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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 building-security 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.
First-Aid/CPR
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, 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.
First-Aider
A first-aider is an adult volunteer who has taken Girl Scout-approved first-aid and CPR training that
includes specific instructions for child CPR. If, through the American Red Cross, National Safety Council
or American Heart Association, you have a chance to be fully trained in first-aid and CPR, doing so may
make your activity-planning go a little more smoothly. The Safety Activity Checkpoints always tell you
when a first-aider needs to be present.
Activities can take place in a variety of locations, which is why first-aid requirements are based on the
remoteness of the activity—as noted in the Safety Activity Checkpoints for that activity. For example, it’s
possible to do a two-mile hike that has cell phone reception and service along the entire route and EMS
(Emergency Medical System) is, at maximum, 30 minutes away at all times. It is also possible to hike
more remotely with no cell phone service at a place where EMS would take more than 30 minutes to
arrive. It’s important that you or another volunteer with your group has the necessary medical
experience (including knowledge of evacuation techniques) to ensure group safety.