Health and Safety

The safety of each child is important to Los Padres Council. All volunteers with the Council need to be aware of specific policies of the Boy Scouts of America.  These policies are contained in the Guide to Safe Scouting. Click on this link to download a current version of the Guide to Safe Scouting.

BSA Safety and Health Publications

BSA has a great wealth of safety publications and newsletters. Click on any link below to go to the BSA's Safety and Health storehouse.

• BSA Safety and Health Website
• Managing Risk
• Age Appropriate Guidelines for Scouting Activities
• Guide to Safe Scouting
• Sweet 16 of BSA Safety
• Planning and Conducting a Safe Scout Outing
• The Driver's Pledge
• BSA Bike Safety Guidelines
• Emergency Preparedness Award
• Risk Management Newsletter
• Health and Safety News
• The Latest First Aid for Wounds and CPR's
• Safe Swim Defense
• Safety Afloat
• Climb On Safely

New changes to Winter Sports Safety

While it is only August, and school is just beginning, we want to advise of an upcoming change to the Winter Sports Safety section of the Guide to Safe Scouting.

Currently Section 3 states that “Suitable clothing for the activity and environment should be worn art all times, and equipment should include gloves and helmets when appropriate.”

The new wording of Section 3 reads as follows: “Appropriate personal protective equipment is required for all activities. This includes the recommended use of helmets for all participants engaged in winter sports such as sledding and other sliding devices. The use of helmets is required for the following activities: downhill skiing, snowboarding, and operation of snowmobiles (full-face helmets).” 

We would also like to remind you that when units engage in winter sports, they should only use designated areas where rocks, tree stumps, and other potential obstacles have been identified and marked, cleared away, shielded, or buffered in some way.

SAFETY FAQ's

Recent safety and health issues brought to our attention:

Question 1. Our pack wants to go to Camp French and do archery and bb guns. We have a trained BSA rangemaster. Is this permissible?

Answer 1. No, please see the passage below from the Guide to Safe Scouting which indicates that these activities may only be done at Council and District sponsored and staffed functions with the proper trained personnel and safety standards in force.

Guns and Firearms
Cub Scouting Standards

Youth members of Cub Scouting are permitted to participate in shooting activities named here only.

Archery and BB gun shooting are restricted to day camps, Cub/Scout Webelos resident camps, council-managed family camping programs, or to council activities where there are properly trained supervisors and all standards for BSA shooting sports are enforced. Archery and BB gun shooting are not to be done at the pack level.

Cub Scouts are not permitted to use any other type of handgun or firearm.

Guide to Safe Scouting, page 33