First Aid Merit Badge Counselor Requirements

The Boy Scouts of America uses a variety of merit badges to indicate a scout's knowledge and understanding of a variety of topics and interests. Of the over 100 merit badges offered, the first aid merit badge is required for a Boy Scout to advance in rank. A scout wanting to earn the first aid merit badge will consult with a merit badge counselor. The counselor will help the scout with learning the necessary skills and information needed to earn the merit badge.

Counselor

• A merit badge counselor can be an adult scout or an older senior scout showing an aptitude and thorough understanding of merit badge requirements. Although not a universal mandate, some local scout councils (a geographic area usually comprised of several counties or parishes) have counselor requirements for different merit badges. These accredited counselors can assist scouts throughout the district. Scout troops (the local scout group) may also designate an adult or senior scout (at least 16 years of age with Star, Life or Eagle rank) to counsel younger scouts needing a particular merit badge.

Medical Professional

• Medical training and certification is not a requirement to be a first aid merit badge counselor but it is encouraged. A doctor or emergency medical technician (EMT) is well trained in first aid procedures. Boy Scout first aid primarily deals with physical trauma and possible poisonings (reptiles, plants, etc.) that a scout can incur while scouting. Scouts are also trained to be prepared for any instance of accident or injury and respond appropriately. The medical professional is an ideal choice to counsel the scout for these contingencies.

American Red Cross

• Adults and scouts trained in advanced American Red Cross first aid can also be good first aid merit badge counselors. The Red Cross endorses training so as to reduce the immediate effects of injury (infection and pain) and transport the injured person quickly to a medical care facility. Red Cross training involves advancing levels of first aid training and can adequately cover the Boy Scout first aid merit badge requirements.

Parent

• Parents can counsel their children on the first aid merit badge requirements if the parent demonstrates to the scout's adult leaders an understanding of the merit badge requirements. Although the Boy Scouts would prefer a merit badge counselor be someone from whom the scout can learn new ideas and approaches to information, often issues like distance and rural isolation makes getting to the counselor difficult for a teenager and a parent is a more practical option.

Counselor Training

• Some scout councils and troops will have counselor training sessions so interested volunteers can learn the merit badge process and act as merit badge counselors. Sessions with doctors and trauma care providers can be for any length of time but usually involves a weekend. The prospective counselors learn what the scout will need to know to earn the first aid merit badge. In essence, a prospective adult first aid merit badge counselor will earn the badge so as to be completely knowledgeable about the merit badge. Although no badge is awarded to the adult, there may be a certificate or some other document indicating participation in the training session.