Scout Leadership Course Handout

Session area

Patrol Camp

Outline of the session

Living together as a Patrol is a true test of team work and leadership. It can also be the most positive or negative experience for a younger Scout. Appreciating how to make this positive for all involved is the key to fun leadership.

Session Notes

Health and Hygiene

Adapted from BP's CAMPFIRE YARN No. 18

Personal Hygiene Good hygiene is more than just looking neat and clean. Good hygiene practices can reduce the spread of disease. Therefore, they effect your health as well as the people with whom you interact. Healthy Scouting requires freedom to explore, which seldom involves staying clean for long. But this is different than "poor hygiene", which generally means that a person has not washed or bathed, is always messy looking, and has behaviors that will spread diseases. Be it at home, hiking in summer, or camping in the winter you must practice good hygiene practices to preserve good health. Some of those good hygiene practices are:

Bathing Regular bathing is important to remove the sweat and grime that naturally build up on a person's body. It will also allow you the opportunity to examine yourself for signs of injury, rash or sores. Use plenty of soap and hot water when you shower or have a bath. The hot water will help ease sore muscles as well.

Hand Washing Good hand washing, practiced frequently, will reduce illness. Always wash your hands after going to the restroom, after playing outdoors and after handling animals. At camp there should always be hot water available for people to wash their hands. You should always wash your hands before touching food. This is especially important if you are cooking for your whole Patrol, as many diseases can be spread through the preparation and touching of food.

Sickness is caused by germs and these can be spread in many different ways. The following items are sure ways to stop the spread of germs: Wash cups and utensils used by others before you drink or eat with them... Use your own towel and washcloth... Stay clear of people who are coughing or sneezing... Keep flies away from your food and drinks...

Dishwashing Plenty of hot water and a good soap are what it takes to get dishes clean. The soap will do a great job in ridding the dishes of dirt and left over food. The hot water should also give them enough heat so that they will dry themselves. The most sanitary way of washing dishes is the "Three Bowl System". This system is used by armies when they are on exercise in the field, and it has been used by Scouts for many years. The system works this way:
Scrape dishes into a waste container.
Remove excess food and grease in a warm, soapy water mix
Wash the dishes with hot, soapy (detergent) water by using a scrub pad, or cloth.
Rinse the dishes very in hot water.
Air-dry the dishes. Do not use a dishtowel.

Sleep Your body needs exercise to grow and to be healthy. The body also needs sufficient sleep to allow the body to grow well and restore energy. A young person between the ages of 11 and 16 needs about 8 - 9 hours of sleep a night in order for their body to develop properly.

Toilet Procedures Some of these rules are: Always keep the door closed. This will keep animals out of the facility.
Do not use the toilet as a receptacle for garbage, this will only attract animals.
Keep the toilet paper in a waterproof container.
Always, Always, Always, wash your hands after you are finished. If possible, leave a washbowl with water with soap, close by.

Remember, the disposal of human waste in the wilderness must be done with good judgment and common sense. Failure to learn the proper procedures will damage the environment. It can also lead to stomach upsets due to improper hygiene. One of the sources of Giardia lamblia in the wilderness is the improper disposal of human waste.