8th Brampton Scout Group - Since 1981
Day 1: Personal Safety
Cub Scouts
- Don’t swim unsupervised.
- Always let your parents know where you’re going to be and who you’re going to be with when you go out. Set a time to be back and wear a watch.
- If you’re feeling sick, tell your parents or another adult. Wake somebody up if you have to.
Scouters’ tip: Use hand sanitizer. Encourage youth to do the same.
Resources and Program Ideas:
- Talk about Kids Help Phone with your Pack.
Day 2: Home and Family Safety
- Don’t have bare feet in the kitchen. If hot water spills, even socks can help to minimize a burn.
- Treat burns quickly with clean, cold water. Do not apply butter or lotion.
- If you’re home alone for a little while, follow the rules that your parents have set.
Scouters’ tip: In the fall, winter and spring, proceed carefully out of your door and down any outdoor stairs, especially first thing in the morning. Ice build-up can be hard to see.
Resources and Program Ideas:
- Remember the old Shriners Hospital for Children ads featuring the Looney Toons? They’re up on YouTube, for nostalgic adults and to educate a new generation on home safety.
1990 Shriners Hospitals Burn Prevention PSA #2: Bedroom Safety With Daffy Duck
Day 3: Street and Community Safety
- Cross train tracks at designated crossings. Stop, look and listen before you cross—just like crossing the street.
- Never try to cross the tracks if a train is coming.
- Make sure your bike has a bell, lights and reflectors.
Scouters’ tip: Wear a helmet when cycling. Encourage youth to do the same.
Resources and Program Ideas:
- Visit your local power authority, or invite a visitor to speak about safety around power lines.
- Visit your local fire hall.
Day 4: Camps and Outings Safety
- In the spring and summer, be sure to wear mosquito repellant. Mosquitoes can carry West Nile Virus.
- Wear bright clothing on outings so that you’re visible to the adults.
- Don’t swim if you hear thunder or see lightning, even if a storm appears to be very far away. Alert others if you see lightning or hear thunder, and get them out of the water too.
Scouters’ tip: Perform a regular head count. Assign people in the group a number, and have them call theirs out when you sound off for a roll call.
Resources and Program Ideas:
- Learn how to safely filter water in a survival situation. Consult the Program Builder and consider the “Build a Solar Still” activity.
- Learn how to react safely when encountering real wolves in the wild.
Day 5: Bullying and Verbal Abuse
- If you’re being bullied or know of somebody who’s being bullied, tell an adult.
- Let your friends know when you’ve seen them doing something well. Everybody likes to hear “Good job!” once in a while.
- Be a good sport when you lose in a competition. Compliment your opponents after a game.
Scouters’ tip: Always be encouraging. Even when telling youth no, find a silver lining.
Resources and Program Ideas:
- Share this online video game that teaches Cub Scouts how to avoid violence (a refreshing change for a video game).
Day 6: Internet and Mobile Phone Safety
- If your computer seems to be running really slowly, or if pop-up windows keep appearing on your screen, tell your parents.
- If peers are harassing you online, remember that you can block or unfriend them.
- Don’t respond or retaliate to mean or hurtful messages.
Scouters’ tip: Run regular scans on your computer for spyware, malware and viruses. What happens on your own computer might have implications for people in the Scouting community you correspond with.
Resources and Program Ideas:
- Visit The Door That’s Not Locked, a website recommended by the RCMP with resources and information that’s appropriate for the kids in your Pack and their parents.
Day 7: Halloween Safety
- Include reflective elements in your costume.
- Bring a flashlight trick-or-treating.
- Wear a small LED light as part of your costume, or attach one to your candy sack.
Scouters’ tip: If a child’s costume requires props, such as a sword, ensure that any sharp tips are cut off and smoothed down.
Resources and Program Ideas:
- If you’re having a meeting before Halloween, plan to do it in costume. Have the Cub Scouts evaluate each other’s costumes in terms of visibility and safety. Some small changes can make a big difference in terms of safety on Halloween night.
- If your group has the funds for it, provide your Cub Scouts with glow sticks that they can wear when they go out trick-or-treating. ($9.99 for four at your Scout Shop).
