How to Earn the Girl Scout Brownie First Aid Badge

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Updated April 2023

One of the most important Legacy Badges that transferred with the new Brownie Try It program is the First Aid Try It. While young girls cannot be expected to perform intense kinds of First Aid, they should know what to do in case of an emergency. This is important because as they get older, they will have more responsibilities and will be relied on to do things as meetings and trips become more “girl led”.

If you have a resource-a parent who is a doctor or a nurse (or close friend, neighbor or grandparent who is in this field and willing to help out), an EMT or the school nurse is available, this will be a fairly easy meeting for you to lead. The only things you will have to do contact the person who is guest speaking and purchase the supplies for the First Aid Kit.

My troop earned the Brownie First Aid badge as their final Try It. (You can read about it here.)

Step 1 Find Out How to Get Help From 911

From a young age, children have been taught about the importance of calling 911 in the event of an emergency. Hopefully, none of your girls have had to do this.

One activity is to role play different scenarios about when they should call 911. Or you can have the girls stand in the middle of the room and say “Move to the right if you need to call 911, move to the left if you do not have to call 911.” This activity gets them moving and helps those who learn kinesthetically.

Some examples to use:

• Your little sister falls down and scrapes her knee.
• Your friend or an adult falls down and cannot speak.
• Your dog or cat gets hurt.
• Your neighbor’s house is on fire.
• You and your sibling are fighting.

It is important to stress remaining calm and speaking clearly so the dispatch operator can understand you and get help sent as quickly as possible.

 

By Unknown or not provided (U.S. National Archives and Records Administration) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

Step 2 Talk to Someone Who Treats Injured People

Step 4 Learn How to Treat Minor Injuries

Step 5 Know How to Prevent and Treat Outdoor Injuries

These three steps can easily be covered by your guest speaker. Before this meeting, generate a list of questions from the girls so they are prepared with good, informative questions and not on the spot silliness. You do not want to waste your meeting time fielding nonsense, so this is a crucial thing to do before this meeting. Your guest speaker will appreciate your efforts.

I recommend creating your questions as an activity at the meeting prior to earning this Try It. Have each girl think of a question to write on an index card. Have her put her name on it and you collect them and hand them out when needed.

Let your contact person know what you would like him or her to cover so that s/he can bring any necessary materials to the meeting. This person may be able to provide you with sample for the final meeting activity, making the First Aid kit.

Step 3 Making Your First Aid Kit

This is a very practical activity for your girls to do and will be something that they can use at any time.

You will need to decide what kind of kit you wish for them to create-one that is large or one that is small enough for a backpack. My troop created large ones that could be used in the car or in the house. Some troop leaders prefer smaller ones made from soap containers that hold just a few items.

I purchased my large cases at Michael’s Craft Store. Smaller soap containers can be purchased at the Dollar Store or in the travel/sample section of any drug store or big box retailer like Target or Walmart.

Tins for a Girl Scout Brownie First Aid Kit

This set of 6 tins is a cost effective way to create a DIY First Aid kit for Brownies.

Available on Amazon

Decorate the tins with washi tape.

Girl Scout Bandages Available on Amazon

You will need to decide what kind of kit you wish for them to create-one that is large or one that is small enough for a backpack.

My troop created large ones that could be used in the car or in the house. Some troop leaders prefer smaller ones made from soap containers that hold just a few items.

I purchased my large cases at Michael’s Craft Store. Smaller soap containers can be purchased at the Dollar Store or in the travel/sample section of any drug store or big box retailer like Target or Walmart.

Things to Put in Your First Aid Kit

• Band Aids (buy fun one like these)
• Neosporin
• Q Tips
• Cotton balls
• Gauze
• Disposable Thermometers (these are so cool!)

You can save money and purchase the larger sizes of these First Aid Kit items and split the cost with other Brownie troops.

What kind of First Aid Kit are you planning to make with your girls?