SCOUT NOTES

Evening Post, Volume CXXVII, Issue 102, 3 May 1939, Page 20

SCOUT NOTES

One of the most dangerous possibilities arising out of any emergency is that the occurrence may produce a panic. This is a danger that is mentioned in "Scouting for Boys' and illustrated by accounts of accidents or incidents that happened in the first few years of the present century. Our i Scout training—as has been said., re-1 peatedly—aims at enabling people to keep cool, calm,; and collected when the necessity for these qualities arises. To obtain these qualities a Scout must have confidence in his own abilities. That confidence can only arise i out of a knowledge of how to deal with , the particular difficulty or problem' with which he is confronted, together with the ability to grasp what is required, utilise the means ready to hand, and act quickly. The second- and first-class tests help, because they give a general training in a number of different activities. The first-class emergency test is of real importance, and the scoutmaster should see; that incidents are staged which will enable the Scout to put into practice—even though in< make-believe—the theory that he has learnt. Panic—sudden, overpowering, unreasoning fear—may be called the psychological outcome of any emergency which affects a number of people. The sub-conscious mind takes charge, and instinct takes the place of reason. What is the antidote? A conscious effort must be made to substitute for the atmosphere of excitement, rumour, and fear one of calm and quietude. There are naturally different remedies for different forms of panic, but the remedy most useful may be described as soothing. Alarm,, fear, shock m the individual requires this kind of remedy. ' ■■. "Granny" has been dared to climb a tree. She is overcome by vertigo. She just" dare not move. The patrol have to bring her down to firm ground again. There are many ways to do it, but success is more likely to attend any one if someone whispers in her ear, "You're all right; well look after you and see that you get down safely: somebody's making a nice cup of tea." What is true of individual shock is also true of mass panic. Watch a policeman whose duty it is to see children safely across the road. Mostly you will find that he stands completely still, and waits for the youngsters to come to him. He does not wave his arms about. He does not shout at them. He rallies them by his quiet. He has a hand to ■■ hold, but it is not thrust at them. He shepherds the children across the road not so much because of his authority as because of their confidence in him. . To carry on the same analogy, nervous people are best looked after by | being shepherded, but the shepherding should be done in the Eastern and not in the Western way—by leading and not by driving. Itas good, also, to let one or two calm and sensible people i mingle with the crowd and influence them. This introduces the element of distraction. The suggestion of a cup of tea was a distraction to "Granny's" thoughts or apprehension of destruction. Calm talk, music, colour, light may all serve as beneficial distractions to an excited crowd. About Training. At troop meetings, patrol meetings, and in camp the scoutmaster or patroi leader can arrange from time to time for the staging of impromptu incidents. Lights may be turned out suddenly; a Scout may,- suddenly collapse (be careful that the acting is not overdone!); a sudden noise may be heard outside the door; smoke may issue from the S.M.s den. In camp, sudden pioneering practices may help; climbing should be encouraged, molly-coddling can cease. There are. of course, important phases in camp, such as bathing parades, that must be properly run, and are not occasions for emergency practice; the "buddy" or pair system should be introduced, so that each Scout is responsible for another. The very feeling of responsibility prevents panic. Emphasis must be laid on the unexpected happening. An American magazine gave an account of the fire drill at a school; it was the acme of efficiency; the evacuation of every child from the building was a matter of seconds only. This was proved by repeated practices, but the teachers had a few minutes' warning beforehand. Prompted by an enterprising journalist, the fire chief visited the school without warning and pushed the fire alarm; the result was pandemonium and panic.

An expurgated edition of Herr Hitler's book, "Mem Kampf," translated in Egypt into Arabic for a publisher said to be supported by the German Ministry of Propaganda, is being sold in Palestine for Is, the part dealing with the Egyptians and Arabs as "Non-Aryans" having been deleted.