AUSTRALIAN CUB SCOUT
BRONZE BOOMERANG REQUIREMENTS

Part 1 – Health & First Aid

(Responsibility for Self)

i
Personal Health
Explain how and why to keep your hands and nails clean.
 
Explain how important it is to wash your hands after visiting the toilet		 Germs - such as bacteria and viruses - can be transmitted several different ways, especially by touching toilets and similar areas. Other ways germs spread include:through contaminated water and food through droplets released during a cough or a sneeze through contaminated surfaces orthrough a sick person's body fluids.
If kids pick up germs from one of these sources, they can unknowingly become infected simply by touching their eyes, nose, or mouth. And once they're infected, it's usually just a matter of time before the whole family comes down with the same illness.Good hand washing is your first line of defense against the spread of many illnesses - and not just meningitis. Bronchiolitis, influenza, hepatitis A, and most types of infectious diarrhea can be stopped with the simple act of washing your hands.
Explain/Demonstrate how to look after your teeth (if you can’t tell whether the cubs are telling you the right thing- you may have a problem)
Basic First Aid
Put together a simple first aid kit and take it on bushwalks and outings with you. DISCUSS, then supply a basic list of items for the kit and have the cub(s) bring it along next week.
 
BASIC FIRST AID KIT
  • Pair Latex Gloves
  • Triangular Bandage
  • Conforming Gauze Bandage
  • Antiseptic Wipes x 2
  • Bandaids (2)
  • Crepe Bandage
  • Blunt/Sharp Scissors (sm)
  • Tweezers
However, in real terms it may be simpler for the cubs to go and BUY a basic Kit, considering how the price of them has dropped lately.
Show how to treat a graze or cut Wash the injury by dabbing with a soft cloth using cold (or tepid) water, then apply a band-aid type dressing to the wound.

DEMONSTRATE as above – then run as a relay style game for all to play (You will use up a pack of band-aids – so buy the CHEAPEST copy-brand you can find)

Infections
Show an understanding of how colds are spread and how to prevent them spreading How Colds are Spread
Depending on the virus type, any or all of the following routes of transmission may be common:
  • Touching infectious respiratory secretions on skin and on environmental surfaces and then touching the eyes or nose.
  • Inhaling relatively large particles of respiratory secretions transported briefly in the air.
  • Inhaling droplet nuclei: smaller infectious particles suspended in the air for long periods of time.

 
Prevention
Handwashing is the simplest and most effective way to keep from getting rhinovirus colds. Not touching the nose or eyes is another. Individuals with colds should always sneeze or cough into a facial tissue, and promptly throw it away. If possible, one should avoid close, prolonged exposure to persons who have colds.
Adult Help
Explain why you need adult help in case of accidents I am not supplying an answer here, as I feel it important that the cubs think this through and come up with their own answers as to why they can’t do everything themselves in case of an accident.
Pass a message, including an address, from one adult to another. You can run a RELAY style Game to do this, or run a variation with one leader inside and another outside, with a different message to be taken by a new cub on each trip. You could also play Chinese Whispers, showing how inportant it is to ensure the listener has got the right details from you as well, either before or after the real message is passed.
Explain how to use a mobile phone and a public phone and discuss the steps you would take to make an emergency call. DISCUSS, then utilise a free mobile to mobile call to another leader/friend. Ensure the person on the other end of the call has the list below to make the call as realistic as possible.
 
What happens when you call Triple Zero (000)?
  • When you dial 000, your call is connected to the Telstra Emergency Call service centre
  • You will be asked "Police, Fire or Ambulance?"
  • Advise the operator of the service you require. If you are calling from a mobile or satellite phone the operator will ask for other location information
  • Your call will immediately be transferred through to the emergency service you request, who will take details of the situation.
  • Stay on the line, speak clearly and answer the operator's questions You will be asked to provide details of where you are, including street number, name and nearest cross street, and locality. In rural areas it is important to give the full address and distances from landmarks and roads, not just the name of the property. If travelling on the motorways or along rural roads include details or towns or nearest exits passed through.
  • Don't hang up until the operator has all the information they need, if possible you will be asked to wait for a police officer at an arranged location.

 
Also, be aware that on mobile phones, if you have no credit, 000 will still work. However, if you are "out of range", but within range of ANY other network, then "112" is an international, multi-network number that will automatically redirect to the nearest emergency service such as "000".

 

© 2008 Ian Moggs - rights are given for copying and printing for personal use or use in cub-scout or similar groups.