Your Medical forms are now due!
Please get your forms turned in ASAP.
Medical
Information
Top ten health tips for Jamboree:
1. Water is essential. You must have a good water bottle that
holds a least a quart of water. Remember this will have to last
for ten days of hiking and will be dropped, tossed and bumped around
often, so have a good one.
2. You will need a completed Official Jamboree Health form.
Nothing else will get you in. These have to be completed less
than one year before you attend the last day of the Jamboree in most
cases. (If you have a progressive or rapidly changing health
condition you may have to have an additional health information within
a month of leaving for the Jamboree but this information will be
covered at our pre-Jamboree meetings.) If you will be going to
the doctor for an annual physical after Mid-August, 2004 get a copy of
the Jamboree health form so the Doctor can complete that when he does
the exam.
3. If you plan to bring prescription medication to the Jamboree use
this plan. First make sure you have verification of the
medication prescribed on your health form and your health record
specifically states what medications you take and how often.
Medications will be turned into the troop Assistant Scoutmaster in
charge of health and safety and will be dispensed as needed. Make
sure you have the needed information to get an emergency re-fill of
medication(s) if for some unforeseen reason this would become necessary
on the Jamboree trip.
4. Good hiking footwear. There are buses at the Jamboree, but you
should assume that your primary means of transportation will be on
foot. (You will have to walk to the evening shows since there is
no bus option for these unless you have a disability that prevents you
from walking to them.) Come prepared to walk a minimum of five miles
per day. (Boots should be mid-height at least, see number 5
below.)
5. Sock liners save feet. You will be wearing the official Boy
Scout socks and they are mostly made of cotton fabric. When you
sweat (I did not say if since it gets up in the 90’s most July days in
Virginia) these socks can rub blisters on your feet fast. Sock
liners will help to keep moisture away from your feet and reduce
friction.
6. Camp sandals or lightweight shoes are needed. Giving your feet
a rest and chance to cool off feels like heaven after a day of
walking. It also is essential to give your hiking shoes a chance
to “air out and dry out” from time to time.
7. Waterproof boots of rubber covers are essential. When it rains
in Virginia it pours! There are puddles everywhere and with
45,000 people using the roads and paths, some of which are not hard
surface, assume there will be mud. Wet feet are blistered feet
and blistered feet are NO FUN!
8. Sunscreen is a must too. You will be outside during the
daylight hours of all days. Campsites and many program areas have
limited shade. Use sunscreen on all exposed skin even if you
think you have a good tan. (Don't forget the back of your legs
behind the knee, if this area gets burned walking and sitting will be a
real pain!
9. Insect repellent is a good idea. There are no mosquitoes to
worry about in Virginia, but they do have ticks -–yep, even deer
ticks. In some program areas it would be wise to have insect
repellent to put on. You will not need a lot and DO NOT bring
aerosol sprays because they can burst in the heat inside your
tent. Pump sprays are fine, but put them in a zip-lock bag.
Water is essential this is where it starts and where it
ends. You will get sick if you do not consumer at least 2 or 3
quarts of water everyday you are at the Jamboree. This is not a
threat, but it is a fact!
Central Minnesota Council, BSA
2004
