Lifesaving Merit Badge

Course Overview

Lifesaving is an Eagle Required Merit Badge. The Scout must be 13 years and older to take the Lifesaving Merit Badge. Earning the Swimming Merit Badge is required before taking Lifesaving. All efforts will be made to complete all requirements for the merit badge, but if a certified CPR instructor is not on base that day, or if a Scout is not able to demonstrate all skills, then a partial will be issued. Please come prepared.

The Lifesaving Merit Badge pamphlet should be read.

Some of the strenuous requirements for earning the Lifesaving Merit Badge:

  • Swimming 400 yards without stopping, head in the water, while demonstrating front crawl, sidestroke, breaststroke, and elementary backstroke (200 yards each stroke). You should have learned these skills to earn the Swimming Merit Badge.
  • The Scout will learn and perform multiple rescues which require some strength to manipulate a person acting unconscious.
  • Retrieve a 10 pound weight in lake water between 7 to 10 feet in depth and swim back to the dock carrying the weight on your chest with two hands.

If you feel the Scout cannot perform these strenuous requirements then delay the taking of the Lifesaving Merit Badge.

Required items to bring for the Lifesaving Merit Badge:

  • BSA Annual Health and Medical Record (Parts A&B) completely filled out and signed by parent or guardian. Incomplete forms will be returned to Scout to complete before starting class. A Scout cannot take the Merit Badge without a completed form.
  • Merit Badge Blue Card signed by Scoutmaster. Make sure all three parts are filled in with your personal information.
  • Closed Toed Shoes are required while walking in Camp. No flip flops, sandals, or crocs allowed. Closed Toed Water Shoes are suggested.
  • Clothes to put over your swimsuit for requirement 9, Remove street clothes in 20 seconds or less. Street clothes includes shirt, pants/shorts, socks and shoes. These clothes will not get near the lake, but could get slightly damp as they will go over the swimsuit. We do this right after lunch to have the driest conditions possible.

The Merit Badge counselor will email you with any additional requirements, such as completing discussion questions, approximately 2 weeks before class.

Class Withdrawal and Refund Policy

Due to the limited number of scouts that we can accommodate in each class, we kindly ask that you contact us as early as possible if a scout cannot attend a class. Requests to withdraw from a class (cancel), change a class (drop/add), and/or receive a refund must be done in writing, preferably by sending an Email Chris DeRose, Administrative Professional of Programs.

Refunds will be made when the withdrawal (cancellation) is at least 2 weeks before the class date.