Your Girl Scout troop should have a “first-aider,” a first-aid kit, and completed health forms (Girl
Health History and Annual Permission Form and Family Information
Sheet) available at all meetings and activities.
A “first-aider” is a volunteer who is trained in first
aid/CPR/AED. The first-aider may be a troop leader, co-leader, or
other volunteer. You may want to have more than one first-aider in
order to lighten the load for any one person. Register
for First Aid training or take a course taught by:
- American Red Cross
- National Safety Council
- EMP America
- American Heart Association
- Health
and Safety Institute (ASHI/Medic)
About online first aid courses: Blended courses that are part
online and part in-person are allowed if they include hands-on
practice and feedback from a certified trainer. First aid courses
that are entirely online don’t meet Girl Scout safety standards.
Have a question about a first aid training? Contact training@sdgirlscouts.org
before enrolling.
Note that licensed, medical professionals, like doctors, nurses, and
paramedics, do not need additional training.
When emergency medical services will be more than 30 minutes
away from a troop activity, the troop first aider must have
wilderness first aid (WFA) or wilderness first responder (WFR)
certification. Unlike basic first aid, wilderness first aid
certification includes training on remote-assessment skills and
emergency first-aid responses to use when emergency medical services
are not readily available. Wilderness first responder certification
requires even more intensive training. A volunteer trained as a
wilderness first responder is preferred, if available. Have questions?
Contact training@sdgirlscouts.org.
When events are large (200 people or more), you’ll need to
arrange to have one “large group” first-aider for every 200
participants in addition to troop first aiders. Physicians,
physician’s assistants, nurse practitioners, registered nurses,
paramedics, military medics, lifeguards, wilderness first-aiders, and
emergency medical technicians are recommended as first-aiders for
large groups.
Be sure to see the Safety
Activity Checkpoints at sdgirlscouts.org/safety for
specific activities you have planned. Some activities require
additional safety or first aid training.