Safety Merit Badge
Safety
Merit Badge
Scouting America Merit Badge Hub
Scouting America
Merit Badge Hub
Requirement Updates 2026
This Merit Badge’s Requirements have recently been updated in 2025 Scouting America Requirements (33216). Please read more about “Requirements” on the Merit Badge Hub homepage. The previous version of the Merit Badge requirements can be found in Scoutbook.
Safety Merit Badge Overview
Knowing about safety helps Scouts to make the right choices and to take the best actions to avoid accidents by making informed choices in their everyday activities and to respond appropriately during an emergency situation.
Safety Merit Badge Requirements
The previous version of the Merit Badge requirements can be found in Scoutbook
The requirements will be fed dynamically using the scout book integration
NOTE: The official merit badge pamphlets are now free and downloadable HERE or can be purchased at the Scout Shop.
1.
Safety and Hazards. Do the following:
- (a)
Explain what safety is and what it means to be safe.
Resources: What is Safety? (video)
What Does Safety Mean to You? (video) - (b)
Explain what hazards are and how people manage hazards to reduce risks of harm and to improve safety.
Resource: Hazard and Risk - What's the Difference? (video)
2.
Family and Home Safety. Do the following:
- (a)
Explain common causes of and prevention of home injuries.
Resources: Seven Common Home Injuries (website)
Home Accident Statistics (website) - (b)
Discuss the dangers involved with the use of fireworks.
Resources: Fireworks Safety (video)
Dangers of Fireworks (website) - (c)
Explain common causes of and prevention of home fires.
Resource: 5 Causes of Home Fires (website) - (d)
Using the Home Safety Checklist in the Safety merit badge pamphlet, or one approved by your counselor, inspect your home or a similar building for hazards with an adult. Review your checklist and findings with your counselor.
Resource: Home Safety Checklist (PDF) - (e)
Develop a fire-escape plan for your home or for a similar building. Include in your drawings exit routes from each room and a meeting place outside. Conduct a fire-escape drill. Review your plan and your drill with your counselor.
Resources: Home Fire Escape Planning (website)
Demonstration of Safely Escaping a House Fire (video) - (f)
Develop a family emergency action plan for evacuation because of weather or other natural disasters that occur in your area. Using a checklist in the Safety merit badge pamphlet or one approved by your counselor, assemble or inspect an emergency supplies kit. Explain to your counselor how a family would use the plan and the kit supplies in an emergency.
Resources: Checklist for a Family Emergency Evacuation Kit (PDF)
Wildfire Evacuation Planning (video)
How to Shelter in Place (video)
Evacuation Planning (website)
3.
Safety from Crime. Do the following:
- (a) Explain common types of crimes that can affect teens.
- (b)
Using a Home Security Checklist in the Safety merit badge pamphlet or one approved by your counselor, inspect your home or a similar building for crime security measures with an adult. Review your checklist and findings with your counselor.
Resource: Home Security Checklist (PDF)
4.
Safety in Public Places. Explain each of the following to your counselor:
- (a)
How a person would safely exit from public buildings, a hotel, and a stadium in an emergency.
Resources: How to Survive a Stampede (video)
How to Survive a Burning High Rise (video) - (b)
How and why Scouts would take shelter at camp.
Resources: Camp Emergency Planning (video)
Camp Evacuation Planning (website) - (c)
How should Scouts respond to an active shooter.
Resource: How to Respond to an Active Shooter (video) - (d)
The meaning of this saying: "If You See Something, Say Something.®"
Resource: If You See Something, Say Something® (video)
5.
Safeguarding Youth. Do the following:
- (a)
Discuss Scouting America's Safeguarding Youth guidelines that adults and Scouts must follow so that everyone is safe at Scouting activities.
Resource: Youth Protection Policies (video) - (b) Discuss with your counselor what situations and behaviors would prompt you to Recognize, Resist, and Report a possible abuse situation.
- (c) Discuss how you, other Scouts, leaders, and anyone can report situations suspicious for abuse through the Scouts First Helpline and other means.
6.
Safety from Assault. Explain how to avoid or prevent:
- (a)
Assault on a street
Resource: Muggers Reveal How They Target Their Victims (video) - (b) Assault at a restaurant event
- (c) Sexual assault at a party or on a date
7.
Online Safety. Discuss the following with your counselor:
- (a)
How to avoid being the victim of online crimes.
Resources: Protect Your Personal Information From Hackers and Scammers (website)
Passkeys Explained in Under 4 Minutes (video) - (b)
Common online financial scams.
Resources: Common Online Scams (video)
10 Common Internet Scams (video) - (c)
Effective online security
Resource: Effective Online Security (video) - (d)
Identity theft and how to prevent it
Resource: Preventing Identity Theft (video) - (e)
How criminals use social media to target victims.
Resource: How Criminals Use Social Media (video) - (f) How bullying, texting, and sharing photos can become crimes.
8.
Travel Safety. Explain guidelines for traveling safely:
- (a)
As a pedestrian in a city
Resource: Pedestrian Safety (video) - (b)
In a friend's car or truck
Resource: Passenger Responsibilities for Safety (website) - (c)
In a rideshare vehicle
Resources: Rideshare Safety Tips (website)
Ride-Sharing Safety (video) - (d)
On a bus
Resources: Riding a Bus Safely (video)
How to Ride a Bus Safely (video) - (e)
On a subway or train
Resource: How to Ride a Train Safely (video) - (f)
On a commercial airplane
Resource: Air Travel Do Not Do's (video)
9.
Careers. Do ONE of the following:
- (a)
Explore careers related to Safety merit badge. Research one career to learn about the training and education needed, costs, job prospects, salary, job duties, and career advancement. With permission of your parent or guardian, your research methods may include an internet or library search, an interview with a professional in the field, or a visit to a location where people in this career work. Discuss with your counselor both your findings and what about this profession might make it an interesting career.
Resources: Wondering How To Get Qualified To Work in Safety?! (video)
Building Safety Careers (video) - (b)
Explore how you could use knowledge and skills related to safety to pursue a hobby, lifestyle, or service as a volunteer. Research any training needed, expenses, and organizations that promote or support it. Discuss with your counselor what short-term and long-term goals you might have if you pursue this.
Resources: Volunteers in Mountain Rescue (video)
Safety Tips for Serving as Park Volunteer (video)
Safety as a Passion (website)
Get the Safety Merit Badge Pamphlet
Merit Badge Pamphlets are now free and publicly available. Note: Always check www.scouting.org/skills/merit-badges/all/ for the latest requirements.
