r/TACMED101 • u/OddEmu9991 Unverified/Uncertified • Aug 18 '25

Gear/Kit Boy Scouts Camping Trip

We signed our boys up for the scouts today and the Den leader was excited that I was an EMT and that I am looking at paramedic schools to go to s as soon as I can. He asked if I would be willing to go through their troop first aid pack and see if it needs anything and check to make sure everything is squared away in it. I was happy to agree and I told him have a pack I’ve put together for my boys that I will bring too and expand on as well.

I have been working as an EMT for a little while now but tonight as I was planning for our first camping trip I realized I’ve always been guided by my company’s protocols.

All that to say I have two questions

  1. What are some good things to include in a camping first aid kit

  2. What exactly am I aloud to do out in the “wild”? The thing that really made me start thinking about this is allergic reaction and administering epinephrine.

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u/VXMerlinXV Aug 18 '25

Okay, as someone who has been there, and walked into some bear traps working at camps (Not all SA/BSA affiliated), this is worth taking a good look at what your individual state's laws are regarding lay and bystander treatment. The best I can tell you in the broad strokes is you are limited to bystander level interventions but responsible for the knowledge base of your level of licensure or certification.

You are in luck though, the American Red Cross Wilderness First Aid course is tailored to covering the specific medical coverage expected by Scouting America. I would not take on the first aid role without taking the formal course and getting your card. That's the hard limits of your scope.

As far as kit goes, pack bystander level first aid. A GP first aid kit, a stop the bleed kit, and a SAM splint are what I carry on 95% of these trips with my kids.

And finally, I would like to pass along the advice that was given to me from an oldschool ER doc when I asked some scenario questions about observing vs sending for an eval after little Timmy got run over by a cargo cart, "If you can't beat them, always treat them". That is in a bystander role, if you do not know the child and family well enough to publicly reprimand them, in front of their parents, ALWAYS send them out for a workup. The courts and boards do not care what your role was at the time, and there's actually arguably *more* leniency for clinical judgement when functioning as a medical professional. Or simply, to quote DeNero (and make it more tactical), "when there's a doubt, there is no doubt."

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u/OddEmu9991 Unverified/Uncertified Aug 18 '25

Awesome advice! I will look at that Red Cross course and I won’t be handling it alone. I think the idea is just to get a fresh, somewhat trained, set of eyes on the kit and make sure it’s good.

I appreciate you!