Age vs. Risk... A "risk" category for some MBs?

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RWSmith
Counselor

Joined: 13 Jul 2004
Posts: 55
Location: Charlotte, NC
Posted: 02 Aug 2004 12:42 pm Post subject: Age vs. Risk...
A "risk" category for some MBs?

I am branching a new thread off from the original issue.
Although, it’s no longer about the age for ‘Climbing’ MB
alone, it will suit our purpose well to continue using
Climbing as an example. If you want to see the original
thread, click here:
http://www.meritbadge.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?t=59

wagionvigil wrote:
You are correct Bob but a couple pre-requisites and it
raises the age at least a year or two. Like Before
Attempting this MB the Scout will have First Aid MB and
Current CPR certification.

I understand. I really do. However, neither the ‘First Aid’ MB
nor CPR Certification should be pre-requisites for the
‘Climbing’ MB. This is simply because neither one “builds”
upon Climbing. ‘Emergency Prep.’ builds upon and, thus,
follows ‘First Aid.’ The same applies to ‘Lifesaving’ and
‘Swimming.’ You have to know how to swim if you’re going to
take Lifesaving. But, you don’t need any First Aid or CPR
training whatsoever to learn how to climb safely. Otherwise,
the Climbing “MB” needs to be dropped and renamed an “award.”

We’ve all seen National (in recent years) placing a lot of
emphasis on showing tangible changes of minimizing “risk.” And
in all aspects, I agree, except this one... National has been
revising and “loading” up the front-ends of several MBs with
S&H stuff. (‘Climbing’ and 'Water Skiing" are perfect
examples.) Still though, National also appears to continue, as
it ALWAYS has, to try to write Merit Badges so a Scout, at any
age, could at least attempt to earn any MB. And I completely
agree with that policy. That is not mean that, if a kid is not
mature enough (be he 10 or 17), in your estimation, you can't
tell him to come back and try again, next year. By all means,
do so.

On the first of several occasions I have performed CPR, for
real, I took over compressions for a 20-something year old EMT
and a 50-something year old EMT (who had been working together
on the victim for about 7 minutes already). On my very first
compression, I could feel the 165 pound woman’s ribs snapping
and everybody heard it. (The victim was female, in her 60s.
Osteoporosis would’ve been expected for her age.) Both of
those EMTs knew instantly, that their first 7 minutes of CPR
had been for naught. We’d lost our patient before we could
even get her into the back of the ambulance. Why couldn’t they
do CPR, on an adult? Not only were they both older and more
experienced, they were also better “qualified,” too. Well,
some might say it was because they were about 5’ and 5’2” tall
and weighed about 92 and 98 pounds, respectively. But, in
reality, they just weren't do in right. So, CPR and climbing
do have one thing in common… If you don’t do it right,
somebody’s gonna die.

IMHO, girls climb better than boys because of their physical
make-up. And 6-year olds climb better than MY CAT with his
climbing gear full on. Why? Also IMHO, because kids don’t
begin to develop a sense of mortal fear until they’re about
age 9, roughly.

When it comes to earning ANY Merit Badge, the participant’s
age should not be used as a measure of his ability learn or
even safely perform and thereby, meet the requirement(s).
However, a participant (regardless of age) may lack sufficient
maturity, physical or otherwise, to safely attempt the
requirements. And though such a limitation should resolve
itself in due time, the MBC remains the final authority
concerning this, as well as any other safety issues.

And that brings us to my point… If National is going to
continue on its present course, then they need to go ahead and
pierce the veil, but not based on age, based on risk. Setup a
special classification of “risk” MBs and pre-require First Aid
and CPR (or whatever) for the whole group. And, quite frankly,
I don’t have a problem with that. It’s tap dancing around this
issue that created this problem.

What do y'all think?
_________________
Bob Smith, OA, NESA, DAV
ADC, Apache District

If you can read this, thank a teacher... If you can read it in
English, thank a Veteran.

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wagionvigil
Counselor

Joined: 21 Jul 2004
Posts: 191
Location: PA
Posted: 02 Aug 2004 06:03 pm Post subject:

Take a look at the Venturing Mountaineering Requirements. They
are almost exactly what climbing MB is except a couple of
requirements BUT the first Requirement is. "You must complete
the first aid core requirement before you begin this elective"
Remember we are talking older kids here. Why do they need to
be more prepared? It is really the same.

The First Aid Core Requirement is " Complete a standard first
aid course plus the ARC WHen Help is Delayed module or
equivalent"
I liken this to having First AId MB and CPR certification
_________________
Action Center D Rappel Tower Director 2001 and 2005 National
Jamborees
Northeast REgion Area 4 Venturing Chairman
Wagion 6 Lodge Advisor 96-99
"If you ain't A bear you're a Meal"

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Guneukitschik
Life

Joined: 02 Aug 2004
Posts: 162
Location: Waynesboro, PA
Posted: 09 Aug 2004 02:10 pm Post subject:

I have heard of Scout Camps using the age factor to limit the
number of scouts that can participate due to safety reasons,
etc. however if the proper training and equipment is
used...the age factor doesn't always apply.
But by applying a "RISK" factor...I don't know what that would
accomplish? These activities should be conducted with Trained
people...just because someone doesn't know first aid doesn't
meant they can't be an expert swimmer! Obviously some
activities are more dangerous than others...but if you are
Trained in First Aid....are you going to be less likely to get
injured participating in a certain activity?
_________________
http://www.bsatroop88.org

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