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Requirements November 1938 until December 1943

(These tests must be performed before a Counselor who holds the American Red Cross Senior Life Saving Membership Card.)

To obtain this Merit Badge, a Scout must first have met the Merit Badge Requirements for Swimming, must have spent at least six hours in preparation and practice, and must demonstrate the following:

1. Demonstrate twice his ability to remove, except underpants or bathing trunks, street clothes* in 20 seconds or less.

2. Watching struggling person constantly, remove street clothes on shore in 20 seconds, enter water feet first (by jumping or running), swim 30 feet, make correct approach, and tow victim 30 feet with head carry.

3. Watching struggling person constantly, enter water feet first (by jumping or running) and -

(a) Swim 30 feet, make correct approach, and tow victim 30 feet to shore with hair carry.

(b) Swim 30 feet, make correct approach, and tow victim 30 feet to shore with cross chest carry.

4. Enter water with a pancake dive, swim 30 feet, make correct approach to a tired person and use tired swimmer's carry for 30 feet to shore.

5. In water at least 6 feet deep, demonstrate how to block effectively, or to avoid by ducking, the grasp of a struggling person and how to turn and place him in a position for towing ashore.

6. Release -

(a) Double grip on one wrist, left and right.
(b) Front strangle hold, left and right.
(c) Back strangle hold, left and right.

7. Demonstrate resuscitation, 1-1/2 minutes, prone pressure method.

8. Surface dive in 6 to 8 feet, recovering various objects three times and a 10-pound weight once.

9. In deep water, remove street clothes, and swim 100 yards.

* Street clothes mean socks, low shoes, underwear (or bathing suit), trousers, shirt, tie, and coat or sweater or sweatshirt.