First Aid Skills
A Scout must be able to perform first aid for simple cuts and scrapes. This is the initial cleaning process.
Tenderfoot Requirement 4a
What is wash with soap and warm water, apply antibiotic ointment, and cover the wound with a bandage?
A Scout learns this simple joining knot at the Tenderfoot rank to tie two ropes of equal diameter together securely, for things like making a continuous rope or starting a bandage.
Tenderfoot Requirement 3b
What is the Square or Reef Knot?
Second Class Scouts must demonstrate how to properly sharp their food so wildlife won't bother your campsite. This is the common method involving a rope strung between trees or using a bear bag line.
Second Class Requirement 4; Leave No Trace principles
What is Hanging food (or bear bagging)?
This man founded the Scouting movement in England in 1907 with an experimental camp on Brownsea Island, and wrote the seminal book Scouting for Boys.
History of Scouting; Rank Requirements
Who is Robert Baden-Powell (B-P)?
To earn the Camping merit badge, a required badge for Eagle Scout, a Scout must camp for a total of this many nights, including a continuous period of at least five nights.
Camping Merit Badge Requirements
What is 20 nights?
Second Class Scouts must know the first aid for a puncture wound from a nail. Besides controlling bleeding and cleaning the wound, this is the crucial instruction must they remember regarding deep puncture wounds.
Second Class Requirement 6a
What is seek medical attention (or call 911) due to the high risk of infection and potential for internal injury?
The Second Class rank requires demonstrating two types of hitches. This hitch is used to secure a rope around a post or tree, and can easily be slid up or down the post to adjust tension.
Second Class Requirement 2d
What is the two half-hitches? (The other required hitch is the taut-line hitch.)
To reach the First Class rank, a Scout must describe the six points of the Scout Law and explain "Leave No Trace." This is the first principle of Leave No Trace.
First Class Requirement 1
What is Plan Ahead and Prepare?
The BSA was founded in the United States in this specific year after Chicago publisher William D. Boyce got lost in London and was guided by the "Unknown Scout."
History Fact; Scout Handbook
What is 1910?
This specific merit badge is required for the Eagle Scout rank, and Scouts must send and receive messages in both International Morse Code and American Sign Language.
Eagle Required MBs; Signaling MB requirements
What is Signaling (or sometimes linked to Communication MB general knowledge)?
For their First Class rank, a Scout must tell the five most common signals of a heart attack. These are of the three of those signals.
First Class Requirement 7b
What is persistent, severe chest pain or pressure that may spread to the shoulder, arm, neck, or jaw; shortness of breath; nausea; dizziness; sweating?
This loop knot is often called the "King of Knots" because it creates a non-slipping, fixed loop at the end of a rope, which is vital for rescue operations or securing a line that won't tighten under strain.
First Class Requirement 8a; Pioneering MB
What is the Bowline?
Every Scout must carry these 10 items on a hike for safety. Name four of the 10 Essentials.
Rank Requirements; Scout Handbook
What is Navigation (map & compass/GPS), Sun protection (sunscreen, hat), Insulation (extra clothing), Illumination (headlamp/flashlight), First-aid supplies, Fire starter, Repair kit & tools, Nutrition (extra food), Hydration (extra water), Emergency shelter?
Scouts follow twelve specific points of the Scout Law. This is the very first point of the Scout Law.
Scout Law Requirement (Tenderfoot)
What is A Scout is Trustworthy?
This is the minimum number of total merit badges required to earn the rank of Eagle Scout.
Eagle Scout Requirements
What is 21 merit badges?
A "hurry case" for Second Class and First Class requirements is severe bleeding. These are the most effective first steps a Scout should take to control this bleeding, especially before considering advanced options like a tourniquet.
Second Class Requirement 6b; First Aid MB
What is apply direct pressure to the wound with a clean, sterile cloth or bandage?
A First Class Scout must know this adjustable loop knot, primarily used to secure guy lines on a tent or dining fly, because it slides to tighten or loosen but holds firm when the line is under tension.
First Class Requirement 8a
What is the Taut-line hitch or midshipmans hitch?
Tenderfoot Scouts must demonstrate how to build a fire. This is specific fire lay involves stacking progressively smaller wood pieces vertically into a cone shape over a small pile of tinder.
Tenderfoot Requirement 3c
What is the Teepee fire lay or cone fire?
Found on every official uniform and many Scouting certificates, this purple knot is awarded for outstanding service to youth over several years and at different levels of Scouting.
Awards & Recognition; History
What is the Silver Beaver Award?
Of the merit badges required for Eagle, at least 14 must come from a specific list of subjects deemed essential for life skills. These are three badges from that required list.
Eagle Required MB List
What is Any three from: Camping, Citizenship in the Community/Nation/World, Communication, Cycling/Hiking/Swimming, Emergency Preparedness/Lifesaving, Environmental Science, First Aid, Personal Fitness, Personal Management?
Both Second Class and First Class ranks require knowledge of treating shock. These are two signs of shock and two first aid steps a Scout should take for a victim of any serious injury.
Second Class Requirement 6a; First Class First Aid MB discussion
What are pale/clammy skin, rapid pulse/breathing, fear/anxiety, confusion, or weakness. Steps include calling 911, having the victim lie down, raising their limbs (if uninjured), and keeping them warm?
For larger Scout pioneering projects like building a flag pole or gateway, Scouts use lashings. This is the name of the most common lashing used to join two spars at a 90-degree angle.
Pioneering Merit Badge; Rank Requirement for lashing demonstration
What is the Square Lashing?
A First Class Scout must show how to use a map and compass. On a topographic map, the contour lines that are very close together indicate this about the terrain.
First Class Requirement 5a
What is a steep slope or gradient?
This international symbol represents the worldwide Scouting movement, and wearing the associated patch signifies a Scout’s membership in a global brotherhood of Scouts.
World Scouting; Rank Requirements
What is the World Crest (Fleur-de-lis with a star and binding rope)?
Scouts can earn the Bugling merit badge. This specific musical instrument must a Scout be able to play proficiently to fulfill the main requirements of this rare badge.
Bugling Merit Badge Requirements
What is the Bugle (or trumpet capable of bugle calls)?