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Health & Safety

Guide to Safe Scouting


Guide to Safe ScoutingThe Guide to Safe Scouting prepares adult leaders to conduct Scouting activities in a safe and prudent manner. The policies and guidelines have been established because of the real need to protect members from known hazards that have been identified through 90-plus years of experience. Limitations on certain activities should not be viewed as stumbling blocks; rather, policies and guidelines are best described as stepping-stones toward safe and enjoyable adventures. All volunteers participating in official Scouting activities should become familiar with the Guide to Safe Scouting.

 

In situations not specifically covered in this guide, activity planners should evaluate the risk or potential risk of harm, and respond with action plans based on common sense, community standards, the Boy Scout motto, and safety policies and practices commonly prescribed for the activity by experienced providers and practitioners.

 

The Guide to Safe Scouting is available in two formats:

  • One for reading on-line - this version is divided into chapters and includes a search engine.
  • Another for reading off-line - the entire publication is presented in PDF format.

 

Youth Protection

The Boy Scouts of America places the greatest importance on creating the most secure environment possible for our youth members. All adult volunteers must be familiar with the principles of Youth Protection. A wide array of traiing opportunities for Youth Protection are available. Click on the image to the right to learn more about Youth Protection Training.

 

 

If you suspect child abuse, please report it immediately to the Council Scout Executive, Lou Salute. Lou can be reached at 800-333-7905, ext. 223 or via e-mail at salute@ctyankee.org.

 

Click here for more information on Child Abuse Reporting Requirements

 
 

Click here for information on State of Connecticut reporting of Child Abuse and Neglect

 

Tour Permits

Local Tour Permits are required if your unit is attending an event not conducted by Council or district or your unit is attending an event outside 15 miles of your unit meeting space; or when your unit is providing transportation and/or participating in a high-risk activity that requires special certification to conduct such as swimming, boating, climbing, rappelling, flying or shooting sports. It is important that your Local Tour Permit is filed  at least two weeks in advance of your trip to ensure that is approved.

 

If your unit is attending an event more than 500 miles from your meeting location, or is crossing an international border, a National Tour Permit is required; it must be filed at least one month prior to your trip.

 

The Tour Permit added two important requirements in 2009:

  • Youth Protection Training will be valid for two years from the date completed. For example, this means for a tour starting March 15, 2009, Adult Leaders must have completed Youth Protection Training after March 15, 2007. For Leaders currently completing Youth Protection Training on-line, the on-line "Trained" cards reflect a two-year expiration date.
  • At least one Adult Leader must have completed "Planning and Preparing for Hazardous Weather" training. This is a new training program, only offered through the BSA On-line Learning Center. The course is well designed, has plenty of good information, and can be completed in approximately 45-60 minutes.

 

View Tour Permit Training Requirements in Matrix Form

 

Please allow two weeks for processing and return of approved Local Tour Permit and one month for the National Tour Permit. Tour Permits submitted without complete information may not be approved. Tour Permits can be faxed to 203-876-6884, mailed, or brought to the Council Resource Center. Please send all correspondence to Cindy Pepe. Sending in your tour permit on the day of departure is risky; it does not afford enough time to correct errors and may result in your trip being delayed due to an unapproved tour permit. The tour permit form can be printed and completed on paper:

 

Health and Medical Records

BSA has introduced the Annual Health and Medical Record. The one health and medical record for your use. This replaces former Class 1, 2, and 3 forms, which were phased out in 2009. The use of the new form, No. 34605, is required effective January 1, 2010.

 

BSA National Resources

The Boy Scouts of America has assembled all Health & Safety Resources onto one web page, which includes links to manuals, training programs, forms, and awards. The web page also includes important, up to date, safety alerts.