Boy Scouts of America

Safety Afloat

Scouts participating in water sports and activities

SUMMARY

Swimming, kayaking, or any aquatic activity will have potential hazards, even for advanced participants. Lives can be saved with proper supervision and training; lives can be and have been lost by not following Safety Afloat practices.

GENERAL INFORMATION

Safety Afloat training is designed for all authorized boating activities.* Adult leaders supervising those activities have completed their Safety Afloat training within the previous two years.

A summary of the nine points of Safety Afloat includes:

  1. Qualified Supervision—Supervision by an adult, 21 or older, who is trained in BSA Safety Afloat. Leadership is provided in ratios of one trained adult per 10 participants; for Cub Scouts, it is 1:5. At least one leader must be trained in first aid that includes CPR. Any swimming done in conjunction with the activity must be within BSA Safe Swim Defense standards.
  2. Personal Health Review—Complete health history will be needed. Are there any restrictions on the part of the participant?
  3. Swimming Ability—Complete an annual swim test. Do you know what that is?
  4. Life Jackets—Properly fitted U.S. Coast Guard–approved life jackets are worn by everyone engaged in boating activities.
  5. Buddy System—Make sure each member is accounted for, especially when in the water.
  6. Skill Proficiency—Everyone in an activity afloat must have sufficient knowledge and skill to participate safely.
  7. Planning—Check for weather and contingencies as needed prior to your activity.
  8. Equipment—All craft must be suitable for the activity, be seaworthy, and be capable of floating if capsized.
  9. Discipline—Remember that rules are only effective when they are followed.

Review the age-appropriate guidelines for afloat activities for Cub Scouting, Scouts BSA, Venturing, and Sea Scouting.

*Parasailing, kite-surfing, and unit-level use of personal watercraft are not authorized activities.

RESOURCES

Bray Barnes

Director, Global Security Innovative
Strategies

Bray Barnes is a recipient of the Distinguished Eagle Scout Award, Silver
Beaver, Silver Antelope, Silver Buffalo, and Learning for Life Distinguished
Service Award. He received the Messengers of Peace Hero award from
the royal family of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and he’s a life member of
the 101st Airborne Association and Vietnam Veterans Association. Barnes
serves as a senior fellow for the Global Federation of Competitiveness
Councils, a nonpartisan network of corporate CEOs, university presidents, and
national laboratory directors. He has also served as a senior executive for the
U.S. Department of Homeland Security, leading the first-responder program
and has two U.S. presidential appointments

David Alexander

Managing Member Calje

David Alexander is a Baden-Powell Fellow, Summit Bechtel Reserve philanthropist, and recipient of the Silver Buffalo and Distinguished Eagle Scout Award. He is the founder of Caljet, one of the largest independent motor fuels terminals in the U.S. He has served the Arizona Petroleum Marketers Association, Teen Lifeline, and American Heart Association. A triathlete who has completed hundreds of races, Alexander has also mentored the women’s triathlon team at Arizona State University.

Glenn Adams

President, CEO & Managing Director
Stonetex Oil Corp.

Glenn Adams is a recipient of the Silver Beaver, Silver Antelope, Silver Buffalo, and Distinguished Eagle Scout Award. He is the former president of the National Eagle Scout Association and established the Glenn A. and Melinda W. Adams National Eagle Scout Service Project of the Year Award. He has more than 40 years of experience in the oil, gas, and energy fields, including serving as a president, owner, and CEO. Adams has also received multiple service awards from the Texas Alliance of Energy Producers.