Posted on 06/28/2022 2:24:20 PM PDT by Oldeconomybuyer
Two Boy Scout troops from Wisconsin played a major role in the rescue when an Amtrak train derailed in Missouri after hitting a dump truck at an uncontrolled crossing.
The Boy Scouts from Appleton were on the train when it derailed. They jumped into action, breaking windows, helping people off the train and attempting to save the life of the dump truck driver, who died.
Two mothers with whom WBAY spoke Monday night say the Scouts are shaken but proud of being able to help after the devastating crash.
There were 16 youth, who are 13 to 17 years old, and eight adults on the train. They were members of troops 73 and 12, which are chartered with First English Lutheran Church in Appleton, according to a Boy Scouts source.
They were returning home from a weeklong backpacking trip at a High Adventure wilderness camp in New Mexico.
“I’m proud of them. One Scout wrapped his hand, took his shirt off, wrapped his hand to break some windows to get people out. Another Scout went and comforted the driver of the truck that was hit and tried to stabilize him,” said Dan Skrypczak, scout master of Troop 73. “They were tandem working on that gentleman when he expired, so that Scout is pretty shook up.”
“These Scouts are highly trained. They would have received advanced first-aid training prior to going, including their adult leaders, would have had people with wilderness first-aid certification, which is a pretty advanced course,” Armstrong said. “Luckily they had that training because I’m sure they put it to use today.”
Tierney said she is “very proud. Very proud of how some of our boys helped with some of the injured passengers and how they were willing to put themselves aside. That’s just what Boy Scouts do.
(Excerpt) Read more at kctv5.com ...
“Eight adults for 16 youths?”
BSA has long had a “two-deep adult leadership” rule to ensure no single adult has access to a Scout. The problems which are well-known with sexual abuse occurred in settings where this rule was broken. In a wilderness backpacking outing, it’s easy for the hiking group to spread out on the trail and extra adults ensure staying with the rule when on the trail. It also allows 2 adults to work with a smaller group on a different trail requirement from another group.
They were headed to Philmont in New Mexico. Likely more than a few dads went along for a good couple of weeks hiking in the mountains with their boys.
Did they rescue the potentially-birthing-persons and calendrically-limited persons first?
Good on them!
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