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Troop 308 · 60 min meeting plan
CPR & AED Sprint
Rotate compressions on a manikin, practice rescue breaths, AED pad placement. Final scenario: collapse in the mess hall. Best run with a Red Cross / AHA-trained instructor, but valuable as practice even without certification.
- First Class 7c (heart attack signs, CPR/AED)
- First Aid MB requirement 9 (CPR demonstration)
- Emergency Preparedness MB requirement 8 (CPR)
- Lifesaving MB practice
Why this format
CPR is the highest-stakes skill in the rank book. Most adults don't refresh it more than once every two years. Doing it on a real manikin with feedback is the only honest way to teach it.
If you have a Red Cross or AHA instructor in the troop, this can be a proper certification class. If not, this is a practice-only meeting. Be clear with the Scouts: practice does not equal certification, but it does count for First Class 7c.
60-minute meeting plan
| Time | Activity |
| 0–10 min | Brief: signs of heart attack vs. cardiac arrest; chain of survival |
| 10–20 min | Compression-only practice on manikin (everyone gets 2 min) |
| 20–35 min | Rescue breaths + 30:2 cycle practice |
| 35–45 min | AED placement + voice-prompt walkthrough on training AED |
| 45–55 min | Mess-hall scenario: Scout collapses; PL takes charge, calls 911, assigns roles |
| 55–60 min | Debrief, signoff per Scout, recommend Red Cross course for cert |
5 most common heart-attack signs (req 7c language)
| # | Sign |
| 1 | Chest pain or discomfort (pressure, squeezing) |
| 2 | Pain radiating to arm, jaw, neck, or back |
| 3 | Shortness of breath |
| 4 | Cold sweat, nausea, or lightheadedness |
| 5 | Unusual fatigue (especially in women) |
Compression spec to teach
| Spec | Target |
| Hand position | Center of chest, lower half of sternum |
| Depth | ≥ 2 in for adults (do not exceed 2.4 in) |
| Rate | 100–120 per minute (think 'Stayin' Alive') |
| Recoil | Full chest recoil between compressions |
| Cycle | 30 compressions : 2 breaths if trained, otherwise compression-only |
| Switch | Rotate compressors every 2 minutes to prevent fatigue |
AED steps (any model)
| Step | What to do |
| 1 | Turn on. Follow voice prompts. |
| 2 | Bare the chest; dry it; shave heavy hair if a razor is in the kit. |
| 3 | Place pads — upper right, lower left side. Diagrams on every pad. |
| 4 | Stand clear. Let it analyze. Don't touch. |
| 5 | If shock advised, clear, push button. If not, resume compressions. |
| 6 | Continue 2-min cycles until EMS arrives or victim moves. |
Per-Scout scorecard
| Skill | Demonstrated |
| Listed 5 heart-attack signs | ☐ |
| Compressions at correct depth/rate for 2 min | ☐ |
| 30:2 cycle with rescue breaths | ☐ |
| AED pad placement and voice-prompt follow | ☐ |
| Took charge in mess-hall scenario | ☐ |
Supplies
| Item | Quantity |
| CPR manikins (adult) | 2–4 |
| Training AED | 1 |
| Pocket masks / face shields | 1 per Scout |
| Disinfectant wipes | 1 pack |
| Phone for 911 simulation | 1 |
| CPR steps poster | 1 |
Important — practice vs. certification
- This meeting counts for First Class 7c (Tell + Demonstrate) when a Scoutmaster watches and signs off.
- It does NOT count as Red Cross / AHA certification, which is required for some merit badges (e.g. Lifesaving) and for many camp staff jobs.
- Recommend Scouts age 12+ take a real CPR course at least once — it's the most useful 4 hours of their year.
Sources
- Scouting America — First Class Rank Requirements (2025)
- American Heart Association — 2020 CPR Guidelines
- Red Cross — Adult CPR/AED course outline
- First Aid & Emergency Preparedness merit badge pamphlets