AUSTRAliAN CUB SCOUT
GOLD BOOMERANG REQUIREMENTS

Part 1 – Health & First Aid

(Responsibility for Self)

	Personal Health
Discuss personal hygiene such as showering/bathing regularly, changing clothes and using deodorants.	ONE WARPED IDEA – bring in a pair of really sweaty socks and leave them somewhere in the hall to get the cubs noticing the smell, and use this as a lead-in to discussing the topic. Other smelly items would be just as effective.
Show you understand the different types of foods that will build a healthy body by preparing a menu for one day at a camp.	The following SAMPLE menu gives a basic format and some guidelines for a camp menu. Morning Tea Fresh Fruit Cordial/Water Lunch Salad on a Roll Afternoon Tea Cake Fruit Drink Tea BBQ Sausages Hot Mixed Vege's bread and butter cordial Breakfast cereal fruit juice toast & spreads. Coffee and Tea provided for leaders Pancakes
	Basic First Aid
Check and replenish or put together a simple first aid kit and take it on bushwalks and outings with you	This is a good chance to go through the group’s first aid kit. It is not only a chance for the cubs to become aware of the contents, but a chance to check for old or depleted items. However, the kit in the hall may be a bit big & heavy to take on a hike, so have a personal kit as well, so you can also show the difference between the two. The personal one can be taken on the hike.
Tie a sling with a reef knot	A RELAY game where the cubs run to the end of the hall and tie a sling, then a leader unties in time for the next cub. To make it more interesting, have them put the sling onto a leader/cub and then tie the knot in place. (The reef know in a sling needs to lay flat against the body, or it will cause pain/bruising as you travel)
Show how to treat burns and scalds	The first action for a burn or scald it to place the injury under cold running water for about fifteen minutes – until the heat is gone from the burn.
Show how to treat bleeding	Pressure – Pad – Elevate Apply pressure and a pad to stop the flow of blood, and raise the injury above the level of the heart so that the flow in the arteries is reduced as it also has to content with gravity.
Explain what to do in the case of fainting.	If someone feels that they are about to faint, it is important to lie down or to sit down and put your head between your legs. That's usually enough to restore adequate blood flow to the brain. If it is very hot, try to move to a cooler location. Loss of consciousness that lasts for more than a minute or two can be serious, however. Often it is a sign of a serious medical problem, such as seizure, serious blow to the head, concussion, heart attack, diabetic coma, epilepsy, or another condition. It is important to treat someone who has fainted or lost consciousness with care to avoid injury. If someone remains unconscious for more than two minutes, get help as quickly as possible. The above three can be done as part of a relay type game as well, either as an action or answering a question about it.
	Infections
Show an understanding of what can happen if you eat food that has not been stored correctly.	Food that has not been stored correctly, usually not cold enough, can provide just the right conditions for bacteria to grow in sufficient numbers to cause food poisoning. It is possible to get a “mild” case. But generally food poisoning is an acute illness, which usually happens within 1 to 36 hours of eating contaminated or poisonous food. The symptoms can include vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal pain, nausea and fever, which normally last from 1 to 7 days. To assist in gaining a better understanding about this, here is more information on the Causes of Food Poisoning Each type of food poisoning has a characteristic incubation period (the time it takes from eating to symptoms) and main symptoms depending on the cause. The various causes of food poisoning are :- Harmful Bacteria (pathogens) are the most common causes of food poisoning; it usually takes a very high number of bacteria to make someone ill. Bacteria responsible for food poisoning can grow in food quickly, especially in warm and moist conditions. Just a single bacterium on an item of food left out of the fridge overnight could harbour many millions of bacteria by the morning, enough to make you ill if you eat it. Viruses also cause cases of vomiting and diarrhoea. They do not multiply in food but a much smaller number is needed to make someone ill. Airborne infection is common and can spread easily from person to person. Food poisoning is also possible from Chemicals (when someone accidentally eats or drinks poisonous chemicals that are stored in unlabelled bottles or when food is contaminated with chemicals or additives) Metallic poisoning (when food and drink has been in contact with certain metals), and Poisonous plants/animals (such as deadly nightshade, toadstools and Japanese puffer fish)
Discuss the ways to store food appropriately.	Unless it is preserved, such as by canning or drying, food needs to be kept at the correct temperature. This helps to prevent bacteria from growing or toxins from forming. Look at the label for guidance on how to keep food. Store fresh food shopping in the fridge within two hours of purchase - sooner if the weather is hot. Store meal leftovers in the fridge within two hours of preparation - sooner if the weather is hot. Don't keep leftovers for longer than two days. Always follow 'Use by' dates on food. (note - a USE BY date is not the same as a BEST BEFORE date. Best before means that the food (eg. a chocolate bar) will be at it's best until that date, but still quite edible for a time after that - for example, in the case of the chocolate bar, it may be expected to not look as good after that date, but will still be safe and taste good. Raw food such as meat should be stored in airtight containers and kept at the bottom of the fridge to prevent juices or blood from dripping onto other food. Don't allow it to make contact with cooked food or items such as salads as these will not be reheated as the bacteria that get onto the food will not be killed.
	Adult Help
Explain why you need adult help in case of accidents	The cubs(s) need to think about this and realise for themselves why they can’t do it all on their own in such situations.
Pass a message, including an address, from one adult to another.	Run a RELAY style Game with a message that gives a name place & time that each person has to pass to a leader at the other end of the hall. You could also play Chinese Whispers, so show how inportant it is to ensure the listener has got the right details from you as well. Playing Chinese Whispers after the relay helps to enforce the need for careful listening and message passing.
Explain how to use a mobile phone and a public phone and discuss the steps you would take to make an emergency call. (of course, the concept of a public phone, especially a working one, is something that cubs in some areas may not really understand).	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, and if you are out of range, but able to reach 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.