On Sunday, I completed the Scout’s First Aider First Response course. It now means that in an emergency situation, I should know what to do!
In Scouts it is now part of the five year warrant review. If you are not first aid trained, you do not get a warrant. Well, technically, that’s not quite true, as if you are on a forthcoming course and your warrant is being reviewed, then you get your warrant. It’s also a condition of getting your Wood Badge.
Of course the funny thing is that a first aid qualification lasts for three years, but a Scout Leader’s warrant is for five. So in your warranted period, you have to do two first aid courses!
This isn’t a bad thing however. I’ve been a first aider at work three times (this is a 4 day course) and a first aider at first response level three times so far. Every time I’ve done a course, something changes! Apart from the changes it’s good to do refreshers as you do get ‘rusty’.
It’s only a fairly recent change to the ‘rules’ that all Leaders must have some form of first aid training. I wonder if it’s the same in other countries? Anyone from the USA care to comment?
First Aid is a great skill that is needed.. Refreshers never hurt.
What is a Warrant? And how does it effect your leadership in Scouting. We do not have a system like that here.
Happy Scouting!
Jerry Schleining Jr,
Scoutmaster
http://www.thescoutmasterminute.com
Hi Jerry,
You asked what are warrants? I guess I’d assumed that the way Leaders are appointed is the same everywhere!
I’ll explain the way our system works, but I’ll expand on our organisation first.
In the UK we have Scout Groups which consist of a Beaver Colony (6 – 8 years), Cub Pack (8 – 10.5 years) and a Scout Troop (10.5 – 14 years) or multiples there of. As I understand it, this is different to how it works in the US where Cubs Packs and Scout Troops are separate entities (please correct me if wrong). When a Leader is appointed to a role e.g. Cub Leader or Assistant Scout Leader, they are issued a leadership warrant. Upon gaining their warrant the Leader is then a member of The UK Scout Association and of the World Organisation of the Scout Movement and undertakes to complete the relevant training (Wood Badge and beyond).
The warrant is then reviewed every five years to ensure the Leader is suitable for the role and has completed the relevant training and has ongoing learning.
That’s the basics, but your can read more about it all at http://www.scoutbase.org.uk/support/
Leaders at District, County and National level are warranted in the same way.
I’m interested to hear how it works in the BSA.