Can I wear goggles?

Yes, the requirements state that the swimmer may wear swim goggles to avoid eye irritation.

I received a message that my Health Form was incomplete. How do I resolve the issues?

The Annual Health Form is a complex document and there are many different fields that can go overlooked.  It is important that all fields are completed in order to comply with Scouting America’s policies (and be covered under our insurance). Our Leaders and the medial teams at camps we may attend will scrutinize the documentation submitted to ensure completeness.

Click here to read our article about common Health Form Issues.

Who can Attend Troop Activities?

“Who can attend Troop activities” is probably one of the questions most frequently asked of our Adult Leaders.  The answer to that question is determined by the Guide to Safe Scouting, which establishes the official BSA rules and policies for Scouting activities.

The Troop must comply with these policies, not only for the safety and security of our Scouts, adult leaders, and event attendees; but also to ensure the event is covered by BSA insurance policies.

ADULTS

Parents and guardians are always welcome to attend and participate in Troop activities.

RULE CHANGE Effective September 1, 2023
In February 2023, the BSA updated the Guide to Safe Scouting to require that any Adult participating in an overnight activity must be a registered, fee-paid Adult Leader.  This ensures all overnight participants have the appropriate background checks, clearances, and Youth Protection training.

Parents/Guardians may still participate in events during the day, but may not spend the night unless properly registered.  LEARN MORE

Other adult attendees may be accommodated with approval from the Committee Chairman and Scoutmaster.  Please request approval at least one week prior to departing for the event.

YOUTH

Youth members of the Troop may participate in Troop activities as long as they meet pre-established participation requirements.

EXAMPLE
Participation in BSA High Adventure Expeditions requires Scouts to be at least 13 years of age.

Youth who are not registered in the unit may not accompany parents or siblings in camping programs of Scouts BSA, Venturing, and Sea Scouting.BSA Guide to Safe Scouting

LIMITED EXCEPTIONS

Concurrent Participation

Families of Troop members may participate in similar activities concurrent with Troop events (e.g., biking on the Marine State Park bike trail or visiting a museum at the same time as the Troop).  These individuals are not participating as part of the Troop event and are not covered by BSA insurance coverage.

Adults who are solely responsible for non-registered youth cannot be adult leaders / participants in the Troop activity and do not count towards two-deep leadership / youth protection requirements.

EXAMPLE
An adult leader, their spouse, and a non-registered youth are participating in an activity concurrent to the Troop event.  The Adult leader CAN be a part of the event and count toward YPT requirements as their spouse can be responsible for the non-registered youth.

Conversely, if the Adult leader and non-registered youth are participating in a concurrent activity without a spouse/other adult, the Adult leader is not a part of the Troop event and does not count toward YPT requirements.

Group Ticketing

Occasionally, the Troop will receive discounted group admission / tickets for an activity.  The Troop will extend those reduced admission / ticket prices to families of Troop members if permitted by the source organization.

If families take advantage of the discount, non-members are participating in the activity concurrently and ARE NOT considered to be a part of the Troop activity.

Family Events

Occasionally, the Troop may hold events opened to our members and their families (“Family Events”).

  • BSA rules (e.g. Youth Protection, Buddy System, SAFE Swim rules) will be followed at Troop Family Events.
  • However, Family Events are not considered official Scouting activities and are not covered by BSA insurance.
  • Parents/guardians are responsible for the health and safety of their family members during these events.

Family events will be clearly designated in the description of the event in TroopTrack.

REFERENCE INFORMATION

How to complete Scout Requirement #6 and Star Requirement #6 (Protect Your Children from Child Abuse and CyberChip / Personal Safety Awareness)?

On January 1, 2023 the BSA revised Scout and Star rank requirements (#6) as follows (edits in red):

With your parent or guardian, complete the exercises in the pamphlet How to Protect Your Children From Child Abuse: A Parent’s Guide and earn the Cyber Chip Award for your grade or view the Personal Safety Awareness videos ( with your parent or Guardian’s permission)

There are two components of this requirement.

How to Protect Your Children from Child Abuse: A Parents Guide

Parents and Scouts should read the Youth Protection pamphlet that is included at the front of your Scout’s Handbook. (An online version is available here.)

Discuss the questions at the end of the pamphlet and make sure everyone understands what the BSA’s policies are regarding youth protection.

Cyber Chip / Personal Safety Awareness videos

The BSA is phasing out the Cyber Chip program in favor of the Personal Safety Awareness videos so the Troop encourages our Scouts to watch these videos on Scouting.org.

The Troop typically spends one or two meetings each year for Scouts to watch the Personal Safety Awareness videos.  If a Scout misses one of those meetings, they can watch these videos on Scouting.org.

After Completing These Activities

Once a Scout has completed the pamphlet exercises and watched the Personal Safety Awareness videos, parents should email the Scoutmaster to inform him the Scout has completed the requirement.  At our next Troop meeting, the Scoutmaster or other leader may ask some quick questions to confirm understanding before approving the requirement.

What is the BSA swim test and when is it required?

Safe Swim Defense and Safety Afloat guidelines tailor activities to swimming ability. The BSA requires that adults and youth participating in aquatic activities to undergo a Swim Test to evaluate their swimming skills and determine what activities are appropriate.

Swim Classifications

The BSA Swim Test is administered by an Aquatics Instructor, BSA; BSA Lifeguard; BSA Swimming & Water Rescue; or other lifeguard, swimming instructor, etc.  Participants start the swim test and are classified based on their ability to complete the following requirements:

  • SWIMMER’S TEST:
    • Jump feet first into water over the head in depth, level off, and begin swimming.
    • Swim 75yards in a strong manner using one or more of the following strokes: side stroke, breaststroke, trudgen, or crawl;
    • then swim 25 yards using an easy resting back stroke.
    • The 100 yards must be swum continuously and include at least one sharp turn.
    • After completing the swim, rest by floating.
  • BEGINNER’S TEST:
    • Jump feet first into water over the head in depth, level off,
    • swim 25 feet on the surface,stop, turn sharply, resume swimming as before, and return to starting place.
  • NON SWIMMER: Anyone who has not completed the beginner or swimmer tests is classified as a nonswimmer.

Participants must recertify annually.  The Troop typically organizes a swim test in the Spring and June for Scouts to complete the Swim Test requirements prior to Summer Camp.  Scouts who do not complete the test before arriving at camp can complete it at camp.

How do I request an immunization exemption?

Documented medical conditions that prevent safe administration of immunizations can be documented on the Annual Health and Medical Record.

You may also request an exemption using this request: Immunization Exemption Request.

The Immunization Exemption request will typically not impact the individual’s ability to participate in Den and Pack activities.  However, the individual requesting an exemption may be prohibited from participating in some Council or other activities considered higher risk.

How do I complete the BSA Health Form?

We work hard to keep our Scouts and other program participants safe during our events, but sometimes injuries happen. Scouts are required to complete an Annual Health & Medical Form every year so that our Leaders have the information and authorization they need to address any health issues that may arise.

Download a Copy of the Health Form

Download a copy of the BSA Health Form using the button below.  This form is the official Annual Health and Medical Record of the Boy Scouts of America. It is not valid if modified or altered. This includes deleting or crossing out sections.

Download BSA Health Form

PRO TIP
The form is designed to be completed electronically. If possible, enter the required data in the electronic version before you print it for signatures. This helps to keep the form legible and you can save the completed electronic copy for easier update in future years.

There are three parts to the BSA Health Form:

  • Part A: Informed Consent, Release Agreement, and Authorization
  • Part B: General Information/Health History
  • Part C: Pre-Participation Physical

Parts A & B are required to participate in any Scouting event and can be completed by a parent or guardian.  Part C is required for any resident campers or for events of 72 hours or more.  Part C must be completed by a certified and licensed physician (MD, DO), nurse practitioner, or physician assistant.

Completing Part A (Page 1)

Part A of the BSA Health Form is focused on providing the Troop and the BSA with consent for the individual to participate in Scouting activities, releases the BSA from claims that could result from participating in Scouting activities, and authorizes the Troop and the BSA to deliver all or some of the Scouting program to the individual.

  • Page Header
    • Enter the individual’s Full Name and Date of Birth in the specified fields.
    • The High-adventure base participants section does not need to be completed.
    • Duplicate this information on all subsequent pages (If you are completing this form electronically, this information will be populated on all subsequent pages.)
  • Informed Consent, Release Agreement, and Authorization
    • Read the content of this section.
    • If you do not want your Scout to use a BB device, check the box next to Checking this box indicates you DO NOT want your child to use a BB device.
    • If you wish to restrict the activities the individual can participate in, list them in the section titled List participant restrictions, if any.
    • If the individual has no restrictions, check the box marked None.
    • You will complete the Participant and Parent / Guardian Signatures in a future step.
  • Adults Authorized / Not Authorized to take youth to and from events.
    • This section identifies the adults who are or are not permitted to take Scouts to or from events. Include yourself as an authorized Adult.  The Pack will only let authorized adults pickup a Scout after an event.  For Council events (i.e. Day Camp), the individual picking the Scouts up from the event must be listed in this section.

Complete Part B (Pages 2 & 3)

Part B1 (page 2) of the BSA Health Form gathers general information about the individual and a health history. Part B2 (page 3) continues gathering information about the individual’s health history including information about allergies, medications, and immunizations.

  • General Information
    • Populate the fields listed in the document.  Enter the following information for the  Unit Leader and Council / unit information:
      • Unit Leader: Tim Maloney
      • Unit Leader Mobile #:  (Check TroopTrack for this information)
      • Council Name/No: Moraine Trails Council (500)
      • Unit No: Troop 457
    • Include the name of the individual’s Health/Accident Insurance Company and Policy Number as well as a photocopy/scan of both sides of the individual’s insurance card.  (Some insurance providers allow you to download a PDF copy of your insurance card which can be included with your Health Form submission.)
    • For the emergency contact, we encourage you list an individual who is less likely to be attending events with the individual.
  • Health History
    • Check the Yes or No box next to each condition to indicate whether the individual has (Yes) or does not have (No) the condition.
    • If you check Yes, explain the condition in the space provided.  Note that some conditions have additional questions that should be answered if they apply.
    • If you need additional space to explain a condition or to answer the last two questions (list surgeries / hospitalizations and other medical conditions not listed), attach additional pages to the completed health form.
  • Allergies / Medications: Complete the fields in this section.  Be sure to do the following:
    • If the questions doesn’t apply to the individual, be sure to check NO to the question.
    • If the individual has allergies, provide additional specifics in the provided space or attach additional pages to provide details.
    • If the individual does NOT routinely take medication, you should check the Check here if no medications are routinely taken option.
    • Attach additional pages if you need more space to list medications but be sure to check the If additional space is needed, please list on a separate sheet and attach option.
    • The Yes/No option below the medication listing is authorization for BSA Leaders to administer non-prescription medication to the individual.
      • Marking NO prohibits BSA Leaders from administering non-prescription medication.
      • Marking YES allows BSA Leaders to administer non-prescription medication.
      • You can limit the non-prescription medication that can be administered by listing them in the space marked Non-prescription medication administration is authorized with these exceptions.
    • For Youth Only: If you list any prescription medications or authorize non-prescription medication, a parent must sign in the location marked Administration of the above medications is approved for youth by.
  • Immunization:
    • The BSA requires that participants have a tetanus immunization received within the last 10 years.  All other immunizations are recommended by not required.  (See also How do I request an immunization exemption?)
    • Check off whether the individual has (YES) or has not (NO) received the immunization.
    • If the individual has had the disease (regardless of vaccination status), list the date of the infection.
    • List the dates of the individual received the immunization in the space provided.
    • Exemption to immunization:If the individual is would like to be considered exempt from the immunization requirements, check YES and see How do I request an immunization exemption? for additional instructions.
    • NOTE:  You may attach a copy of the individual’s immunization record to support this section, however you must populate the Yes / No and Had Disease items in this section.
  • Additional Medical History
    • There is a small box on the right side of the form where you can capture any additional information about the individual’s medical history.
    • Add any additional information that may be relevant to how the individual participates in the Scouting program.
    • Attach additional documentation as necessary.

Complete Part C

Part C of the health form requires a medical professional to complete a physical for the individual. The BSA requires that the form be completed by certified and licensed physicians (MD, DO), nurse practitioners, or physician assistants.

PRO TIP
Bring Part C with you to your Scout’s annual well visit.

Print, Sign, and Submit

If you completed the form electronically, print it out so if can be signed.

  • For Youth:
    • Have the Youth sign and date the document on Page 1 under the Participant’s Signature.
    • Have a parent or guardian sign and date the document on Page 1 under the Parent/guardian Signature for youth.
    • Have the Youth sign and date the document on Page 1 under the Participant’s Signature.
    • If any prescription medications were listed or administration of non-prescription medication were authorized, the parent/guardian should also sign the location marked Administration of the above medications is approved for youth by on page 3.
  • For Adults: Sign and date the document on Page 1 under the Participant’s Signature.

You can submit the completed and signed forms and any additional supporting documentation as a scanned or a hard copy to any adult Troop Leader.

Submission Checklist

When you submit the form, make sure the following is true:

  • All information is complete and accurate to the bet of your knowledge
  • You included all three/four pages of the Health Form.
  • All required fields are populated.
  • The appropriate signatures are on page 1 and (if necessary) page 3.
  • You included a copy of both sides if the individual’s insurance card.
  • You include any relevant supporting documentation (i.e. immunization record, immunization exemption request, additional medications, additional explanations for the medical history)
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