This evening at our weekly scout
meeting a surprise award was presented to Mr. Brian Chase by Scoutmaster David Chase and Senior District Executive Bill Dunbar from
Old Colony Council.
In recognition of Performance of a
Significant Act of Service, The Boy Scouts of America, upon recommendation of
the National Court of Honor awarded the National Certificate of Merit to Brian
Edward Chase of Troop 2.
The National Certificate of Merit is awarded to a youth member or
adult leader who has performed a significant act of service that deserves
national recognition. The Boy Scouts of America has awarded this recognition rarely,
with only around 1500 issued since the award’s inception.
The events that led to this
recognition are detailed below:
At our Scout Meeting on Monday August 27th we had an event
at the Emery Estate behind the Weymouth Heights Club, which included a short
hike and orienteering exercise.
The troop assembled at 7 PM, and walked up Commercial Street
to the main entrance. Approximately 30 scouts and adults were involved.
As we left the Emery Estate property at dusk to return to
the clubhouse, we disturbed a wasp nest. Several adults were bit by one or more
wasps as they followed the scouts from the estate property.
During the walk back to the WHC (less than ¼ mile downhill) Mr.
Griffin, an Assistant Scoutmaster, shared with Mr. Brian Chase that he had been
bitten and was experiencing allergic symptoms. He went on to state he is highly
allergic to stings, and did not have his EpiPen with him.
Mr. Chase assisted Mr. Griffin to the Weymouth Heights
Club, which was less than 50 yards away at this point, sat him on a bench and
assessed his condition, assuring he was breathing and reasonably comfortable.
He was continuing to report symptoms of anaphylactic shock, with labored
breathing and lightheadedness, so Mr. Chase called 911, and stayed on the phone
with the operator while the ambulance, police and fire trucks arrived providing
them with details about Mr. Griffin’s condition.
Mr. Griffin remained calm on the bench outside the WHC, and
Assistant Scoutmaster Lapchak monitored him to ensure he did not experience any
breathing difficulties or become unconscious while Mr. Chase continued to talk to the
dispatcher. Assistant Scoutmaster Coughlan proceeded to the entrance of the
parking lot and guided the emergency responders onto the property. Scoutmaster
David Chase conducted the remainder of the meeting inside the clubhouse, and
all scouts stayed indoors and did not witness this event.
The ambulance arrived and the EMT’s stabilized and
transported Mr. Griffin to South Shore Hospital, where he stayed overnight for
observation. Mr. Griffin was fortunate in this case, as the ambulance responded
in a timely manner, and was able to quickly manage his anaphylactic shock. He
has since shared that had we not called 911 immediately he would have quickly
become unresponsive, and was moments from a full allergic reaction.
In response to this event, we’ve reviewed medical records, and will
follow up with all scouts and adult participants who have reported allergies in
future activities to urge open communication around these allergies and to
ensure all participants with significant allergies bring their EpiPens to all
events.
