Learn essential emergency and survival skills for Scouts and outdoor adventures, including first aid, signalling, getting lost, shelters, emergency planning and calling for help.
⚠️ SAFETY FIRST Advanced survival activities should only be attempted with appropriate adult supervision, planning and risk assessment. Activities involving fire, water, tools, remote terrain or exposure to weather require particular care. Survival training should develop good decisions and safe habits, not encourage young people to deliberately put themselves into dangerous situations. Explorer Scouts are…
⚠️ SAFETY FIRST A whistle is a signalling tool, not a substitute for calling emergency services. If you are in immediate danger or someone is seriously injured, call 999 or 112 if you can. If you become lost, stay calm, make yourself as safe as possible and use your whistle to attract attention. Don’t keep…
⚠️ SAFETY FIRST Modern navigation tools are extremely useful, but they should not be your only navigation method in the outdoors. Phones can lose battery, GPS devices can fail, signals can be unavailable and digital maps can contain errors or outdated information. For walks where getting lost could have serious consequences, carry an appropriate map…
⚠️ SAFETY FIRST First aid is about keeping someone safe until they can receive appropriate medical care. If someone is seriously injured, unconscious, having difficulty breathing, experiencing severe bleeding or otherwise seriously unwell, call 999 or 112 and follow the emergency operator’s instructions. First aid guidance can change, so learn practical skills from a recognised…
⚠️ SAFETY FIRST Woodlands can look peaceful and familiar, but they are still natural environments with hazards that can change with the weather and season. Before heading out, consider the forecast, your route, daylight hours and the equipment you need. If you’re part of a Scout group or organised activity, follow your leader’s instructions and…
⚠️ SAFETY FIRST If you realise you’re lost, stop and tell someone if you can. Continuing to walk without knowing where you are can make the situation much worse. If you’re in immediate danger, injured, lost after dark or unable to find your way to safety, call 999 or 112 and ask for the appropriate…
⚠️ SAFETY FIRST Hypothermia is a medical emergency. If you think someone has hypothermia, call 999 or 112 for emergency help and begin appropriate first aid while you wait. Hypothermia occurs when the body’s core temperature falls below 35°C and can become life-threatening. What Should You Do If Someone Gets Hypothermia? Hypothermia is one of…
⚠️ SAFETY FIRST Heatstroke is a medical emergency and can be life-threatening. If you think someone has heatstroke, call 999 or 112 immediately and start cooling them while you wait for help. Don’t wait to see if they get better. (nhs.uk) What Should You Do If Someone Gets Heatstroke? Spending time outdoors in hot weather…
⚠️ SAFETY FIRST If you become separated from your group outdoors, your first priority is to stay safe — not to find everyone as quickly as possible. In many situations, stopping where you are is safer than wandering around looking for the group. If you’re in immediate danger, injured, lost in hazardous terrain or unable…
⚠️ SAFETY FIRST Panic can look frightening, but staying calm and creating a safe environment can make a big difference. Don’t assume that every episode of distress is a panic attack. Chest pain, severe difficulty breathing, fainting, confusion or other unusual or severe symptoms may have another cause and can require urgent medical attention. If…
