REQUIREMENTS
1 - 3 ARE
TO SUPPOSED TO BE COMPLETED BEFORE TAKING THE MERIT BADGE. THE
SCOUT
LEADER CAN SIGN A NOTE STATING THAT THESE ITEMS WERE COMPLETED
1. Show that
you know first
aid for injuries or illnesses that could occur while swimming,
including
hypothermia, dehydration, heat reactions, muscle cramps, stings
and
bites, cuts and scrapes, spinal injuries, and hyperventilation.
2. Do the
following:
a.
Identify the
conditions that must exist before performing CPR on a person. Explain
how
to recognize such conditions.
b.
Demonstrate proper technique
for performing CPR using a training device approved by your
counselor.
3. Before doing
the following
requirements, successfully complete Second Class rank requirements 7a
through
7c and First Clas rank requirements 9a through 9c
Second Class
rank requirements:
a.
Tell what precautions
must be taken for a safe swim.
b.
Demonstrate your ability
to jump feetfirst into water over your head in depth, level off and
swim
25 feet on the surface, stop, turn sharply, resume swimming, then
return
to your starting place.
c.
Demonstrate water rescue
methods by reaching with your arm or leg, reaching with a suitable
object,
and by throwing lines and objects. Explain why swimming rescues should
not be attempted when a reaching o throwing rescue is possible, and
explain
why and how a rescue swimmer should avoid contact with the victim.
First Class rank
requirements:
a.
Tell what precautions
should be taken for a safe trip afloat.
b. Before
doing the following
requirements, successfully complete the BSA swimmer test. Jump
feetfirst
into water over your head in depth, swim 75 yards in a strong manner
using
one or more of the following strokes: sidestroke, breaststroke,
trudgen,
or crawl; then swim 25 yards using an easy, resting backstroke. The 100
yards must be swum continuously and include at least one sharp turn.
After
completing the swim, rest by floating.
c. With a
helper and a
practice victim, show a line rescue both as tender and as rescuer. (The
practice victim should be approximately 30 feet from shore in deep
water).
4. Demonstrate
survival skills
by leaping into deep water wearing clothes (shoes, socks, swim trunks,
long pants, belt, and ong-sleeved shirt). Remove shoes and socks,
remove
and inflate the shirt, and show that you can float using the shirt for
support. Remove and inflate the pants for support. Swim 50 feet using
the
inflated pants for support, then show how to reinflate the pants while
using them for support.
5. Swim
continuously for
150 yards using the following strokes in good form and in a strong
manner:
front crawl or trudgen for 25 yards, back crawl for 25 yards,
sidestroke
for 25 yards, breaststroke for 25 yards, and elementary backstroke for
50 yards.
6. Do the
following:
a.
Float faceup
in a resting position for at least one minute.
b.
Demonstrate survival
floating for at least five minutes.
c. While
wearing a properly
fitted personal floatation device (PFD), demonstrate the HELP and
huddle
positions. Explain their purposes.
d. Explain
why swimming
or survival floating will hasten the onset of hypothermia in cold
water.
7. In water
over your
head, but not to exceed 10 feet, do each of the following:
a. Use
the feetfirst
method of surface diving and bring an object up from the bottom.
b. Do a
headfirst surface
dive (pike or tuck), and bring the object up again.
c. Do a
headfirst surface
dive to a depth of at least 5 feet and swim underwater for three
strokes.
Come to the surface, take a breath, and repeat the sequence twice.
8. Do ONE of the
following:
a.
Demonstrate
snorkeling and scuba diving knowledge:
1.
Demonstrate
selection and fit of mask, snorkel, and fins; discuss safety in both
pool
and open-water snorkeling.
2.
Demonstrate proper use
of mask, snorkel, and fins for underwater search and rescue.
3. Describe
the sport of
scuba diving, and demonstrate your knowledge of BSA policies and
procedures
relating to this sport.
OR
b.
Demonstrate the following
competitive swimming skills:
1.
Racing dive
from a pool edge or dock edge (no elevated dives from racing platforms
or starting blocks)
2. Racing
form for 25 yards
on one competitive stroke (front crawl, back crawl, breaststroke, or
butterfly)
3. Racing
turns for the
stroke that you chose in 8b(2), OR, if the camp facilities cannot
accommodate
the racing turn, repeat 8b(2) with and additional stroke.
4. Describe
the sport of
competitive swimming.
9. In water at
least 8 feet
deep, show a headfirst dive (kneeling start, bent-knee start, or
standing
dive) from a dock or pool deck. Show a long shallow dive, also from the
dock or pool deck. If a low board (not to exceed 40 inches above water
at least 9 feet deep) is available, show a plain front dive.
10. Do the
following:
a.
Explain the
health benefits of regular aerobic exercise, and explain why many
people
today do not get enough of the beneficial kinds of exercise.
b. Discuss
why swimming
is favored as both a fitness and a therapeutic exercise.
c. Write a
plan for a swimming
exercise program that will promote aerobic/vascular fitness, strength
and
muscle tone, body flexibility, and weight control for a person of Scout
age. Identify resources and facilities available in your home community
that would be needed for such a program.
d. Discuss
with your counselor
the incentives and obstacles for adherence to the fitness program you
created
in requirement 10c. Explain the unique benefits that could be gained
from
this program, and discuss how personal health awareness and self
discipline
would relate to your willingness and ability to pursue such a program.
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