Boy Scout Pocketknife Safety
Modern boys have been discouraged from using pocketknives by overprotective parents and heightened security at schools, shops and other public places. However, pocketknives are very useful tools to a Boy Scout who spends a lot of time in the outdoors hiking and camping. Scouts are allowed to carry pocketknives where permissible once they are taught knife safety and have earned their Totin' Chip Card.
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Safe Handling of a Pocketknife
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Learning knife safety can prevent accidents. Scouts are taught to always keep the blades of their pocketknife closed except when in use. This includes closing the knife before passing it to someone else. Scouts should cut away from themselves and never with the blade toward their own body. It is also unsafe to use the knife point to pry at an object, as it could break off and cause injury.
It is also wise for Scouts to check their surroundings before using a knife. They should try to keep an arm's length away from other people when using their knife to avoid accidentally cutting a bystander.
Sharp Knives are Safer
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Keep knives sharp for safety. A clean, sharp knife is safer to use than a dull one, so Scouts should learn how to maintain their pocketknife by properly sharpening it with a whetstone before any camping trip or outing. Blades of the pocketknife should be wiped down with a lint-free cloth or washed in hot, soapy water if it was used in food prep.
The hinges can be oiled with 3-In-One oil to keep easy to open because a stiff blade could injure a Scout struggling to open it.
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Totin' Chip Card
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Scouts learn knife safety to get their Totin' Chip Card. The Totin' Chip Card is awarded to Scouts after they have demonstrated the ability to safely use and care for wood tools, including the pocketknife. Boys must also show that they understand knifes are tools and not toys. The card is carried by the Scout at all times, especially at camp, to show to other Scout leaders that they are certified to carry and use a pocketknife. Unlike other awards, the card is a privilege and can be taken away should a Scout use the knife unsafely.
Official Boy Scout Pocketknife
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A Boy Scout pocketknife. The official Boy Scout pocketknife is made by Swiss Army and carries both the Boy Scout and Swiss Army logos. It is a standard two-blade knife with a can opener and screwdrivers. It does not have the cork screw common on other Swiss Army knives, since it is meant to be carried by boys under legal drinking age.
Warnings
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Scouts should not carry sheath knives. The Boy Scouts of American encourages all Boy Scouts to learn proper pocketknife safety, for pocketknives are a valuable tool when camping, hiking and on high adventure treks. The BSA discourages the use of heavy sheath knives---unless they are used to clean a fish. Otherwise, small pocketknives are considered the safer choice and most useful tool for Boy Scouts.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit pocket knife image by Igor Groshev from Fotolia.com Plaster image by Star from Fotolia.com knife image by Madrider from Fotolia.com teenager in a military cap image by Indigo Fish from Fotolia.com couteau suisse image by dead_account from Fotolia.com kinfe & sheath image by FXTW from Fotolia.com
