# Explain emergency response

Part of the Second Class guide: [Introduction & Overview](https://scouting.university/scouts-bsa/ranks/second-class/guide/index.md)

*6. First Aid and Emergency Preparedness*

> **6d.** Explain what to do in case of accidents that require emergency response in the home and backcountry. Explain what constitutes an emergency and what information you will need to provide to a responder.

Calling for help sounds simple until you're the one making the call — knowing what to say, and saying it clearly, is its own skill separate from the first aid itself.

## What Counts as an Emergency

An emergency is a situation where someone's life, health, or safety is at serious risk and immediate action is needed — not every scrape or minor illness. Use judgment: stopped breathing, severe bleeding, chest pain, a serious fall, or a hurry case from [requirement 6b](https://scouting.university/scouts-bsa/ranks/second-class/guide/req6b/) all qualify.

## Responding at Home

Call 911 (or your local emergency number), stay on the line, and follow the dispatcher's instructions. Unlock the door or send someone to flag down responders if your address might be hard to find.

## Responding in the Backcountry

Cell service may not exist. Know your group's emergency plan before you go: who carries a way to call for help (satellite communicator, radio), who stays with the injured person, and who goes for help if needed. Note your exact location — landmarks, trail markers, or GPS coordinates — before anyone leaves to get help.

## Information a Responder Needs

- **Location**: as precise as possible — address, trail name and mile marker, or GPS coordinates.
- **What happened**: the nature of the emergency.
- **Number of people involved** and their condition.
- **What help has already been given.**
- **A callback number**, if available, and your own name.

> **Tip**
>
> Stay on the line with a 911 dispatcher until they tell you to hang up — they may need more information as the situation develops, and they can often talk you through first aid while help is on the way.

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- Previous: [Prevent outdoor injuries](https://scouting.university/scouts-bsa/ranks/second-class/guide/req6c/index.md)
- Next: [Respond to vehicle accident](https://scouting.university/scouts-bsa/ranks/second-class/guide/req6e/index.md)