It is important for each member in the patrol to take part in meal preparation and cleanup because it is a group effort. It's your patrol's campout, so therefore you deserve to have a say in what you eat, but with that comes the responsibility of helping to prepare the meal. Preparing the meal together gives each other a sence of teamwork. It helps the patrol learn how to cook by giving each other tips and showing each other the error of their ways.

Cleanup is just as important. All scouts practice the "leave no trace" rule of camping. Therefore, every scout must participate in cleanup. Camping is a group effort and all scouts must do their part in ensuring that the camp is clean and organized.

Eating together is important as well. Saying grace and being around a table to practice manners as well as just talking is a healthy practice.

WHIPPING ROPE
Cut off any rope that has already been unraveled. Take a piece of strong string, preferable waxed and at least two feet long, and form a loop in it. Lay the loop near the end of the rope. Tightly wrap, or whip, the string around the rope. When the whipping is at least as wide as the rope is thick, slip the end through the loop and pull hard. Trip off the excess string, then whip the other rope's end. (Other methods for whipping can be found in the Pioneering merit badge pamphlet.)

FUSING ROPE
Rope and cord made of plastic or nylon will melt when explosed to heat. Cut away the frayed part of the rope, then, working in a well ventilated area, hold each end a few inches above a lighted match or candle to melt and fuse the strands together. Melted rope can be hot and sticky - don't touch the end until it has cooled. Do not try to fuse ropes made of manila, sisal, hemp, cotton, or other natural fibers, because they will burn rather than melt.

HIKING ON A HIGHWAY
Anytime you must hike along a highway or road without a sidewalk, stay in a single file on the left side, facing the traffic. Light colored clothing can make it easier for drivers to see you. If you must hike alongside a road at night, tie strips of white cloth or reflective ribbon around your right arm and leg. Even better are the fluorescent vests often worn by highway workers. use a flashlight to briten your way and to alert drives that you are there. Never hitchhike. It can be dangerous, it might be illegal, and it spoils the spirit of the hike.

HIKING ON TRAILS AND CROSS-COUNTRY
Following a trail is often the best way to reach the places you want to go. Staying on trails helps you avoid trampling plants or adding to erosion with your footsteps. It is hard to get lost if your feet are on a pathway. Whether or not your backcountry hikes are on trails or across open ground, watch where you place your feet to avoid slipping or twisting an ankle. Use bridges to cross streams. Wade through water only if there is no other way to go, and only if the water is shallow and the current is not too swift. Unfasten the hip belt of your backpack before crossing a stream. If you slip, you'll be able to fre yourself from the backpack before it can weigh you down in the water. Detour around areas that appear to be dangerous, or go back the way you came. Your safety is always much mor eimportant than reaching the destination of a hike.

STAYING FOUND
The best way to not get lost is to know at all times where you are. Before you start out, make the route of your hike on a map and then study the map to become familiar with the countryside. Find your destination on the map. What landmarks should you be able to see as you are walking? Pay attention while you are hiking. Notice the direction you are going. Watch for hills, streams, valleys, buildings, and other landscape features. If you have a map or compass, use them to pinpoint your location. Look back over your shoulder often to see how your route will look on your way back.

WHAT TO DO IF YOU ARE LOST
One day - even though you know all of the safety rules - you might wander off a trail and not be able to find it again. Or, you might take a wrong turn and no know which way to go. If you think you are lost, stop and follow the following steps:

Description

S	tay calm.	Sit down and have a sip of water and a bite of food. If you are cold, pull on a jacket or sweater. Breathe slowly and steadily.
T	hink.	Try to remember how you got where you are. Get out your map and see what you can learn from the symbols and contour lines.
O	bserve.	Look for your footprints in loose and muddy earth or in snow. Look around for landmarks that might give clues about your location.
P	lan.	If you are fairly sure of a route that will take you to a known location, move carefully. If you have a compass, use it to set a bearing in the direction of your destination. In case you need to find your way back, mark your route well with broken branches, piles of stones, or whatever else is handy.

The flag of the United States is much more than just read, white, and blue cloth. As the symbol of America, it stands for the past, present, and future of our country. It represents our people, our land, and our many ways of life. Respect the flag the ideals it represents by handling and displaying it correctly.

FLYING THE FLAG
The flag of the United States may be flown every day and, if it is made of weather-resistant material, in any conditions. A flag is usually flown from sunrise to sunset. The flag should be flown on all natonal and state holidays, and on other days proclaimed by the president. Fly the flag at half-staff to show sorrow and mourning following a national tragedy, the death of a president or other national or state figure, or to honor those who have sacrificed their lives for their country. Hoist the flag to the top of the pole, hold it for an instant, then lower it to a point half the distance between the top and the bottom of the pole. To take it down, first raise the flag back to the top of the pole, then slowly lower it. On Memorial Day, flay the flag at half-staff until noon, then hoist it to full-staff. The United States flag should never be flown upside down except as a distress signal to call for help.

HOISTING THE FLAG
It takes two people to hoist, lower, and fold the flag correctly. For hoisting, one person holds the folded flag and prvents it from touching the ground. The other person attaches the flag line, or halyard, then raises the flag briskly, keeping the line tight. When the flag has left the arms of the first person and is flowing freely, he or she steps back and salutes the flag as the other person ties the halyard to the flagpole.

LOWERING THE FLAG
One person unfastens the halyard from the pole and slowly lowers the flag while the other salutes. When the flag is within reach, the saluter gathers the flag into his or her arms. The first person removes the flag from the halyard and ties the halyard to the pole.

FOLDING THE FLAG
The two people begin by folding the flag in half lengthwise and then again in half lengthwise, keeping the blue field on the outside. Then, while one person holds the flag by the blue field, the other makes a triangular fold in the opposite end and continues folding in triangles until nothing shows but the blue field.

GREETING THE FLAG
When you are wearing your Scout uniform, with or without a hat, greet the flag with a Scout salute anytime you pass it, it passes you, or you see it being hoisted or lowered. Give the Scout salute when you receite the Pledge of Allegiance, too. When you are not in uniform, greet the flag by placing your right hand over your heart. If you are wearing a hat, remove it and hold it in your right hand over your heart.

CARRYING THE FLAG
The flag may be carried on a staff in parades, at the beginning and end of a Scout meeting, and during other ceremonies and patriotic events. It is alwways carried aloft and free, never flat or horizontally. When the flag is carried by itself, there should be a person serving as an honor guard to its left, or one on each side of it. When carried with other flags, the United States flag should be in front of the others or, if the flags are arranged in a row, the farthest to its own right. The flag of the United States is never dipped in salute to any person or thing.

DISPLAYING THE FLAG
A few basic rules ensure that the flag will always be displayed in an orderly and respectful manner:

• When flags are displayed at different heights, the United States flag flies higher than all the others. It is hoisted first and lowered last.
• When flags are displayed at equal heights, the United States is either out in front or farthest to its own right.
• To display the United States flag flat against a wall, horizontally or vertically, the blue shield should be at the top and at the flag's own right (at the observer's left).
• In a church, synagogue, temple, or auditorium, the United States flag on a staff may be placed to the clergy's or speaker's right.
• When hung over the center of a street, the United States flag should have the blue field to the north in an east-west street and to the east in a north-south street.

International usage forbids the display of the flag of one nation above that of another nation in time of peace. Flags of other nations must be flown from seperate flagpoles of equal height, and all flags should be approximately equal in size.

• Scout Oath or Promise
• Scout Law
• Scout Motto
• Scout Slogan

Poison ivy, poison oka, and poison sumac are the most common poisonous plants in the United States. Oily sap in their leaves, stems, and roots can irritate your skin and cause it to itch. Your Scout leaders or others who know about plants can show you hot to recognize and avoid the poisonous plants.

Here's a little good news. The sap of poison ivy, oak, and sumac must be on your skin for ten to twenty minutes before it binds to the cells and begins causing problems. If you think you have touched a poisonous plant, immediately wash with soap and wter. The sap can also stay on clothing and shoes, so change clothes and shoes and wash them. Calamine lotion helps to relieve the itching. Try not to scratch an affected area because that can cause the irritation to spread.

Poison Ivy	Poison Oak	Poison Sumac
Poison Ivy is a vine with pointy leaves. It grows in the east, midwest, and south. In the northern and western states, poison ivy can be a non-climbing shurb. It has three leaves per stem.	Poison oak grows in sandy soil found in the Southeast. Poison oak is identifiable by its large size. It also has three leaves.	Poison Sumac grows in a shrub or bush form with up to 13 leaflets. It is most common in northern United States bogs and in other swampy areas.

If you are eating and someone jumps from their chair and cluthes his or her throat and turns red, he may be unable to breathe. If you ever see someone like this, ask them "Are you choking?" If they nod because they cannot speak, then they are choking and the following maneuver should be performed. But, if they can say yes, caugh, or breathe, then do not perform the maneuver as you can cause more harm than good. Thrusts to the abdomen can cause rib fractures and other injuries. In this instance, encourage the victim to caugh up the object and have someone else call for help.

HOW TO PERFORM THE HEIMLICH MANEUVER
1. Stand behind the victim. Put your arms around his waist and clasp your hands together. The knuckle of one thumb should be just above his navel but below his rib cage.
2. Thrust your clasped hands inward and upward with enough force to pop loose the obstruction.
3. Repeat this Heimlich maneuver unitl the obstruction clears or medical help arrives.



If a choking person is very large or has lost conciousness, use this version of the Heimlich maneuver:
1. Lay him on the floor and sit stradding his thighs.
2. Place the heel on one hand on the victim's upper abdomen, slightly above the navel but below the rib cage.
3. Place your other hand on top of the first and press upward with quick thrusts.
4. With your index finger, probe the mouth of an unconscious victim to remove any obstructions. Be ready to start rescue breathing.
5. Repeat the Heimlich maneuver until the obstruction pops loose or until medical help arrives.

WHAT TO DO IF YOU ARE CHOKING:
If you ever choke on food and cannot breathe, put your hand around your throat. This is the universal sign for choking, and it could bring someone to your rescue. If help isn't available, perform the Heimlich maneuver on yourself by pulling your fist into your upper abdomen or you can bend over the back of a chair and force it against your belly.

FIRST AID FOR SMALL WOUNDS
Wash scratches and minor cuts with soap and water. Applying anticeptic can help prevent infection. Keep the wound clean with an adhesive bandage. On camping trips, clean and rebandage small wounds daily.
Treat large cuts by using direct pressure to stop bleeding, then keep the wound as clean as you can to limit infection. Cover an open wound with a sterile gauze pad or a clean cloth folded into a pad. Hold the pad in position with tape, a cavat bandge, or other binder. Anyone suffering a serious wound should be treated for shock and seen by a physican.

FIRST AID FOR BLISTERS
A hot spot is a warning that a blister might be forming. As soon as you notice it, treat a hot spot or blister with a "doughnut bandage" to relieve the pressure on your skin. Cut moleskin the shape of a doughnut and fit it around the injury. Shape several more "doughnuts" and stack them on top of the first. The doughnut bandage wiill keep pressure off the injury. A gel pad made of the same material used to treat burns can be applied directly over a blister to reduce friction and speed healing. Follow the instrcutions on the package. Used together, a gel pad and a moleskin doughnut provide maximum relief for blisters and hot spots. If you must continue hiking even though you think the blister will break, it might be a good idea to drain the fluid. First, wash the skin with soap and water, then sterilize a pin in the flame of a match. Prick the blister near its lower edge and press out the liquid. Keep the wound clean with a sterile bandage or gel pad and surround it with a doughnut bandage.

FIRST AID FOR BLISTERS (FIRST DEGREE):
Get the victim away from the source of heat that caused that burn and treat any hury cases - stopped breathing, no hearbeat, orserver bleeding. Try to assess the degree of the burn. A first degree burn is a mild burn which will cause the skin to be tender. It may also become red. Treat immediately by holding the burn under cold ater or apply cool, wet compresses until there is little or no pain.

POISONOUS SNAKE BITE
Snakes are common in many parts of the country, but bites from them are rare. Snames try to avoid humans and normally strike when they sense danger. Snakebites seldom result in death. The bite of a nonpoisonous snake causes on minor puncture wounds. The bite of a poisonsous snake can cause sharp, burning pain. The area around the bite might swell and become discolored; however, a poisonous snake does not inject venom every time it bits. Use a hiking stick to poke among stones and brush ahead of you when you walk through areas where snakes are common. Watch where you put your hands as you collect firewood or climb over rocks and logs.

To treat a poisonous snake bite:
1. Get the victim under medical care a soon as possible so that physicians can neutralize the venom.
2. Remove rings and other jewerly that might cause problems if the area around a bite swells.
3. If the victim must wait for medical attention to arrive, have him lie down and position the bitten part lower than the rest of his body. Encourage him to stay calm. He might be very frightened, so keep assuring him that he is being cared for.
4. Treat for shock.
5. If available withint 3 minutes of the bite, apply a venom extractor wuch as a Sawyer Extractor directly over the fang marks and leave in place for no more than 10 minutes. Properly used, the extractor can remove up to 30% of the venom. Do not make any cuts on the bite - that's an old fashioned remedy that can harm the victim much more than help him.
6. Do not apply ice to a snakebite. Ice will not help the injury, butit can damage the skin and tissue.

FIRST AID FOR NOSEBLEED:
Have the victim sit up and lean forward to prevent blood from draining into his or her throat. Pinch the nostrils together to maintain pressure on the flow. Apply a cool, wet cloth to the victim's nose and face. If beelding is server or if there are other injuries to the face and head, position the victim to keep blood out of his airway. Treat for shock and call for help.

FIRST AID FOR SUNBURN:
Sunburn is a common injury among people who enjoy being outdoors. Repeated burns can cause long-term skin damage and the potential for skin caner. People with lighter skin are most at risk, though others are not immute. Prevent sunburn by using plenty of sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) rating of at least 15. Reapply sunscreen after swimming or if you are perspiring. A broadbrimmed hat, long-sleeved shirt, and long pants provide even more protection.

FIRST AID FOR FROSTBITE:
A victim of frostbite might complain that his ears, nose, fingers, or feet feel painful and then numb. Another frostbite victim won't notice anything. You might see grayish-white patches on his skin, a sure sign of frostbite. If someone has frostbite, get the him or her into a tent or building, then warm the injury and keep it warm. If an ear or cheek is frozen, remove a glove and warm the injury with the palm of your hand. Slip a frost-bitten hand under your clothing and tuck it beneath an armpit. Treat frozen toes by putting the victim's bare feet against the warm skin of your belly. Avoid rubbing frostbitten flesh, as it can damage tissue and skin. You can also warm a frozen part by holding it in warm - not hot - running water. Or wrap it in a dry blanket. Have the patient exercise injured fingures and toes, and don't let the injured area freeze again. Get the victim to a doctor.

Most first aid you use will be for minor injuries - a scrape, a bruise, a sore ankle. You will have plenty of time to decide what to do and then to do it. However, stopped breathing, no heartbeat, severe bleeding, and internal poisoning are called hurry cases because they pose an immediate threat to a victim's life. They require quick action on the part of the first-aider.

Whenever you come upon an injured person, make a quick assessment of his condition. The assessment should take no more than fifteen to twenty seconds:

• Is he breathing? If he seems to ber unconscious, pat him on the shoulder and ask him if he is all right. Place your ear near his mouth and nose where you can hear and feel the movement of air. Watch for his chest to rise.
• Is his heart beating? Open rain gear or any outer clothing that might be hiding wounds from your view.
• Is there evidence of poisoning? Consider the victim's apearance and behavior and any clues suggesting what he might have swallowed.

Once you have ocmpleted your quick assessment, begin treatment and have someone telephone or go for help. Several people working together can treat different symptoms. When you are the only person providing first aid, start by treating the conditions that pose the greatest threat to life.

STOPPED BREATHING:A human brain will survive without oxygen for no more than five minutes before suffering serious damage. At normal temperatures, a person cannot live without air for more than ten minutes. Rescue breathing can keep someone alive until he recovers or help arrives.

1. Open the airway:

• The airway is the passage that allows air entering the mouth or nose to reach the lungs. A person cannot breathe if his airway is blocked by the back of the tongue, a chunk of food, or anything else.
• If a victim is unconscious, place him on his back. Clear his tongue from his airway by pressing on his forehead with one hand and lifting his chin with the other to tilt his head back. (If you think his neck might be injured, keep his head still and thrust his jaw forward.)
• Look in his mouth for gum, food, or other obstructions. Remove them by sweeping them out with your index finger.
• Protect the airway of any accident victim. If he begins to vomit, turn him on his side so that the vomit comes out his mouth rather than getting in his lungs.

• Reposition his head and jaw so that the tongue does not block the airway.
• Check again for obstructions in his mouth.
• Perform the Heimlich maneuver to remove anything clogged in the throat.

4. Resume rescue breathing. Continue until a medic tells you to stop or it becomes physically impossible for you to keep going.

PUNCTURE WOUNDS:
Puncture wounds can be caused by pins, spinters, nails, and fishhooks. All can be dangerous because they allow germs into a wound that is hard to clean.

For a puncture wound, its important to encourage the wound to bleed to help remove anything tha tmight have been forced inside. Use tweezers sterilized over a flame or in boiling water to pull out splinters, bits of glass, or other objects you can see. Wash the area with soap and water, apply a sterile bandage, and get the victim to a hospital.

When you have a fishhook snagged in a finger, it is best to let a doctor take the fishhook out. However, if you are in the backcountry and dont have immediate access to emergency workers, then you may have to do the job yourself.

1. Push the hook farther in until the barb comes through the skin.
2. Snip off the barb with pliers, wire cutters, or nail clippers.
3. Ease the shank of the hook back out through the point of entry.
4. Wash and bandge the wound.

SECOND-DEGREE BURNS:
If blisters form, the burn is more serious. Place the injury in cool water until the pain goes away. Let the burn dry, then protect it with a sterile gauze pad. Do not break the blisters as that makes it an open wound. Do not apply butter, creams, ointments or sprays - they are difficult to remove and can slow the healing process.

HEAT EXHAUSTION:

• Pale skin that is clammy from heavy sweating.
• Nausea and fatigue
• Dizziness and fainting
• Headache, muscle cramps, and weakness.

SHOCK:
When a person is injured or under great stress, his circulatory system might not provide enough blood to all parts of his body. That's called shock. A shock victim could have some, all, or none of these symptoms:

• A feeling of weakness
• Confusion, fear, dizziness
• Skin that is moist, clammy, cool, and pale
• A quick, weak pulse
• Shallow, rapid, and irregular breathing
• Nausea and vomiting
• Extreme thirst

FIRST AID FOR HEATSTROKE

The victim must be cooled immediately, so act fast to begin the process, however, be careful to lower the body temperature gradually to avoid further shocking the victim's system.

1. Move him to a cool, shady spot.

2. Cool him any way you can. remove outer clothing and sponge him with cool water. Cover him with wet towels, wet clothing, or whatever else is handy and fan him. Place him in a stream, in a bathtub filled with cool water, or in front of an air conditioner in a house or car. Avoid chilling, but use combinations of all available treatments.

3. Keep the victim lying down and comfortable with his head and shoulders slightly raised.

4. Monitor the victim closely. His temperature could go up again, he might vomit, and he might require rescue breathing.

5. Get emergency medical help right away.

HEATSTROKE:

Heatstroke happens when a victim's cooking system is so overworked it stops functioning. In simple terms, the body's air conditioner is broken. The victim's temperature soars to a life-threatening level. Symptoms of heatstroke can include the following: