Individual Unit Bronze Unit Silver Unit Gold
Emergency Preparedness Award
The Emergency Preparedness BSA Award, first introduced in 2003 and updated in 2014, was designed with the aims mentioned above in mind.
Scouts and adult leaders can earn the individual Emergency Preparedness Award. Meanwhile, units, districts, and councils can work toward earning the bronze, silver, or gold achievement level. The awards are available at local Scout shops once specific requirements for each rank or achievement level have been met.
When a member has fulfilled the requirements, a completed application is submitted to the council. Upon approval, an Emergency Preparedness pin is awarded. The pin may be worn on civilian clothing or on the uniform, centered on the left pocket flap. The award may be earned more than once; for instance, as a young person advances through the ranks and is capable of more complex preparedness activities, but only one pin may be worn.
Individual Emergency Preparedness Award Requirements
Separate age appropriate requirements have been developed for Tiger Cubs, Wolf Cub Scouts, Bear Cub Scouts, Webelos Scouts, Boy Scouts and Varsity Scouts, Venturers and Sea Scouts, Unit Volunteer Scouters, and District/Council Volunteer Scouters.
Tiger Cub Requirements
1. Cover a family fire plan and drill, and what to do if separated from the family.
2. Discuss a family emergency plan with the family.
3. Create, plan, and practice summoning help during an emergency.
4. Take a nationally recognized first-aid course geared toward children such as American Red Cross First
Aid for Children Today (FACT).
5. Join a safe kids program such as McGruff Child Identification, Internet Safety, or Safety at Home.
6. Show and tell your family household what you have learned about preparing for emergencies.
Wolf Cub Scout Requirements
1. Create a checklist to keep your home safe.
2. Discuss a family emergency plan with the family.
3. Create, plan, and practice summoning help during an emergency.
4. Learn emergency skills and care for choking, wounds, nosebleeds, falls, and animal bites. The
emergency skills should include responses for fire safety, poisoning, water accidents, substance
abuse, and more.
5. Join a safe kids program such as the McGruff Child Identification program. Put on a training program
for your family or den on stranger awareness, Internet safety, or safety at home.
6. Make a presentation to your family on what you have learned about preparing for emergencies.
Bear Cub Scout Requirements
1. Create, plan, and practice summoning help during an emergency.
2. Learn how to shut off utilities to your home in an emergency.
3. Learn simple rescue techniques.
4. Learn emergency skills and care for choking, wounds, nosebleeds, falls, and animal bites. The
emergency skills should include responses for fire safety, poisoning, water accidents, substance
abuse, and more.
5. Put together a family emergency kit for use in the home.
6. Organize a safe kids program such as the McGruff Child Identification program. Put on a training
program for your family or den on stranger awareness, Internet safety, or safety at home.
7. Make a small display or give a presentation for your family or den on what you have learned about
preparing for emergencies.
Webelos Scout Requirements
1. Learn rescue techniques.
2. Build a family emergency kit, with an adult family member participating in the project.
3. Take a first-aid course.
4. Learn to survive extreme weather situations.
5. Learn about stranger awareness, Internet safety, or safety at home.
6. Give a presentation to your den on preparing for emergencies.
Boy Scout and Varsity Scout Requirements
1. Participate in creating an emergency plan for your home and for your troop or team's Scouting
activities. Be sure you know the details of both emergency plans.
2. Earn the First Aid or Emergency Preparedness merit badge.
3. With your troop or team, including its adult leaders, participate in emergency preparedness training
conducted by community emergency preparedness agencies.
4. Complete IS-100.b, Introduction to Incident Command System
(see ).
Venturer and Sea Scout Requirements
1. Complete a nationally recognized first-aid course or complete a nationally recognized Wilderness
First Aid course.
2. With your crew, including its adult leaders, participate in emergency preparedness training
coordinated by community emergency preparedness agencies.
3. Complete IS-100.b, Introduction to Incident Command System
(see ).
4. Plan and execute an emergency preparedness training event for a pack, troop or team.
Unit Volunteer Scouter Requirements
This award is available to all registered Scouters who serve a unit, including all leaders and committee members.
Do any three of the following:
1. Provide input to develop or improve an emergency preparedness program plan and kit for your home
and be sure all family members know the plan.
2. Participate actively in preparing an emergency action plan for your Scouting unit meeting place.
(Thisincludes all locations where you might have a meeting.)
3. Put together a unit emergency kit to be kept at your unit meeting location.
(This includes all locations where you might have a meeting.)
4. Take a basic first-aid/CPR/AED course.
5. Participate as an active volunteer in a community agency responsible for disaster preparedness.
6. Complete IS-100.b, Introduction to Incident Command System
(see ).
Council/District Volunteer Scouter Requirements
Do any three of the following:
1. Provide input to develop or improve an emergency preparedness program plan and kit for your
council or district.
2. Take a basic first-aid/CPR/AED course.
3. Participate as an active volunteer in a community agency responsible for emergency disaster
preparedness.
4. Participate actively in developing an emergency preparedness program for a council or district activity such as a camporee or Scouting show.
5. Complete IS-100.b, Introduction to Incident Command System
(see ).
District-, Council-, and Unit-Level Achievement
District- and Council-Level Achievement
• Bronze Level: If completed three of the above and if 30 percent of your traditional units have achieved the award.
• Silver Level: If completed three of the above and if 40 percent of your traditional units have achieved the award.
• Gold Level: If completed three of the above and if 50 percent of your traditional units have achieved the award.
Unit-Level Achievement
Achieve the mandatory requirements below, and:
•Bronze Level: If 30 percent of your youth and adult members have achieved the award.
• Silver Level: If 40 percent of your youth and adult members have achieved the award.
• Gold Level: If 50 percent of your youth and adult members have achieved the award.
Mandatory Unit Requirements
•The unit members conduct a check or create a unit and personal first-aid kit.
• The unit members conduct a safety check of their meeting place using the checklist in the Guide to Safe Scouting.
• The Cubmaster, Scoutmaster, Coach, or Advisor and the assistant Cubmasters, Scoutmasters, Coaches, or Advisors, and the unit committee chair have in their possession and have read the most current Guide to Safe Scouting.
• The unit members create an emergency action plan for unit use during regular meetings, tours, and activities. See .
• Greater than 40 percent of registered adults are trained in Safety Afloat and Safe Swim Defense.
• Greater than 40 percent of registered members, including at least one adult, are trained in first aid and CPR/AED by a recognized agency such as the Emergency Care and Safety Institute, the American Red Cross, or the American Heart Association.
• Greater than 40 percent of unit members completed the SCOUTStrong fitness program or earned the Quest Award.
• Mandatory for troops and teams only: All youth members with a driving permit or driver’s license have earned the Traffic Safety merit badge.
• Mandatory for troops and teams only: Greater than 40 percent of registered Scouts have earned the First Aid merit badge and are certified in CPR/Wilderness First Aid.
• Mandatory for Venturing crews only: All youth with a driving permit or driver’s license have taken Venturing Out: Keys to Safe Driving online or attended a group presentation of the Risk Zone: Transporting Scouts Safely.
• Mandatory for Venturing crews only: Greater than 40 percent of registered crew members are trained in CPR/AED by a nationally recognized agency such as the Emergency Care and Safety Institute, the American Red Cross, or the American Heart Association.
• Mandatory for troops/teams/Venturing crews only: Greater than 40 percent of registered Scouts and adults have completed IS-100.b, Introduction to Incident Command System (see ).
Do one of the following:
• The unit conducts a safety promotion with the community about emergency preparedness and/or readiness.
• Identify a unit’s risk management or health and safety officer. Attach a copy of the duties and responsibilities assigned to this position to the application.
Program Items
•Emergency Preparedness BSA pin, No. 00540 (civilian wear/uniform, centered on left pocket flap). Awarded when requirements are met. Only one pin may be worn.
• Emergency Preparedness BSA pin bronze, No. 620353
• Emergency Preparedness BSA pin silver, No. 620354
• Emergency Preparedness BSA pin gold, No. 620355
• Emergency Preparedness BSA information pocket card, No. 32185
• Emergency Preparedness BSA support recognition certificate (8'' x 10"), No. 3218