Be Prepared with First Aid
GSCCC Outdoor Adventure Specialist Allison Linner brought excitement to Camp Apasus on June 1st, giving girls ages seven to seventeen a thrilling opportunity to learn and practice first aid skills. With three different sessions, Girl Scout Brownies, Juniors, Cadettes, Seniors and Ambassadors each had the chance to earn their First Aid Badge and walk away with a handmade first aid kit.
Instructor Allison, who is certified in Lifeguarding, CPR, First Aid, and Wilderness First Aid, uses “a combination of worksheets, demonstrations, and role-playing scenarios in groups to teach these sessions.” Each group had different first aid badge requirements to suit their grade level. The first session, for Girl Scout Brownies, focused on how to help in an emergency and treat minor injuries. Allison spoke to them about when it is appropriate to call 911, then went around the room discussing different scenarios and whether calling emergency services was the right choice. Some got creative and came up with their own emergency situations. Girl Scout Brownie Lillian M. asked, “What if you fall out of a tree house and break your leg?” Allison responded swiftly, saying, “A fall like that is an emergency and the perfect time to call for help!”
The next session for Girl Scout Juniors also focused on discerning what is and is not an emergency. They reviewed the 3 C’s of an Emergency: Check, Call, and Care. Allison then had them make skits about an emergency to reinforce the steps they had learned. It was clear that some of the Girl Scouts had a penchant for performance, as one group reenacted a kidnapping in progress! In addition to some of the same basics covered in the session for Brownies, the Juniors also learned how to take care of someone who is sick. First, the girls went over what type of treatment is best for different illnesses and symptoms, such as colds, fevers, and stomach bugs. Next, Allison reviewed anaphylaxis and asthma, and taught the girls how EpiPens and asthma inhalers work. This session also had a focus on the outdoors, going over different types of bites and identifying the difference between poisonous and venomous animals.
The last session of the day was geared toward Girl Scout Cadettes, Seniors, and Ambassadors. Since many girls in those age groups babysit, the session focused on tending to infants and children. To prepare, the girls had the opportunity to practice the Heimlich maneuver, also known as abdominal thrusts, on a CPR infant manikin!
“My hope is that they leave knowing they can do more than they ever thought they could and that they feel confident that they know what to do in an emergency,” Instructor Allison said. “After all, the first step to dealing with an emergency is staying calm! I also think it helps bolster their commitment to helping others.”
First Aid badges are one of the most iconic recognitions that Girl Scouts can earn. GSUSA has just released an updated line of First Aid badges, reflecting current best practices in collaboration with the American Red Cross — and all-new designs for each grade level! The modernized badge line has been updated with relevant topics while retaining the essentials, such as how to get help, provide basic first aid, and respond during emergencies.
Want to practice your first aid skills? Check out these videos from the GSUSA Activity Zone.
Thank you to Tidewater Family Plus magazine for your strong support of Girl Scouts and what we do to help girls build courage, confidence and character.
Read the July issue that includes an article on the importance of first-aid training and spotlights Marsha Riibner-Cady, a Girl Scout alum who offers First Aid and CPR training here at GSCCC!
