It may take some time to fill out the forms, but the paperwork have the potential to save your scout's life!
The first page, Part A, is a consent form allowing the leaders to seek medical treatment for your scout in the event of an emergency. Without it, your child might be denied treatment.
The second and third pages, Part B, allows you to inform the leaders of any medical conditions your child has, what medicines he takes and other concerns. Allergies are noted so that treating physicians will know what treatments should be avoided. Immunizations allow treating physicians to know whether they are up to date. Where tetanus is concerned, this is valuable information. Your insurance card information is entered here, also allowing the treating hospital to expedite admissions. A copy of your insurance card is requested too. Most importantly, medications your child takes is noted with dosage information is recorded here. As a parent, you will be able to sleep soundly knowing that your scout's leaders are aware of your son's needs.
The fourth page, Part C, is a physical administered by a doctor, nurse practitioner or a physician's assistant. This one verifies that your son is able to handle the rigors of camping for more than 72 hours. This part is only needed for camp-outs that last that long-- 72 hours or more. Summer camps and High Adventures usually qualify, as well as many BSA District level camps.
The Scoutmaster will keep the records in a notebook along with the group during campouts and scouting activities should an emergency occur. The original will be kept with the Committee Chair in case the notebook gets wet or is otherwise compromised. The Committee Chair will keep the original in a confidential file so privacy will be respected. A print-out of only pertinent information will be given to the Scoutmaster and/or his assistants. This way they will know what medicines need to be taken daily or what to do for severe allergic reactions, for example. They need to know this information before an emergency occurs.
Since it is an 'Annual' record, each Spring our Scouts' parents are asked to update it. This is a good idea, since dosage of medicines may change as your scout grows and immunizations need to be updated as they are given. Why risk another tetanus shot if your son just had one? Without this update the attending physician wouldn't know.
Why not be proactive? If you take your son to a yearly well-child check up, bring along Part C and have the doctor fill it out and sign it before you leave. Better yet, bring along Part B and update immunizations when the office prints out the immunization record for school. It got into this habit and it saved me trying to remember. I just keep the forms in my medical notebook and get it done at this appointment each year.
To get all parts, download the one at 'Are you going to camp?'
Not convinced? Scroll down to the bottom of the link for the Annual Health and Medical Record BSA and watch the short video BSA made explaining why it's important.
Another resource is this link to a Fillable Annual Health and Medical Record BSA You can type the information in the blanks, print it out and sign it. Easy!
I still remember the look I got when I handed my forms to the Committee Chair in May one year. He hadn't even started asking parents for the forms yet, even though summer camp was coming up. It was a mixture of surprise and relief.
It all boils down to what's best for the boys. Leaders can best care for the boys when they are armed with permission to treat and necessary medical information. These forms provide that. Let's fill 'em out and turn 'em in.
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