Tra i
nin
g Outline
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SAFETY AFLOAT
TRAINING OUTLINE
Introduction
Safety Afloat training is intended for use with Scouts and Scouters in a
variety of situations. It should be offered to leaders at summer camp.
Training in Safety Afloat and BSA Paddle Craft Safety may be conducted
jointly at summer camp. Those seeking only Safety Afloat training attend
only the discussion section. Those seeking Paddle Craft Safety training also
attend the skill sessions.
The training also can be conducted in connection with any Boy Scouts of
America training program for Cub Scout, Boy Scout, Varsity Scout,
or Venturing leaders. It should be included in the outdoor session of Scout -
master ship Fundamentals, can be included in Boy Scout Leader Wood
Badge, and can be offered in connection with other supplemental
training programs.
It is suggested that the training last about 50 minutes. More time might
be needed if the session includes a demonstration. The intended audience
includes adult Scouters and junior leaders.
Leaders may complete online training in Safe Swim Defense and Safety
Afloat at MyScouting at www.scouting.org.
A complete and official statement of the Safety Afloat plan can be found in
Aquatics Supervision No. 34346. Copies of Safety Afloat may be downloaded
from the Guide to Safe Scouting, available online at www.scouting.org.
Learning
Objectives
At the end of this session, each participant should be able to
• Understandandappreciatethemostimportantandessentialelementsof
aquatics safety—supervision and discipline.
• ExplainthedistinctcontributionofeachoftheninepointsoftheSafety
Afloat program and how each helps assure safe unit activity afloat.
• Judgehisorherreadinesstoconductasafeactivityafloat.
• Identifyresourcesfortheskilltrainingneededforactivitiesafloat.
Materials
Needed
Aquatics Supervision: A leaders guide to swimming and boating activities,
No. 34346.
Safety Afloat guide, No. 34368; one per participant
Safety Afloat pocket card, No. 34242; one per participant
LifeJacketsforDemonstration
Type II, No. 01596
Type III, No. 01592
Throwing Devices
Type IV, buoyant cushion, No. 00154; ring buoy, No. 01138; throw bag
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Other Resources
Safe Swim Defense, No. 34370
Fieldbook, No. 33104
Merit badge pamphlets: Canoeing, No. 33305B; Rowing, No. 33404; Small-Boat
Sailing, No. 33356A; Whitewater, No. 33405B, and Motorboating, No. 33345
Annual Health and Medical Record, No. 34605
Local Tour Permit Application, No. 34426
Sample unit float plan, reproduced from page 6
Float trip buddy board ideas, actual items, or reproduced from page 7
Canoeing and boating guides and maps of local waters
Boat or canoe equipped for demonstration
Who Can
Instruct This
Training?
This training can be given by any person authorized by the council,
including a BSA Aquatics resource person, a unit leader with aquatics skill,
oranyotherpersonwithaquaticknowledgeorexperiencethathasbeen
approved by the local council. The council may assign oversight of
instructors to a local aquatics committee. Each instructor should review
Safety Afloat material in Aquatics Supervision and complete online training
in Safety Afloat prior to conducting the training.
The Problem
Invitetheparticipantstorelatetheirpersonalexperienceswithaccidents
ornear-misseswhileafloat.Supplementtheiraccountswithexamplesof
actualincidents(newsitems,personalexperiences,accidentreports,etc.).
Conclude the opening discussion with statistics reflecting Scouting’s
experiencewithboatingandboating-relatedaccidents.
The Response
The Safety Afloat program has been developed by the BSA to promote
boating and boating safety and to set standards for safe unit activity afloat.
The Policy
ExplainthatbeforeaBSAgroupmayengageinanyexcursion,expedition,
or trip on the water (canoe, raft, sailboat, sailboard, motorboat, rowboat,
tube,orotherwatercraft),adultleadersforsuchactivitiesshouldhave
an appreciation for the potential hazards they could encounter and
should take steps to reduce those risks. The nine points of Safety Afloat
have been established by the Boy Scouts of America in an effort to reduce
potential hazards.
DistributeacopyoftheSafetyAfloatfliertoeachparticipant.Explainthat
each of the nine points will be reviewed in detail.
Safe Swim
Defense
DisplayacopyoftheSafeSwimDefenseleaflet.ExplainthattheSafety
Afloat plan parallels the successful approach of the highly regarded Safe
Swim Defense, which has given the BSA one of the best water-safety
records of any youth organization.
Note that several Safety Afloat elements—probably the most important—
also are found in the Safe Swim Defense: supervision, discipline, swimming
ability, physical fitness, and the buddy system.
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Qualified
Supervision
and Discipline
Ask the participants to note the first and last points of the plan—qualified
supervision and discipline. These are the most important points of the plan
because the effectiveness of the others depends upon these two. The fact
that they are the first and last points of the list is symbolic, for they hold
the plan together.
The first point recognizes that youth of Scouting age who are having fun
with friends in or on the water are not likely to be concerned about their
own health and safety. Even if concerned, usually they are not able to
protect themselves fully. For this reason, qualified adult supervision is the
first and most important element of Safety Afloat.
ExplainthatwhenseriousaccidentshappeninScoutaquatics,theyusually
involve a lack of supervision and discipline. If boating activity is not super-
vised by a conscientious adult who has the attention and respect of the
children in his or her care, accidents could occur. Safety can be virtually
assured if there is a caring adult who understands and appreciates the
respon sibility for children in or around the water, and who has the control
and respect of the children so that his or her directions will be followed.
All Scout boating activity must be supervised by a mature and conscientious
adult age 21 or older who understands and knowingly accepts his or her
responsibility for the well-being and safety of the children in his or her care,
isexperiencedinthewaterandconfidentofhisorherabilitytorespondin
the event of an emergency, and is trained in and committed to compliance
with the nine points of BSA Safety Afloat. The importance of this supervision
requirement, and the closely allied need for discipline, i.e., control of the
activity, cannot be overemphasized. A responsible and conscientious
supervisor knows his or her own limits, and will not put children at risk by
permittingactivitythatcouldexceedhisorherownabilitytocontroland
respond if an emergency does arise.
Emphasize that for supervision to be effective, there must be discipline.
All participants in an activity afloat should know, understand, and follow
the safety rules and procedures. Discipline means that all do their part
to ensure that the rules are fairly and impartially applied and followed.
Involving Scouts in all of the details of planning a trip afloat is a good way
to promote cooperation and discipline.
Review and discuss points 1 and 9. Include situations where the unit leader
canutilizetheexpertiseofothers,suchaswhitewaterguides.
Personal
Health
Review
Point out that when accidents do occur in aquatics, they frequently are
causedbyunknownphysicalconditionsortheunexpectedresultofsome
known physical problem. Activity afloat, like swimming, requires that the
person in charge know the physical condition of all those for whom he or
she is responsible. Good safety requires an understanding of the risks or
hazards of any individual conditions.
Reviewanddiscussthetextofpoint2.DisplayanddiscusstheAnnual Health
and Medical Record. Parts A and C are required for all unit activities. Discuss
activities for which the height-weight criteria apply. Part B is required for
any event longer than 72 hours or more than 30 minutes away from ground
transportation. Note that leader cardiac problems are the leading cause of
death during Scouting activities.
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Swimming
Ability
Point out that the best protection on the water is the ability to swim.
Reviewanddiscussthetextofpoint3.Theswimmertestdemonstrates
the minimum level of swimming ability required for safe deepwater
swimming. (Refer to Aquatics Supervision for guidelines on conducting swim
classificationtests.)
Personal
Flotation
Devices
(LifeJackets)
Reviewanddiscussthetextofpoint4.Displaythetypesoflife jackets gener-
allyrecommendedforScoutingactivities.Explainthefeaturesandusesof
each. Point out that life jackets must be U.S. Coast Guard–approved and that
damagedPFDsarenolongerapproved.Demonstrateandexplainhowtofit
and wear PFD Types II and III and how to use and throw Type IV. Emphasize
that life jackets are effective only when worn, and that they should be worn
at all times when aboard canoes, rafts, kayaks, and other small watercraft.
Buddy
System
Anyone who goes in or on the water alone is foolish! Point out that there
is a buddy system for activity afloat just as there is for swimming. No one
goes boating alone. Every craft has a buddy boat on the water for activities
with multiple boats. The buddy boat, just like an individual buddy, is there to
give assistance when needed.
Review and discuss point 5, “Buddy System.”
Skill
Proficiency
Explainthatwatercrafthandlingskillsareessentialtosafetyaswellasthe
enjoyment of on-the-water activity and stress the importance of skill profi-
ciency in all boating activities. Display BSA materials with skill content, such as
Aquatics Supervision, merit badge pamphlets and the BSA Fieldbook. Discuss
BSA Paddle Craft Safety training and local implementation of that program.
Review other training options as discussed in Aquatics Supervision, including
where and how training in these activities can be obtained. Note differences
betweenflatwater,movingwater,andwhitewaterskillsandexperience.
Review and discuss point 6, “Skill Proficiency.”
Planning
Plan ahead for safety! Point out that good planning consists of living the
event in advance. Think of the problems that could develop and be prepared
for each.
Review and discuss point 7. Display guidebooks and maps of local water-
ways. Distribute and review a sample float plan.
Remind the participants that weather is an important factor in trip planning
and protection. Discuss sources of weather information for the local area:
both forecasts for planning and weather alerts during a trip. Refer partici-
pants to online weather hazards training available through My Scouting.
Display a Local Tour Permit and note the space used to confirm Safety
Afloat and CPR training.
Explainthatthefloatplanfiledwiththelocalcouncilservicecenterfor
trips on running water is not the tour permit. A float plan should be filed in
addition to any tour permit that might be required.
For Cub Scouts: Cub Scout canoeing, kayaking, and rafting do not include
“trips”or“expeditions”andarenottobeconductedonrunningwater
(i.e.,riversorstreams);therefore,someproceduresareinapplicable.Suitable
weather requires clear skies, no appreciable wind, and warm air and water.
The float plan gives the council a chance to review the plan and advise the
leader of any special river conditions. Share a copy of the float plan with
parents, and leave a copy with a member of the unit committee. Be sure to
close the float plan when you have returned.
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Equipment
Reviewanddiscussthetextofpoint8.Displayandexplainthetypeof
equipment most commonly used and available in the local area. Include a
description of repair materials that should be carried. Reference: Aquatics
Supervision, Canoeing merit badge pamphlet, and the Fieldbook.
Video Options
The instructor may use a computer presentation and projection system as
an aid to discussing the above material. The presentation included with the
instructor material for BSA Paddle Craft Safety is appropriate. If a computer
presentation is used, it should promote discussion by participants.
Demonstra tion
of Water craft
Handling Skills
Safety Afloat commitment training is designed to instill awareness of
important safety guidelines; not to impart the skills needed to follow those
guidelines. BSA Paddle Craft Safety fills that training need for canoeing or
kayaking. However, if time permits, a short demonstration of boating
techniques may be added to supplement the training.
Conclusion and
Commitment
Conclude the session with a statement about the importance of protecting
youth and adults engaged in activity afloat. Request an individual
commitment to the principles of Safety Afloat, distribute the signed pocket
cards, and thank the participants for their interest and attention. Note that
the training is valid for two years.
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7
Float Trip Buddy Tag Ideas
Portable Plastic Buddy Board
The portable buddy board shown here can be made
and used by units at all aquatics activities. The top
section, used for the actual check-in procedure, can be
constructed of red oilcloth or colored plastic. The
bottom or tag-storage section is made of clear plastic.
Clear plastic pockets are then sewn on both sections
to enable easy reading of tags. Adaptable to all
surroundings, this board can be fastened to a wall at
the YMCA pool, a fence at the city pool, or a tree at the
unit swimming hole. To carry, fold lengthwise down
the center and carefully roll from bottom to keep tags
in place.
Safety Pin Buddy Tag Cluster
Forafloattrip,aneasyandinexpensive
method to keep track of buddies in boats is to
use safety pins. You need a safety pin for each
canoe, boat, or raft plus two more. Clip buddy
tags together on each safety pin representing
one craft. Slip all of the pins onto a “master”
pin to keep the group together. Add one more
safety pin that can be used to attach the entire
cluster to the leader’s PFD, available for easy
reference while on the water!
Buddy Tag, No. 01595—Print name in center with waterproof ink. Use red and blue permanent
marking pens to identify swimming classification.
Swimming Classification and Record
a. Nonswimmer—plain white
b. Beginner—color top semicircle red
c. Swimmer—color top semicircle red
and lower semicircle blue
BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA
1325 West Walnut Hill Lane
P.O. Box 152079
Irving, Texas 75015-2079
http://www.scouting.org
2009 Printing
7 30176 34539 0
34159
