Be Prepared: Local Boy Scouts Test First Aid Skills

Inside Indian Valley Middle School in Lower Salford Township Saturday, a young man was seriously injured with a broken arm. Another you male had hypothermia, and, unfortunately, succumbed to his injuries. At least two other teens were treated for wounds and injuries, and were transported to safety via a stretcher made out of wooden rods and blankets.

While the injuries were fake, the scenarios were real at the annual Boy Scouts of America General Nash District First Aid Meet.

According to co-organizer Jeff Baer, of Troop 84 in North Wales Borough, 186 Scouts from 31 patrols from 17 different troops in the North Penn and Souderton Area school districts were competing for top honors at the meet, and a chance to go home with the Robert S. Lersch Memorial Trophy.

"They demonstrate their skills of First Aid," said Baer. "It's more of a competition: what do I know?"

The 11th-annual event is scheduled in March so Cub Scouts get a chance to participate, Baer said.

There was a gap in the General Nash District of the Cradle of Liberty Council of the BSA when the First Aid Meet didn't occur, Baer said. It was a much-anticipated event for local Scouts in the 1970s, 1980s and the early 1990s.

After a hiatus from the late 1990s to 2003, Baer and others revived it and brought it back to life. Since its resuscitation (see what I'm doing here?), the event has peaked at 200 Scouts.

Baer said the event does not help toward the First Aid merit badge, a required badge for Eagle Scout.

"Nobody plans for accidents: they happen," Baer said. "This makes them more prepared. You plan for things that might happen, so when they do, you're prepared."

Baer said the event lets Scouts put what they learn to practice.

"Book knowledge is one thing, but this is practical experience," Baer said. "When it happens in the field, they are better prepared."

Theo Spisak, a First Class Scout in Troop 178 in Towamencin, has competed in the First Aid Meet for three years in a row.

"It's a good opportunity to practice your First Aid skills," he said. "You work with others than just the ones who constantly work with."

Two of the most challenging scenarios on Saturday, Spisak said, were pulling a victim out of water and treating him for hypothermia, and putting 12 different splints on an injured individual. 

"You learn how to do it the first time, and the more you practice, you get better and better," he said.

First Class Scouts Daniel Trumpp and Josh Maier, both of Troop 178, also liked the strengthening of their skills at the event.

"It helps build your skills as a team," said Trumpp.

"It shows you how to handle each situation," said Maier. "Most of the time, you know less than half of what to do. With the meets, you can do better with First Aid and contribute as a team."

Michael Klitsch is new to Boy Scouts, and holds the first rank of Scout with Troop 178. He was formerly a Cub Scout with Troop 510 in Hatfield.

"My favorite thing is the food," said Klitsch. The young Scout like the First Aid Meet because it is helping him get to Eagle.

"Eagle will help you get college tuition and help me get a job too," Klitsch said. 

Spisak said he enjoys Scouting because you get to meet with your friends, and work with others his same age.

Trumpp said Scouting is a life-changing experience.

"You learn skills you need in life," he said. 

Troop 178 Scoutmaster Mark Kirkner said the meet lets Scouts see that what they are learning does have a reason.

"You could tell them something all day long, and it just passes them by," Kirkner said. "They see it's not as easy as putting a Band-Aid on."

The meet culminated in an awards ceremony, as judges tallied the Scouts' performances in the scenarios throughout the morning.

"The real winner," said Baer, "is those who walk out of here today a little bit better and a lit bit smarter. When the unusual happens, you're prepared."

Baer emphasized to the Scouts that First Aid isn't simply a checklist where the same thing is done every time.

"The first rule in First Aid: Don't make the situation worse. Don't become a victim yourself," he said. 

The overall first place winner was Troop 84's Roadrunner Patrol.

The team credited its win to troop Chaplain Gary Bentley and leader Ed Metz.

Bentley said he did First Aid years ago for a victim in a grotesque auto accident, and he's done it for accidents a couple times after that.

"This is a chance for them to practice, see what they know and don't know," Bentley said. "It's self-evaluation. Are you ready? The Scout motto is 'Be Prepared.' For what? Anything."

Here are the list of winners from Saturday's First Aid Meet:

• First Place: Troop 84, Roadrunners Patrol
• Second Place: Troop 610, Thunderbirds Patrol
• Third Place: Troop 152, Harvard MDs Patrol
• First Place Junior Division: Troop 401, Squirtle Patrol
• Second Place Junior Division: Troop 84, Eagle Patrol
• First Place for Teamwork: Troop 84, Roadrunner Patrol
• Second Place for Teamwork: Troop 152, Harvard MDs Patrol

Here are the first place winners for each year since 2003:

• 2003: Troop 141, Hot Dog Salesman Patrol
• 2004: Troop 84, Hawk Patrol
• 2005: Troop 84, Eagle Patrol
• 2006: Troop 84, Hawk Patrol
• 2007: Troop 152, Moose Patrol
• 2008: Troop 399, Horse Hospital Patrol
• 2009: Troop 84, Eagle Patrol
• 2010: Troop 610, Ace of Spades Patrol
• 2011: Troop 84, Roadrunners Patrol
• 2012: Troop 152, Swag Wolverines Patrol

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