BSA lifeguard needs to be present for water sports? or not?

[cballman]

IMHO yes it does jst keep up the good work

[yardhunter]

................thanks cballman for your input & advice.

Happy Scouting...............see ya yardhunter

[riverwalk]

Since we're tryin' to tread water on this one, I'll jump in here. I'm taking Health and Safety Chair (again, haha), and haven't held this for some years. A point made me consider this. How much activity have the different Districts/Councils in here had with actual face to face training in recent years? I'm curious if online opportunities have reduced other chances for instruction and interaction in classes? Remember I haven't said Scouters can't get some training via the online methods. How well can the District people know how their District is doing?

[yardhunter]

...................I agree riverwalk, however, what is one suppose to do when the council office is 3 1/2 hours drive away?? I did have the previous poster from a bordering council offer to help & he's only 1 hour away. That's a little better & I was going to take him up on it till I snooped around on the net & found a training link. Now he has time to help others.

In my case, there probably isn't anyone available ( council hasn't given me any names yet ) to even do the aquatics sports training.

I'm not too crazy about the on-line stuff either, but the things I read on the test are common sense things I practice on the Ohio River anyway.

With gas prices as high as they are sometimes it's necessary, or, as in my case, if I has to drive 3 hours to get trained, I would simply remove my name from the MB counselor list & forget about it.

Who suffers then??........................see ya yardhunter.

[BM_Crawford]

Yea, that's a shame they don't have a satellite office or something. I understand your prediciment though. The gas prices are off the charts

[riverwalk]

Oh, I understand about drives to Council. I didn't imply that, as I haven't seen many trainings presented at Council. Most classes around here are out in the Districts. The Fast Start online is a great thing. Online training for the YPT, and Safety classes were the concern.

And the way I deal with gas prices, is to not give it much thought. We can't control it, and we have to have it, so I don't think about it haha. I do hate that I might sell my scooter though. Just too many car payments to keep it much longer, haha.

[yardhunter]

..................I agree with you about the gas prices. If one WANTS to go somewhere, a little high gas won't stop him. After all, we do boat on the river & the boats uses that same high gas.


Believe me, I'd much rather have interaction with trainers & other scouters anyday verses on-line but sometimes that's tough. Please don't take this as a boast, but in my case, my wife & I have 22+ years of safe boating, ( I can give you names of folks that won't go out with us anymore because I'm too strict with their kids wearing lifejackets ) I think the on-line is sufficient.

I value everyone's input on this thread, it's been good to see what others are doing elsewhere around the U.S.

Thank you guys.

BTW, this is a great forum & after lurking on other areas of this website, I've enjoyed reading what others think of BSA subjects.

Whoever the webmaster is ( he or she ) thank you..............see ya yardhunter

[KB1KOI]

would you think a person who has completed the mile swim and has done snokling as well as scuba bsa should get at least part credit for Lifeguard? The swimming reqs have Lifeguard as 1/2 mile (800 meters, compared to the mile swim as 1600 meters). and snokling is covered in Lifeguard.

[BM_Crawford]

would you think a person who has completed the mile swim and has done snokling as well as scuba bsa should get at least part credit for Lifeguard? The swimming reqs have Lifeguard as 1/2 mile (800 meters, compared to the mile swim as 1600 meters). and snokling is covered in Lifeguard.

No I wouldn't. Sorry its not about ability its about learned skills. Just because you have the swimming abilities does not mean you are prepared.

[ICanCanoeCanU]

I would only give credit for it if those were just very recently earned. Such as during the same week of summercamp. Much like learning CPR at camp and earning credit for the Swimming badge and Canoeing badge the same week.

[TCC7]

When I was reading this post and looked back through the nine points for Safety Afloat, you do find this in supervision.

It is strongly recommended that all units have at least one adult or older youth member currently trained as a BSA Lifeguard to assist in the planning and conducting of all activity afloat.

But I happened to look at my old Scoutmaster's Handbook (the little one) and read the old supervision rule:

A responsible adult must supervise all activity afloat and must be experienced and qualified in water safety (BSA Lifeguard, Red Cross lifeguard training, or YMCA Senior Lifesaver) and in the particular skills related to the watercraft being used, or use assistants so qualified.

When did this rule change?

[longhorneagle]

Safety Afloat which applies to boating does not require a lifeguard to be present. Safe swim defense does require a lifeguard but it doesn't require that that personal is a lifeguard.

BSA Safety Afloat
1. Qualified Supervision
2. Physical Fitness
3. Swimming Ability
4. Personal Flotation Equipment
5. Buddy System
6. Skill Proficiency
7. Planning
8. Equipment
9. Discipline

[riverwalk]

Of course, even in Safety Afloat one would need the lifeguard in the boat. So with all the questions and perspectives, one is going to have to follow their Council's directive on this. My own Council recently answered a question from me, for a unit in my District. I had been pretty sure of my answer, based on the SA training....but Council confirmed it.