First Aid Merit Badge Activity Planner

First Aid - each year it is the most popular merit badge earned by scouts and frequently their first badge earned on the trail to Eagle. Come have fun with First Aid.

'Patrol Leader Merit Badge Planning Guide for the FirstAid Merit Badge

*** Activities for the Youth Lead Patrol ***

Exploring FirstAid can be a fascinating youth adventure when done right. Here are a few tips to help the patrol leader get started.

• Scouts may never add or subtract from the actual merit badge requirements
• This Planner is only a suggestion of different ideas to make working this Merit Badge both fun and easy.
• While doing the Worksheet is not a requirement for earning this badge, in many cases it can help you learn key concepts and track your progress.

A. Make Your Plan

1. Merit Badge Activity Planning Tips - 14 tips for a successful patrol activity. Read carefully before you start your plan!
2. Share Your Plan - Meet ahead of time with your patrol, scout leaders, parents and especially with the Merit Badge Counselor. Make changes to the plan as needed.
3. Prepare Activity Flyer - Keep your fellow scouts informed - events, activities, pre-requisites and more.

Patrol Activity	GREAT	Awesome MB to work as a patrol / Max Size 12 scouts
Virtual Field Trip	GREAT	Require presenter shares FirstAid in virtual meeting
Family Activity	POOR	Requires access to FirstAid Transmitter
Service Activity	FAIR	Useage in Emergency Preparedness Drills
S.T.E.M. Activity	GREAT	Learn how to use Modern Digital Technology
Field Trip	FAIR	Find a remote broadcast location
Duty-to-God	POOR	N/A
MB Day	GREAT	But only if you broadcast equipment. Many special FirstAid MB Day groups abound.
Overnighter	GREAT	Find a remote broadcast location
Summer Camp	GREAT	Pre-requisite: Scout Camp has their own broadcast transmitter

Online Resources

• First Aid Merit Badge Requirements: BoyScoutTrial.com lists all requirements, additional resources, activity worksheet, etc.
• FirstAid Merit Badge File Store: Online resources
• First Aid Merit Badge Worksheets: Worksheets are optional - but highly preferred by many MBC. When you find that many requirements say "discuss" - the worksheet can help you gather your thoughts beforehand.
• First Aid Merit Badge Booklet: Everything thing you need to know about FirstAid is right here. Get this study guide from either Amazon or your Troop Library, Merit Badge Counselor or Scoutmaster to Learn More About this Subject.
• First aid @ Simple-Wikipedia: Get the basics quickly.

B. Introduction Meeting

Most merit badge activities do best to have a "introduction" meeting where the patrol can discuss how to get started and to plan out their field trips. Send out the activity flyer in advance to use as an meeting agenda. Your scouts will then know what to expect.

First aid is promptly helping people who are suddenly sick (illnesses) or hurt (injuries or body damage). For example, first aid is used at accidents to help an injured person until they receive medical treatment (help by doctors, nurses or ambulances). First aid is also used to help people who suddenly become sick, until help arrives or they can be taken to medical care.

A person does not need much equipment to give first aid. A package of things useful to give first aid is called a first aid kit. Lives can be saved even without a first aid kit. What is required is basic knowledge. First aid can be done just about anywhere that an emergency requires. In places far from hospitals, first aid may be the only help possible until the person can be taken to a hospital or clinic.

Emergency medical dispatchers are trained in first aid, so that if there is an emergency, they can give the caller some information on what to do until the ambulance arrives. This can include the "C-A-B" listed below.

News Flash

• Scout On Through Covid-19 Covid 19 Discussion Group: First Aid Merit Badge Req #4: "Explain the universal precautions as applied to the transmission of infections. Discuss the ways you should protect yourself and the victim while administering first aid."

C. Homework / Prerequisites

Assign one or more requirements that the scout can do at home, perhaps as a family activity.

Home First Aid Kit

Req #5a: Prepare a first-aid kit for your home. Display and discuss its contents with your counselor.

D. Study Hall Patrol Night

While some scouts may be adept at self-study, others may do better in a small group setting and taking notes on worksheets. Make an agenda. You can facilitate discussion by asking them why each of the principles introduced here would be relevant. Schedule one or more patrol meetings to work this merit badge.

Pre-Open Gathering Activity

A gathering activity before the official meeting start is a great way to set a fun theme for the meeting.

• First Aid Quiz :
• First Aid Jepordy Game:
• Req #12: Quiz - First Aid Challenges

Tenderfoot First Aid Activity

Req #1: "Demonstrate to your counselor that you have current knowledge of all first-aid requirements for Tenderfoot, Second Class, and First Class ranks."

• Tenderfoot Scout Req #4: First Aid Basics
• 2nd Class Scout Req #6: First Aid Basics
• 1st Class Scout Req #7: First Aid Basics

MBC Discussion Group #1

Discuss with your MBC the following :

• Req #2:Discussion - Where to get help
• Req #3:Discussion - First Aid "Triage"
• Req #4:Discussion - Preventing Infections.
• Req #5a: Discussion/Display - Home First Aid Kit
• Req #5b: Discussion/Display - Troop First Aid Kit

MBC Discussion Group #2

Discuss with your MBC the following :

• Req #6:Discussion - Treating Shock, Heart Attack & Stroke
• Req #7: Discussion - CPR & AED
• Req #8: Discussion - Severe Bleeding
• Req #9: Discussion - Bee Stings
• Req #10: Discussion - Broken Bones
• Req #11: Discussion - Head & Back Injuries

E. First Aid Activities

Transport Injured Person Activity

Req #13a: Describe the conditions under which an injured person should be moved.
Req #13b: If a sick or an injured person must be moved, tell how you would determine the best method. Demonstrate this method.
Req #13c: With helpers under your supervision, improvise a stretcher and move a presumably unconscious person.

Teaching First Aid Skills

Req #14: Teach another Scout a first-aid skill selected by your counselor.

F. Extra Credit

While none of these are actual requirements for this merit badge - they are terrific opportunities to show Scout Spirit, Do A Good Turn Daily and to have FUN!

1. Activity Reflection: Use this meeting for scouts to ask questions and to reflect on what they gained personally from this adventure. You can also have a discussion on what future opportunities are here.
2. Court of Honor Exhibit: Pictures, handiwork and other memorabilia from this adventure will make for a great presentation at the next Scout Troop Court of Honor.

Related Merit Badges

Sometimes it is easier by doing two or more merit badges together as a joint activity:

• Emergency Preparedness - First Aid MB is Req #1 for Emergency Preparedness! Both are required for Eagle Rank Advancement.