SWIMMING
![[EAGLE
REQ]](../meritbadgegifs/eaglereq.gif)
- Show that you know first aid for injuries or illnesses that could occur
while swimming, including hypothermia, dehydration, heat reactions, muscle
cramps, stings and bites, cuts and scrapes, spinal injuries, and
hyperventilation.
- Do the following:
- Identify the conditions that must exist before performing CPR on a
person. Explain how to recognize such conditions.
- Demonstrate proper technique for performing CPR using a training device
approved by your counselor.
- Before doing the following requirements, successfully complete Second
Class rank requirements 7a-7c and First Class rank requirements 9a-9c.
Second Class rank requirements:
(7a) Tell what precautions must be taken for a safe swim.
(7b) Demonstrate your ability to jump feetfirst into water over your head in
depth, level off and swim 25 feet on the surface, stop, turn sharply, resume
swimming, then return to your starting place.
(7c) Demonstrate water rescue methods by reaching your arm or leg, by reaching
with a suitable object, and by throwing lines and objects. Explain why
swimming rescues should not be attempted when a reaching or throwing rescue is
possible, and explain why and how a rescue swimmer should avoid contact with
the victim.
First Class rank requirements:
(9a) Tell what precautions should be taken for a safe trip afloat.
(9b) Before doing the following requirements, successfully complete the BSA
swimmer test:
Jump feetfirst into water over your head in depth, swim 75 yards in a
strong manner using one or more of the following strokes: sidestroke,
breaststroke, trudgen, or crawl; then swim 25 yards using an easy, resting
backstroke. The 100 yards must be swum continuously and include at least one
sharp turn. After completing the swim, rest by floating.
(9c) With a helper and a practice victim, show a line rescue both as tender
and as rescuer. The practice victim should be approximately 30 feet from shore
in deep water.
- Demonstrate survival skills by leaping into deep water wearing clothes
(shoes, socks, swim trunks, long pants, belt, and long-sleeved shirt). Remove
shoes and socks, remove and inflate the shirt, and show that you can float
using the shirt for support. Remove and inflate the pants for support. Swim 50
feet using the inflated pants for support, then show how to reinflate the
pants while using them for support.
- Swim continuously for 150 yards using the following strokes in good form
and in a strong manner: front crawl or trudgen for 25 yards, back crawl for 25
yards, sidestroke for 25 yards, breaststroke for 25 yards, and elementary
backstroke for 50 yards.
- Do the following:
- Float faceup in a resting position for at least one minute.
- Demonstrate survival floating for at least five minutes.
- While wearing a properly fitted personal floatation device (PFD),
demonstrate the HELP and huddle positions. Explain their purposes.
- Explain why swimming or survival floating will hasten the onset of
hypothermia in cold water.
- In water over your head, but not to exceed 10 feet, do each of the
following:
- Use the feetfirst method of surface diving and bring an object up from
the bottom.
- Do a headfirst surface dive (pike or tuck) and bring the object up
again.
- Do a headfirst surface dive to a depth of at least 5 feet and swim
underwater for three strokes. Come to the surface, take a breath, and repeat
the sequence twice.
- Do ONE of the following:
- Demonstrate snorkeling and scuba diving knowledge:
- Demonstrate selection and fit of mask, snorkel, and fins; discuss
safety in both pool and open-water snorkeling.
- Demonstrate proper use of mask, snorkel, and fins for underwater
search and rescue.
- Describe the sport of scuba diving or snorkeling, and demonstrate your
knowledge of BSA policies and procedures relating to that sport.
OR
- Demonstrate the following competitive swim skills:
- Racing dive from a pool edge or dock edge (no elevated dives from
racing platforms or starting blocks)
- Racing form for 25 yards on one competitive stroke (front crawl, back
crawl, breaststroke, or butterfly)
- Racing turns for the stroke you chose in 8b2, OR, if the camp
facilities cannot accommodate the racing turn, repeat 8b2 with an
additional stroke.
- Describe the sport of competitive swimming.
- In water at least 8 feet deep, show a headfirst dive (kneeling start,
bent-knee start, or standing dive) from a dock or pool deck. Show a long
shallow dive, also from the dock or pool deck. If a low board (not to exceed
40 inches above water at least 9 feet deep) is available, show a plain front
dive.
- Do the following:
- Explain the health benefits of regular aerobic exercise, and explain why
many people today do not get enough of the beneficial kinds of exercise.
- Discuss why swimming is favored as both a fitness and a therapeutic
exercise.
- Write a plan for a swimming exercise program that will promote
aerobic/vascular fitness, strength and muscle tone, body flexibility, and
weight control for a person of Scout age. Identify resources and facilities
available in your home community that would be needed for such a program.
- Discuss with your counselor the incentives and obstacles for staying
with the fitness program you created in requirement 10c. Explain the unique
benefits that could be gained from this program, and discuss how personal
health awareness and self-discipline would relate to your willingness and
ability to pursue such a program.
BSA Advancement ID#: 14
Pamphlet Revision Date:
2002
Requirements last revised in 2002
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