What If?

What should I do if a Scout is injured?

First, take care of the Scout!

Whenever an emergency occurs in which a person needs medical care beyond simple first aid (for example, going to a medical clinic or emergency room at a hospital), leaders should immediately notify the parent or next of kin. In case of a missing Scout or a fatality, notify the council Scout executive after notifying local authorities and emergency medical services.

Prepare an emergency phone number list, like the one below, for out-of-town trips. This list and an ample supply of coins should be kept with your first-aid kit. It is suggested that at least one of the adult leaders has an electronic means of communication in case of an emergency.

Adult leaders are responsible for informing their council Scout executive or designee, as soon as possible, of a death or serious injury or illness. A serious injury or illness is defined as:

1. Any period of unconsciousness
2. Any hospital inpatient admission
3. Any surgical intervention other than suturing of the skin or setting of simple fractures.

A reporting form is available in both PDF form and as an HTML document.

Leaders should be prepared to give specific facts of:

• WHO?
  • Name of subject, age; name and complete address of parent(s) or next of kin
• WHEN?
  • Date, time of day
• WHERE?
  • Location and community
• WHAT?
  • Nature of illness or accident
• HOW?
  • If known, e.g., swimming, boating, hiking

Prompt and accurate reporting to the news media is most important. The local council has a crisis communications plan, and the Scout Executive will designate one spokesperson in order to avoid conflicting reports. Parents or next of kin will be informed by personal contact before any release is made to the public.

Nonserious injuries need not be reported. It is recommended that a report be prepared regarding each such incident and maintained by the unit for future reference.

Emergency Contact List

Download a form to record this information.

• Location of trip or expedition
• Names and locations of nearest town(s), city(ies)
• Name and phone number of nearest local contact
• Name and phone number of nearest doctor, hospital, or medical facility
• Name and phone number of nearest county sheriff's department
• Name and phone number of nearest state or federal park station
• Phone number of State Highway Patrol
• Phone number of Gamehaven Council Service Center:  (507) 287-1410 and (800) 524-3907

What should I do if a child tells me that he has been sexually abused?

How an adult responds to a child when he tries to disclose abuse can influence the outcome of the child's victimization. By maintaining an apparent calm, the adult can help reassure the child that everything is going to be okay. By not criticizing the child, we counteract any statements the molester made to the victim about the child getting into trouble. Reassure the child that you are concerned about what happened to him and that you would like to get him some help.

Allegations by a Scout concerning abuse in the program must be reported to the Scout executive. 
Call the Scout Office at (507) 287-1410 or (800) 524-3907.

Since these reports are required, the child should be told that you have to tell the proper authorities but that you will not tell anyone else. It is important that you not tell anyone other than the Scout executive or the child protective services agency about allegations of abuse—if the allegations cannot be substantiated, you could be sued for defamation of character.

Copyright © 1998, 1999, 2000 Gamehaven Council, BSA.
Last revised: January 17, 2007.