Project: On the Spot Community First-Aid Awareness for Outdoor Recreation

Ava Bunao’s Gold Award project focused on providing access to first aid resources in local outdoor recreation areas, and providing the knowledge on how to use them. Her project also earned the prestigious GSUSA Gold Award Scholarship, which is awarded to one Gold Award Girl Scout per council. Congratulations, Ava!

From Hurt to Healed

Based on the results of a survey Ava conducted, 75.5% of surveyed Troy residents experienced a situation where they needed minor first-aid care while at an outdoor recreation area and 94% of those surveyed believe publicly available first-aid resources in outdoor recreational areas would improve community safety.

Ava worked with a team to raise funds, purchase items and distribute first-aid kits in local parks and recreation area. The kits included a QR code link to a website with simple first-aid explanations.

“There was a need for basic first-aid resources on injuries and situations in public outdoor recreation areas,” she explained.

Boo-boo Basics

Ava held presentations at local elementary, middle, and high schools, presenting the rationale behind having first-aid kits easily available. Participants then helped Ava make “boo-boo” kits, destined for parks and outdoor sports areas. More than 700 boo-boo kits were created and distributed.

“Now, visitors at outdoor areas will be better equipped to deal with minor first-aid situations by having more supplies and reliable resources on hand,” she said.

Ava was a Juliette Girl Scout Troop 90304 and a graduate of Troy Athens High School. She plans to major in biochemistry on a pre-medicine track.

Find out more

Ava chats about her Gold Award project on our YouTube channel.

Visit www.gssem.org/highestawards to learn more about the Girl Scouts Gold Awards.