Q1. Why is the Boy Scouts of America doing this?
A1. The BSA has a long tradition of preparing youth and families to deal with emergencies. The emergencies of today's world demand more than ever that our young people and adults be trained to deal with many different situations. This program is designed to help prepare for those situations.
Q2. Doesn't Scouting already teach this material?
A2.One of the reasons Scouting has been so effective over the years is the fact that it offers a high-quality, comprehensive program, which includes lessons on safety and emergency preparedness. Many of those lessons are included in this program, as well as materials developed by the American Red Cross and FEMA.
Q3. Will this training really make a difference in an emergency?
A3. The key to dealing with any emergency is training and education. This program is designed to help prepare youth and adults to deal with many types of emergencies. Of course, you can never be completely prepared for every emergency, but the training and planning youth and adults learn through this program will go a long way toward helping our members deal with dangerous situations.
Q4. Aren't there other more comprehensive training programs available?
A4. Certainly there are other training programs, but few organizations have the depth of experience or track record of the BSA in preparing youth and families to deal with emergencies. We believe that in terms of age-specific training for youth, few programs can better prepare young people to respond to emergencies. The fact that the Department of Homeland Security, FEMA, and the American Red Cross all endorse this training is a testimony to the quality of this program.
Q5. Is this just a fad? Haven't you just taken advantage of the public's concerns to promote your program?
Q5. We don't take emergencies and threats to our national security lightly. Scouting has been preparing young people and their families to deal with emergencies since the Scouting movement was founded. This is a continuation of Scouting's 93-year tradition of serving communities and the nation.