SCOUTMASTER’S MINUTE
⚜ Sometimes knowing the right thing to do in an emergency is just as important as having the courage to do it. That’s one reason why in Scouting, First Aid is an essential part of the Scout requirements. For instance, if Second Class Scout Gerald Maley of Cleveland, Ohio, had not practiced his First Aid, his friend would not be alive today. Last November, Scout Maley with his friend Norman were crossing a railroad bridge when the wind blew Maley’s hat off. It landed somewhere in the railroad yard under the bridge and the two boys climbed down to the yard to recover it. They hunted, but could not find it. Suddenly, Norman had an idea. “I’ll bet it’s on top of that box car over there.”
Up he climbed to look for it. Half way up he slipped, tried to save himself and grabbed a live wire which was hanging low.
The shock knocked him to the ground and the Scout ran to help him. Norman lay without moving and the Scout thought at first he was dead. But he had been practicing his First Aid in his Patrol. He immediately started artificial respiration in earnest just as he had practiced it in meeting the week before.
Soon Norman was breathing again, but screamed in agony as he came back to consciousness. He was terribly burned about the hands and arms. Again the Scout went into action. “Hang on, I’ll get you up to the road, we’ll find somebody who can get you to a doctor.”
“Transporting Injured,” he said to himself, “no chance for a four man carry now, I’ll have to use the good old ‘pack-strap’.”
He got Norman’s arms over his shoulders from his back and somehow managed to get up the bank to the bridge. Here he had to rest, but fortunately a car passed soon. Scout Maley hailed it and Norman was on his way to the hospital for treatment. After a few days he recovered.
The really remarkable part of this story is that Scout Maley was a smaller boy than his friend, and has a crippled leg, so that he is obliged to walk with a decided limp.
Some of you fellows with two eyes and strong arms and whole limbs might think over what this Boy Scout accomplished, as a result of his Scout training, to save his friend.
In recognition of Scout Gerald Maley’s skill, the National Board of Honor awarded him the prized medal of Merit, which is given in recognition of an outstanding act of service, putting into practice Scout skills and ideals.