{"content":{"layouts":[{"type":"sidebar","areas":[{"items":[{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Cp\u003ECarry out a full risk assessment before starting any practical knife skills activity. Use the guidance on\u003Cspan\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C/span\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022/volunteers/staying-safe-and-safeguarding/risk-assessments/\u0022 title=\u0022Risk assessments\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan\u003Erisk assessment\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C/span\u003Eto help you.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003C/span\u003EFamiliarise yourself with the current law and safety aspects of using and carrying a knife in case you are questioned on it. Do some extra research at the \u003Ca href=\u0022https://www.gov.uk/buying-carrying-knives\u0022 title=\u0022Gov website selling, buying knives\u0022\u003Egov.uk website\u003C/a\u003E.\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003C/span\u003ESpend time on discussing knife law and safety aspects with your Scouts before beginning any practical aspects.\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003C/span\u003EEnsure Scouts are not carrying tools or knives on their person and make sure any tools used during a session are collected up at the end and stored safely.\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003C/span\u003EHave a suitable, safe storage to demonstrate this point and increase understanding.\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003C/span\u003EContact parents in advance to let them know that you will be doing a session on knife safety and safe knife use for survival skills. They may have objections so have some other activities in mind for Scouts to do.\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003C/span\u003EPractice your own knife skills before beginning any practical sessions with your section. Only when you are confident that you can explain and demonstrate knife skills to your Scouts should you run a session.\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003C/span\u003EWork in small manageable groups of perhaps 3 or 4 scouts to one volunteer. With younger ages this may need to be as low as one to one and the activity dependent on their ability.\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003C/span\u003EEnsure there is adequate space around each person during a knife skills session and that loose clothing or hair is tied back.\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003C/span\u003EStart with a small knife such as a Swiss Army Knife and complete small tasks such as using the small blade. Build up to a larger blade as you become more confident and dexterous.\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003C/span\u003EWork on these activities over the course of a few weeks, you do not want to rush knife skills.\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003C/span\u003EMake sure there is a first aid kit and first aider on hand. Practice treatment and dressing of cuts before beginning a practical exercise.\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003C/span\u003EPlan another activity for those Scouts whose parents do not want them to take part in practical activities using knives or for Scouts who may not be ready for this type of activity. Perhaps work on other aspects of the survival skills badge.\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003C/span\u003EThis same session could be used with adults too as part of their development into more experienced volunteers.\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003C/ul\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""}]},{"items":[{"type":"Promo","cta":"Advice on completing risk assessments","body":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EThis guidance is to help you minimise risk both before and during an activity or event.\u00A0\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E","link":{"name":"Risk assessments","id":null,"url":"/volunteers/staying-safe-and-safeguarding/risk-assessments/","newWindow":false,"target":null},"colour":"#ffe627","title":"Risk assessment","image":null,"imageFocus":"","imageId":0,"imageKey":"00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000","imageCrop":"","gridType":"card","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""}]}],"config":null}]},"prev":null,"next":{"link":"/volunteers/staying-safe-and-safeguarding/safety/safe-camping-residentials-and-outdoor-skills/scout-knife-safety-guidance/knife-skill-activities-to-try-with-your-scouts-section/","title":"Knife skill activities to try with your Scouts section"},"allParts":[{"link":"/volunteers/staying-safe-and-safeguarding/safety/safe-camping-residentials-and-outdoor-skills/scout-knife-safety-guidance/advice-for-running-a-knife-skills-session-with-your-scout-section/","title":"Advice for running a knife skills session with your Scout section"},{"link":"/volunteers/staying-safe-and-safeguarding/safety/safe-camping-residentials-and-outdoor-skills/scout-knife-safety-guidance/knife-skill-activities-to-try-with-your-scouts-section/","title":"Knife skill activities to try with your Scouts section"},{"link":"/volunteers/staying-safe-and-safeguarding/safety/safe-camping-residentials-and-outdoor-skills/scout-knife-safety-guidance/how-to-withdraw-a-knife-from-its-sheath-safely/","title":"How to withdraw a knife from its sheath safely"},{"link":"/volunteers/staying-safe-and-safeguarding/safety/safe-camping-residentials-and-outdoor-skills/scout-knife-safety-guidance/some-additional-tips-for-safe-knife-use/","title":"Some additional tips for safe knife use"}],"link":"/volunteers/staying-safe-and-safeguarding/safety/safe-camping-residentials-and-outdoor-skills/scout-knife-safety-guidance/advice-for-running-a-knife-skills-session-with-your-scout-section/","id":47451,"nodeName":"Advice for running a knife skills session with your Scout section","title":"Advice for running a knife skills session with your Scout section","type":"codexPart","image":null,"assets":null,"headerOptions":{"headerTitle":"Advice for running a knife skills session with your Scout section","headerSubTitle":null,"headerCta":null,"headerCtaText":null,"headerCtaLink":null,"headerBackgroundColour":null,"showSEOImage":false,"headerBackgroundImage":null,"quickLinks":null},"searchDescription":"","subHeader":"","browserTitle":null,"silktide":"eyJjbXMiOiJVbWJyYWNvIiwiZWRpdG9yVXJsIjoiaHR0cHM6Ly9wcm9kLWNtcy5zY291dHMub3JnLnVrLy91bWJyYWNvIy9jb250ZW50L2NvbnRlbnQvZWRpdC80NzQ1MSJ9","canonicalUrl":"https://www.scouts.org.uk/volunteers/staying-safe-and-safeguarding/safety/safe-camping-residentials-and-outdoor-skills/scout-knife-safety-guidance/advice-for-running-a-knife-skills-session-with-your-scout-section/"}