The Safety Activity Checkpoints for most activities require having an expert on hand to help girls learn an activity.
Please remember that all experts must be approved by your council. To make it a bit easier, many councils keep
lists of local experts (such as sailing instructors) and facilities (such as rollerskating rinks) they’ve already
approved. If your council doesn’t keep these lists, you’ll have to present an expert for the council’s consideration.
Some things to keep in mind:
Does the person have documented training and experience? She or he should have documented
experience for the activity in question, such as course completion certificates or cards, records of
previous training to instruct the activity, and letters of reference.
What does she or he need to be able to do? This person should have the knowledge and experience to
make appropriate judgments concerning participants, equipment, facilities, safety considerations,
supervision, and procedures for the activity. At the very least, he or he should be able to give clear
instructions to girls and adults, troubleshoot unexpected scenarios, and respond appropriately in an
emergency.
As you know, emergencies can happen. Girls need to receive proper instruction in how to care for themselves
and others in emergencies. They also need to learn the importance of reporting to adults any accidents, illnesses,
or unusual behaviors during Girl Scout activities. To this end, you can help girls:
Know what to report. See the “Procedures for Accidents” section later in this chapter.
Establish and practice procedures for weather emergencies. Certain extreme-weather conditions may
occur in your area. Please consult with your council for the most relevant information for you to share
with girls.
Establish and practice procedures for such circumstances as fire evacuation, lost persons, and buildingsecurity responses. Every girl and adult must know how to act in these situations. For example, you and
the girls, with the help of a fire department representative, should design a fire evacuation plan for
meeting places used by the group.
Assemble a well-stocked first-aid kit that is always accessible. First-aid administered in the first few
minutes can mean the difference between life and death. In an emergency, secure professional medical
assistance as soon as possible, normally by calling 911.
Emergencies require prompt action and quick judgment. For many activities, Girl Scouts recommends that at
least one adult volunteer be first-aid/CPR-certified. For that reason, if you have the opportunity to get trained in
council-approved first-aid/CPR, do it! You can take advantage of first-aid/CPR training offered by chapters of the
American Red Cross, National Safety Council, EMP America, American Heart Association, or other sponsoring
organizations approved by your council. Try to take age-specific CPR training, too—that is, take child CPR if
you’re working with younger girls and adult CPR when working with older girls and adults.
Caution: First-aid/CPR training that is available entirely online does not satisfy Girl Scouts’ requirements. Such
courses do not offer enough opportunities to practice and receive feedback on your technique. If you’re taking a
course not offered by one of the organizations listed in the previous paragraph, or any course that has online
components, get approval from your support team or council.
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