Medical Risk Factors

Excessive body weight (obesity):

To have the best experience, adult participants and staff members should be of proportional/normal height and weight. Excessive body weight puts one at risk for numerous health problems. One such measure is the Body Mass Index. You can calculate yours by using a tool from the Centers for Disease Control here: http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpa/bmi/. Both adult and youth calculators are available. It is recommended that adults have a BMI of less than 30 (obese) for staff positions requiring moderate to high physical exertion. Those with BMIs in excess of 40 (morbidly obese) should reconsider participation until a higher level of fitness is achieved.

Cardiac or cardiovascular disease:

Adults who have had any of the following are at risk and should undergo a thorough evaluation before considering participation.

  • Angina (chest pain caused by blocked blood vessels or coming from the heart)
  • Myocardial infarction (heart attack)
  • Heart surgery or heart catheterization (including angioplasty to treat blocked blood vessels, balloon dilation, or stents)
  • Stroke or transient ischemic attacks (TIAs)
  • Claudication (leg pain with exercise caused by hardening of the arteries)
  • Family history of heart disease or a family member who died unexpectedly before age 50
  • Diabetes
  • Smoking and/or excessive weight
Adult participants or staff members who have congenital heart disease or acquired heart disease such as rheumatic fever, Kawasaki’s disease, or mitral valve prolapse should undergo a thorough exam before considering participation. Adult participants or staff members with the first seven risk factors should undergo a physician-supervised stress test.

Hypertension (high blood pressure):

Adult participants and staff members should have a normal blood pressure (less than 135/85). People with significant hypertension should be under treatment, and their condition should be under control in the six months prior to the jamboree. The goal of the treatment should be to lower blood pressure to normal levels. Adult participants or staff members already on antihypertensive therapy with normal blood pressures should continue treatment and should not choose the time they are at the jamboree to experiment with or change medications. Conditions requiring diuretic therapy to control hypertension could lead to dehydration when coupled with the high heat and nature of the jamboree environment. Pressures over 150/95 may result in a medically unfit condition for participation.

Insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus:

Any individual with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus must be able to self-monitor blood glucose and know how to adjust insulin doses based on these factors. The diabetic person also should know how to give a self-injection and recognize indications of high and low blood sugar. You must bring enough medication, testing supplies, and equipment for your jamboree stay. This includes batteries (without provisions for recharging) to be both brought to and taken away from the jamboree (remember Leave No Trace guidelines) for pumps.

An insulin-dependent diabetic who has been newly diagnosed (within six months of the fitness examination) or who has undergone a change in delivery system (e.g., an insulin pump) in the same period should not attempt participation. A diabetic person who has been hospitalized for diabetic ketoacidosis or who has had problems with hypoglycemia in the last year should not participate.

Seizures (epilepsy):

Seizure disorder or epilepsy should be well-controlled by medications. A minimum of six seizure-free months prior to the fitness examination is considered under control. Adult participants or staff members with a history of seizures need to limit high-adventure activities (e.g., climbing or rappelling). The jamboree is not a venue to modify maintenance medications.

Asthma:

Acute or severe bronchial asthma under treatment anytime during the past 24 months must be well-controlled before participating in the jamboree. Key indicators of well-controlled are:
  1. Using an inhaler zero to one time a day.
  2. No need for nighttime treatment with a short-acting bronchodilator. Well-controlled asthma may include the use of long-acting bronchodilators, inhaled steroids, or oral medications such as Singulair.
The following asthma conditions are considerations of being medically unfit:
  1. Exercise asthma not prevented by medication.
  2. Hospitalization or have gone to the emergency room to treat asthma in the six months before your fitness examination.
  3. Treatment that required oral steroids (prednisone) in the six months before your fitness examination.
Adult participants or staff members must bring an adequate and backup supply of medications and spare inhalers that are current. You must carry your inhaler with you at the jamboree. Not having a proper supply of medication is considered being medically unfit.

Sleep apnea:

Adult participants or staff members with sleeping disorders may experience health risks because of long days and short nights for the duration of the jamboree. Those with sleep apnea requiring a CPAP machine should reconsider participation. If considered fit, all equipment (e.g., CPAP machine) must be provided by the adult participant or staff member and be self-contained, as there will not be electrical support for the machine. This includes batteries (without provisions for recharging) to be brought to and taken away from the jamboree (remember Leave No Trace guidelines).

Allergy or anaphylaxis:

The outdoor setting of the jamboree has many risks (e.g., wasps, hornets, and other stinging insects) that could trigger anaphylactic reactions in some individuals. While it is not an automatic indicator of medical unfitness, adult participants or staff members who have had an anaphylactic reaction from any cause must contact the health and safety service for review by the jamboree medical service as soon as possible. If declared fit, you will be required to have appropriate treatment with you at all times. Allergy shots required for maintenance doses are acceptable for people who have not had an anaphylactic reaction. You must bring all appropriate medications and be able to self-administer them. Not having a proper supply of appropriate mediation is considered being medically unfit.

Ingrown toenails, recent musculoskeletal injuries, and orthopedic surgery:

Every jamboree participant will put a great deal of strain on feet, ankles, and knees by walking five to 10 miles per day. Every participant should be able to walk steadily for an hour without rest or rethink participation. Ingrown toenails should be treated within a month prior to the jamboree. Those who have had orthopedic surgery, including arthroscopic surgery, or significant musculoskeletal injuries, including back problems, six months prior to the fitness exam may find it difficult or impossible to meet the walking requirements. Fitness exams for these surgeries or injuries must include a release from the surgeon or treating physician in addition to the fitness examiner. An adult participant or staff member wearing a cast on an extremity must have a treating physician release. Medical fitness is still subject to review by the jamboree medical service.

Psychiatric, psychological, and emotional difficulties:

The jamboree is not designed to assist adult participants or staff members in overcoming psychological or emotional problems and may exacerbate existing conditions. The experience and expertise of the jamboree medical service indicates these problems frequently are magnified not lessened, when participants are subjected to the physical and mental challenges of the jamboree. Any condition must be well-controlled without the services of a mental health practitioner. Under no circumstances should medication be stopped before or during the jamboree. Adult participants and staff members are required to bring an appropriate supply of medication for the duration of the jamboree and travel to and from the jamboree. Not having a proper supply of medication is considered being medically unfit.

Other risk factors:

Sickle-cell anemia, hemophilia, leukemia, current cancer treatment, and blood-borne pathogens such as hepatitis and HIV provide special challenges to adult participants, staff members, and the jamboree. To plan for, prepare for, and support those having these medical conditions, an individual evaluation of each situation by the jamboree medical service is required. There may be instances where proper medical support at the jamboree site is impossible. Under such circumstances, participation may be denied.

Any person with a severe physical disability, one of the conditions listed above, or with a reason to believe he or she may be medically unfit for jamboree participation, should contact the jamboree medical service as soon as possible. In writing, contact: Boy Scouts of America, Health and Safety Service, Attention Jamboree Medical Officer, S410, 1325 West Walnut Hill Lane, P.O. Box 152079, Irving, TX 75015-2079. Please mark the envelope as personal and confidential. By e-mail: Health.Safety@scouting.org.