from fire.
(d) Clothing to be loose-fitting around knees, waist, shoulders and neck.
(a) Demonstrate walking in single file facing traffic, on extreme left side of the road (except New Hampshire where law requires pedestrians to move in direction of traffic. In this case, Scouts will move well over on right side of road.) - Leader 25' in advance, followed by Scouts who walk 6' apart with rear guard 25' back of last Scout in column. On narrow woods and mountain roads used for two way traffic, leader and rear guard should be 75" in advance and to the rear of column, and prepared to warn Troop of approaching vehicle with whistle or by warning shout.
(b) At night, tie white handkerchief or white or yellow sash on right leg of each Scout (on left leg in New Hampshire which requires pedestrians to travel on right side of road,) providing something to be seen by approaching driver. Leader to display white handkerchief spread out on front of body. Rear guard should wear handkerchief out on back of body.
(c) Scouts to be ready to move to left, far out on shoulder of road, on approach of vehicle, if necessary. (Or far to right in New Hampshire.)
(d) Scouts are forbidden to cross railroad trestles or hike on railroad tracks or right of ways - by the laws of every state and the promptings of intelligence (common sense - safety).
References - March, 1931, issue of SCOUTING - "The Highways Belong to the Horses?"
A demonstration of simple and safe method of wood chopping, sharpening of axe, carrying, passing from one person to another.
References - See page 94, "Do you 'Chew your Firewood'?"; also, page 100, "Outdoorsman1s Friend - Skill and the Axe"; and Plumb Axe Manual.
(a) Gasoline not to be used for fire making - or for cleaning when within fifty feet of a fire. Gasoline not to be used for washing wounds (may contain lead or other poison).
(b) Gasoline or kerosene or coal oil, if used for lights or fuel purposes to be locked up and distributed only by authorized leader. Gasoline can to be painted red to distinguish from kerosene can.
Prevention - Take it slowly, a few minutes at a time. Prevention with tannic acid, sunburn lotions or crude oil.
(a) Vehicles carrying Scouts not to be driven at speed in excess of state law for motor cars.
(b) Vehicles when for any reason stopped on side of road, to be emptied completely of Scouts to prevent injury from possible collision with cars approaching from same direction.
(c) If cars require repairs, particularly when tire changes are to be made, they should be driven off the road, if possible. If not, be sure, if at night, that rear red light is plainly visible at all times, that parking lights are on and that rear guard with searchlight is placed 75' back of truck to signal approaching vehicles.
(d) When cars carrying Scouts stop at unprotected railroad crossings, if approaches are blind, leader to be sent forward to observe tracks in both directions, to listen for whistle of approaching train. When all is clear, car to proceed to cross the track in low gear.
(e) Rubber tires on cars carrying Scouts must be in good condition, particularly on front wheels.
(f) Riding on outside of car must not be permitted.
(g) The entire weight of load on trucks carrying Scouts must not exceed legal amount,
(a) Remember that boys, even though they may have the external size of a man, do not, until they are twenty years of age, develop internally to the point where they are to do a man's physical work without danger of exhaustion. Frequently a boy grows so rapidly that his internal machinery is not sufficiently large to take care of his body size. Overgrown boys should be watched with particular care to prevent over-exertion.
(b) The physical activity of Scouts should be carried only to a point of healthy fatigue and never to the point of exhaustion.
(c) The opportunity for 10 hours sleep outdoors, or in a well ventilated shelter.
(d) Scouts should not be permitted to sleep together, as this endangers health and precludes the possibility of complete relaxation and proper rest.
(e) Waterproof ground cloth always underneath bed when sleeping on ground.
(f) Warmer to sleep on floor or on ground than on bed, in cold weather. Skull caps, sleeping socks and nose pads add to comfort.
(a) If Scout develops abdominal pain, commonly known as "stomach-ache", he must not be given a cathartic. That pain may be a warning of an appendix condition which might rupture, if laxatives are used. If such \ a condition develops and continues, the Scout should be examined by a doctor. Don't delay.
(b) Fruit and roughage in the diets should be sufficient to encourage proper bowel action. The use of laxatives except on instruction from the doctor, not to be encouraged.
(a) Swimming places must be known. Casual swimming places should be searched either by sounding the entire area with a pole from a boat, or search of the bottom by swimmers equipped with a life line to aid them if they should become unconscious under the water. Swimming areas at the deepest point should not be more than 15' preferably only 12'. (Will be demonstrated.)
(b) If boats can be secured, they should be used on the outside of the swimming area to assist anyone who may get into trouble.
(c) When Scouts are swimming away from the Council Camp under Scout leadership, and boats are not available, two guards, equipped with one rope sufficiently long to reach the swimmer farthest out, and with a loop in its end, should be stationed on shore ready for immediate action. The rope can be a combination of a number of the regular Scout guard ropes, with snaphooks and rings at the ends.
(d) Apply principles laid down in Camp Waterfront Planning and Safety -"Swimming, Water Sports and Safety"
References - "Swimming, Water Sports and Safety"
Simple rules for forest fire prevention and fire fighting.
(a) Where fires should be built.
(b) How to protect against spreading.
(c) How to put out a fire.
(a) Simple points on First Aid, with emphasis on self treatment and prevention of unnecessary treatment or movement of injured person. Also treatment of poison snake bite wounds with cutting and suction method; poison ivy - ferric chloride, potassium permanganate, soap, salt, soda, etc.; cuts and abrasions - antiseptic and sterile dressing; puncture and gun shot wounds - antiseptic dressing and immediate attention by a medical doctor to anticipate tetanus; drowning or asphyxiation - prone pressure method of artificial respiration.
(b) Transportation - Never move unless necessary. Be sure treatment helps and does not harm patient. Improvised primitive and one-man transport methods. Understand difference between, and treatment of, shock and fainting. Understand legal limitations on First Aid.
(a) On high ground with proper drainage in all directions.
(b) Clear supply of drinking water which should be certified by state or community or protected by use of water purifier or boiling before use.
(c) Keep away from high or dead trees which may blow over or fall.
(d) Avoid camping near cliffs over which a sleep walker or a Scout in the dark might fall.
(e) Avoid camping at foot of steep pitch.
(f) Avoid camping on a low ground which is damp, or in canyon which may flood.
(g) The value of night guards; how this system should be organized.
(a) Understand and teach Scouts value of physical examination based on health history. (Use Form C-952)
(b) Bulk of all camp accidents occur where physical defect is present.
(c) If Scouts have heart trouble, fainting spells or epilepsy, do not permit them to swim, climb mountain trails or ride horses.
(d) Discover if there are sleep walkers in camp group.
(a) Never permit guns to be carried on Troop trips.
(b) Guns to be used for marksmanship practice are to be turned over and transported only by Scoutmaster. They should be a bolt action, single shot type.
(c) In teaching marksmanship, emphasis on safety. Scouts must know -
1. Safe direction to point gun.
2. That theoretically guns are always loaded.
3. That action of gun should always be opened immediately on picking it up. Gun should never be passed to another person unless action is open.
(d) Belt knives should be carried in properly constructed sheaths - in back of, and never in front of the hip joints. (Danger of running knife into a femoral artery or groin when returning knife to sheath, if in front.) They should be kept sharp.
(a) Artificial Respiration
(b) Boat work (how to use; rowing and rescue work)
(c) Canoe work (how to use, turns, paddling, rescue work)
 
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