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Scouts in Action – Saving A Life on a Plane

July 16, 2024 by Evan Gilder

On Thursday, July 11, 2024, Southwest Airlines flight 2847 started out like any other flight. We were a group of 10 Jewish scouts returning home from Philmont Scout Ranch, after completing a 100+ mile high adventure backpacking trek over the previous two weeks. It had already been a long day for us, having traveled for just over 5 hours from Cimarron, NM back to Denver for our flight home to LaGuardia Airport.

Midway through the flight, the flight attendants asked if there were any medical professionals on board the plane and to identify themselves by ringing their call button. Fortunately, there were two doctors and two nurse practitioners, one of them being part of our group of 10, sitting right next to me. They all immediately proceeded to the front of the plane. Thinking there were enough medical professionals to tend to what was going on, I simply looked down the aisle to see if I could figure out what was going on. Within a matter of two minutes, a call comes over the loudspeaker saying “Evan, get to the front of the plane!” Without really thinking about this, I ran to the front and saw a passenger on the floor in the first row.

As an adult leader, leading 14 youths on a high adventure trek, we adults are all required to have specific medical training including CPR and Wilderness First Aid, for any injuries that can occur when in the backcountry. Our nurse knew this and needed more assistance with the passenger in cardiac arrest. I was told to immediately begin CPR, something I had trained for over many years, but never had to actually do. The training immediately kicked in and I began compressions, while the doctors were going through the onboard medical kit that all airlines are required to carry. It was fairly evident that the passenger was blue and cyanotic.

There were no fewer than 4 of us working on this passenger in a very tight space between the aisle and the exit door. The two nurses were working on bagging him (forcing air into his lungs), while the doctors were continuing with assessment and administering medication and starting an intravenous line to quickly get medication into him. We all knew what had to be done and worked well together.

For those of you unaware, a person can only perform CPR for perhaps 3-4 minutes before tiring out since it is a very difficult thing to do. Thankfully, there was another passenger directly behind me who had offered to take over for me when I began to tire. Sensing that this was going to take a while, as soon as I ended CPR, I ran to the back of the plane and started directing my Scouts to get to the front of the plane to form a CPR line since I knew who was already certified to do this. We implemented a rotating four person line to rotate each person every few minutes. Having no authority, but just taking initiative, I told everyone in the second row to move to the back of the plane so the passengers in the CPR line could remain close by at the ready.

CPR continued for well over 40 minutes and by this time, the airplane medical kit had nothing left that could be used. Still in danger, I once again ran up and down the plane and asked if anyone had any EpiPen’s. While Epinephrine is a medication often used to revive the heart, an EpiPen is a much smaller dosage for an allergic reaction, something very different than a heart attack. It was thought that there was no harm at this point, since we were out of any other options. I was able to get 3 Epipen’s and immediately got them to the front of the plane. On final approach, all 3 EpiPen’s were administered in the passenger’s leg muscle.

As we were making an emergency landing in Pittsburgh, the flight attendant wanted us all seated and strapped in. One of the doctors, in a very gentle tone, said that if we did that, the patient would surely die. Compromising, we moved the patient to the floor in the first row where everyone could continue to work on him, while seated and leaning over, but not strapped in. That left two standing people and the flight attendant who could not sit because the passenger was in the way of her seat. I had the passengers create a crisscross with their arms across the aisle, holding the opposite side chair arms so that anyone in the aisle, as long as they were low, would be safe as the plane rapidly decelerated. It was a team effort by everyone involved.

Just before touchdown, a pulse was detected, no less than 45 minutes after CPR started. As soon as we arrived at the gate and the doors opened, emergency responders rushed in and took over from there. While I wouldn’t say he was stable, I can certainly say we did everything we could to give this passenger a chance; his heart was beating when he left the plane.

I failed to mention that immediately next to where we were working were five members of his family occupying the remaining seats in the first row and they saw everything. They were most helpful in providing additional medical information on the passenger as we worked together.

With the passenger and family now departed, we first got a chance to relax from the adrenaline rush that we were working under. I proceeded to go up and down the plane and thank the passengers who gave us their EpiPens as well as provide an update. My simple statement was as follows: “We did what we needed to do and now he has a chance”, without really knowing what the outcome was.
On Friday, one of the doctors got an update from the family members aboard the plane. The text message read “Thank you and everyone on the plane for what you did today. Words can’t describe how lucky we are that there were so many responders on the flight. He is currently stabilized and sedated. “

People often ask me what scouting is all about and my answer is always the same: To Be Prepared for what life throws our way. I am proud to say, our group faced a challenge and showed what they can do, even when faced with a tough situation.

If you want to find Scouting near you, visit BeAScout.org.

Reach out to The National Jewish Committe on Scouting  https://www.jewishscouting.org/

Filed Under: Uncategorized

AwesomeCon 2024

February 9, 2024 by Ashante Corey-Bey

Awesome Con is Washington DC’s Comic Con! Awesome Con is a family-friendly, inclusive celebration of geek culture, bringing over 70,000 fans together with their favorite stars from across comics, movies, television, toys, games, and more!

There will be:

•Science Fair including lots of STEM activities

•Book Fair dedicated to authors and book dragons alike

•Awesome Con Jr. for the next generation of fans

•Artist Alley – a fully inclusive area for independent and aspiring artists!

•Panels of interesting topics and celebrity discussions

•Photo & Autograph Sessions with your favorite stars

•Main Hall filled with vendors, exhibitors, & lots of cosplay – NCAC has a booth for recruitment so stop by and say “hello!”

 

Best of all, this year all Scouts and Scouters get a $5 discount! Just use the promo code SCOUTS5 before checkout!

To purchase badges and see a list of celebrity guests, visit https://awesome-con.com/

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Coming in July 2024: JAMBOREE-ON-THE-WATER (JOTW)!

February 2, 2024 by Ashante Corey-Bey

July 2024: JAMBOREE-ON-THE-WATER (JOTW)! Sea Scout Ship 1176 of Springfield, Virginia USA and its partners, along with the Sea Scout Committee of the National Capital Area Council of the Boy Scouts of America (NCAC) will take the lead in organizing the inaugural Jamboree-on-the-Water in July of 2024. The idea behind having a Jamboree centered on water-based activities is that the JOTW will become the third leg of a “Triple Crown” of three different kinds of remote location Scout Jamboree adventures: (1) on land (Jamboree on the Trail), (2) in the air (Jamboree on the Air and Jamboree on the Internet) and (3) on the sea (Jamboree-on-the-water). The Jamboree-on-the-Water will be like the other two “join-in” Jamborees that allow Scouts anywhere to join in and participate by organizing local events on the same date in locations everywhere and unite in camaraderie by using modern communication technology to share their experience on the Internet and on Facebook. Together, these three events form a “trifecta” of different kinds of

Jamboree experiences that make up the “Triple Crown of Scouting.”

The Jamboree-on-the-Water will be like the other two “join-in” Jamborees that allow Scouts anywhere to join in and participate by organizing local events on the same date in locations everywhere and unite in camaraderie by using modern communication technology to share their experience on the Internet and on Facebook. Together, these three events form a “trifecta” of different kinds of Jamboree experiences that make up the “Triple Crown of Scouting.”

What is the Jamboree on the Water?

Jamboree-on-the-Water is an annual day for Scouts of the World Scout Movement to get together on the water, wherever they are in the world, at the same time. All Scouts, regardless of their age or program — Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, Venture Scouts, Rover Scouts, Guides, etc. — are invited to participate in whatever way they can, wherever they are. To participate, Scouts only need to plan and execute a water-related
event on the second weekend in July and send a short report and picture(s) for the web site and Facebook page. Sign up your unit and each participating individual online in advance to receive an official participation certificate.

When is the Jamboree on the Water?
The inaugural Jamboree-on-the-Water will be held on the second weekend of July in 2024, in remembrance of the first Sea Scout event ever back in July of 1909.

How do you participate?
Participation is easy and fun. Plan an activity involving the water on the second weekend of July. If it is not possible that weekend where you live, any activity in July could be acceptable. Register your activity and participants online to receive an official JOTW certificate after the event.

Participation patches can be purchased separately. Cub Scouts and younger Scouting sections could visit a local pond, lake, or beach as part of a weekend camp. A Scout Troop might check out a water activity of any kind, particularly involving ships, boats, canoes, kayaks or paddleboats, or take part in some educational presentation or activity done while working on water-centered Merit Badge requirements. A Venture or Rover Crew might make a Service Project out of restoring or maintaining portions of a dock or help with harbor cleanup. In their way, everyone will be on the water in solidarity with world-wide Sea Scouting, progressing together in the same direction: towards a better future through Scouting.

If you want to help in the organization, you can volunteer to be on the JOTW Event Advisory Committee (Scouts and adults) or be the representative for your council, state, or province, or serve as a national JOTW coordinator for your country.

Is there a badge or participation patch?
It would not be a true Scouting event without a badge or participation patch. Participants will be able to purchase a JOTW badge as recognition of having participated in this worldwide event. Scouts around the world are invited to suggest badge ideas. Event participants will be able to order badges online from the official JOTW website. All registered Scouts who take part will be sent a certificate by e-mail.

REGISTER your event for free certificate at:
https://www.scoutingevent.com/082-Jamboreeonthewater2024

Filed Under: Uncategorized

BSA Virginia License Plate Effort

January 16, 2024 by Ryan

Getting a BSA-branded license plate in Virginia is a project I’ve been incubating since the idea was put it in my brain back in 2020. Maryland has one, Virginia needs one, too!!

Thanks to a personal connection, I’m pleased to announce that Delegate Ian T. Lovejoy (VA-22) has agreed to sponsor a bill in the Virginia Legislature to make this a reality.

So, if you’re interested in seeing this become a reality, fill out the interest form found at the QR code link or here: https://forms.gle/NzbC2YtY5iuVmTMu7. We have a year to get at least 450 people interested in purchasing a plate before the 2025 Virginia General Assembly. Feel free to share the link and spread the word!

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Scout Names Patrol After Best Friend -Giving Tuesday 2023

November 28, 2023 by Ashante Corey-Bey

I started my scouting career in either 2011 or 2012, went all through cub scouts (pack 956) then I joined troop 956 where I became an Eagle Scout. I met my friend (Kent when I was in second grade. He is a year younger than me, so he started a year later than I did. We did not interact much, as people in different grades did not interact with each other much (I also don’t think I would’ve had time, my den at its climax had 22 people). In our brief interactions together, we did become friends around 2013. We developed a basic friendship during the pinewood derbys, then when he came to my troop my patrol was very small (4 people) so we merged patrols. We were hanging out as patrol mates for quite a while, but then that time increased, due to the addition of a girl troop joining us. His mom was, and is, the scoutmaster of the girls troop. With my dad being the ASM who was about to be the scoutmaster for the boys troop we ended up hanging out a lot. We really got a tighter friendship when we went to Pamlico Sea Base, a council high adventure. During this time, we were all sleeping in close quarters, riding jet skis, driving boats, and fishing. It was really nice to just be able to hangout with my friends but specifically Kent as we both have similar interests in aquatic activities. Earlier this year my troop merged with another troop (Troop 950) in which we had to create new patrols. My patrol was the same group of people, but we wanted to change our name a little. We went from the Underdog Patrol to the Kent Patrol, when we were naming the patrol the entire Barbenheimer craze was sweeping the country, and we were inspired when our SPL said “If you have extra time you can have a patrol song.” We all were thinking about how we could have our song be Im Just Ken(t) in which we just yell Kent when the song says Ken. We are both in similar classes at school, and I have stayed active as a JASM in my troop, so we are both still active so we don’t have to worry about how it’s gunna go after I head to college.

Filed Under: Scouting Programs, Uncategorized

Poolesville Scout Awarded a National Conservation Medal

November 5, 2023 by Sara Holtz

Poolesville Scout Awarded a National Conservation Medal

The National Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) awarded Jason Woodman of Poolesville their Conservation Medal for his outstanding efforts to create a half-acre native plant pollinator habitat in Poolesville, MD. In March 2023, Jason organized 63 volunteers who planted 391 native straight species pollinator plants at the entrance to Stevens Park. Jason’s local newspaper published an article about him receiving this award (https://www.monocacymonocle.com/images/issues_2023/MM_2023-11.pdf page 28)

The beautiful habitat provides a source of native plants, nectar from spring to fall, and a new home for wildlife including a variety of pollinators such as butterflies, birds, and bees. Moreover, the town’s response to his project has been incredible. T own residents enjoy spending time in Jason’s stunning pollinator garden, photographing native flowers and local wildlife in it, and posting comments and photos about it on local Facebook groups. A local artist painted a watercolor of the garden, and a young Poolesville resident released her butterfly in it. Inspired by Jason’s project, some residents now want to create their own native pollinator gardens.

Jason said, “It’s really an amazing honor to be 16 and recognized by a national organization for the pollinator habitat I built. I put in over 187 hours planning and implementing this habitat.” Jason aims to complete a second project to earn the BSA Distinguished Conservation Service Award (https://www.scouting.org/outdoor-programs/conservation-and-environment/conservation-awards-and-recognitions/bsa-distinguished-conservation-service-award/)(DCSA). “It’s a very rare scouting award and my 2nd project proposal was just approved by the Town of Poolesville and by the National Capital Area Council Conservation Committee,” he said. “I’m ready to start work on it very soon.”

Congratulations to Jason for this remarkable achievement!

 

Filed Under: Uncategorized

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