SUMMARY
Timely and complete incident reporting provides the BSA with an opportunity for analysis of incidents that occur and promotes continuous improvement of our programs. In our experience, the sooner a clear, concise, and complete incident report is made, the sooner that an appropriate response to the incident can occur.
GENERAL INFORMATION
What is an incident? There are three types of reportable incidents:
- Near Miss—A near miss does not result in injury, illness, or damage, by definition, but it had the potential to do so.
- General Liability—Events or allegations of injury, illness, or property damage, including employment, director, and officer issues.
- Youth Protection/Membership Infraction—Allegations of abuse, violations of BSA guidelines or policies, or inappropriate behavior by a Scout/Scout leader/parent/other.
Why report an incident? The information reported from incidents helps identify areas for improvement so we can help prevent the reoccurrence of similar incidents. The BSA cannot address a concern if we do not know about it. Reporting incidents promptly is also critical so the BSA can respond in a timely manner and manage claims properly.
When do I report an incident? You should immediately contact your local council to report and get assistance with serious, fatal or abuse incidents. Report within 24 hours if an injury or illness cannot be treated by Scout-rendered first aid, a medical professional such as a doctor or nurse was needed, or an ambulance was called.
How do I report an incident? There are incident reporting tools to assist you in collecting the facts of the incident to provide to your local council. See BSA’s Incident Reporting webpage (see “All Things Incident Reporting” in the “Resources” section, below).
Reporting tips: It is important that incident reports are filled out as completely as possible. This will help bring clarity to the situation and avoid unnecessary calls or emails for additional information. Photographs of the site, facilities, vehicles, or equipment can add value to the report. Remember to include only pertinent facts about the incident. Do not assign blame or include personal opinions. Stick to the facts.
RESOURCES
Incident Reporting Tools
The Incident Reporting Tools provided below are customized for different situations, serving as valuable resources for gathering incident information. More than just filling out a form, these tools are crafted to assist you in accurately sharing all essential details with your Council.
Incident Information Reporting Tool: Use this tool to report injuries, illnesses, and incidents requiring medical attention beyond basic first aid. Suitable for situations occurring during Scouting activities or on council-owned properties.
Youth Protection/Membership Infraction Information Reporting Tool: For reporting instances of abuse, violations of BSA policies, or inappropriate behavior involving Scouts, Scout leaders, parents, or others.
Near Miss Incident Information Reporting Tool: Use this tool to report near misses – incidents that could have resulted in harm but did not. Valuable for identifying safety and program practice improvements. Near misses with clear lessons learned can bring to light opportunities to improve safety performance or program practices.
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