Boy Scout Troop 223 of Kailua, went on an in-depth tour of several departments at Tripler Army Medical Center in order to fulfill one of the many requirements necessary to earn their medical merit badge. Judy Vincent, chief of pediatric infectious diseases, are volunteering as advisors to scouts working on the badge. Approximately 20 scouts learned how to take each other s pulse and blood pressure, toured Tripler s pathology department and morgue, observed an immunization, and paid a visit to the nuclear medicine department. About eight of the boys said they are interested in becoming doctors. His plans are to become a neuro surgeon.
Merit badges expose scouts to many professions.
About ten percent of Boy Scouts will be exposed to the profession they will later pursue in life by working on their merit badges, said Scoutmaster Ted Sidor. The medical merit badge is one of the badges required to earn the elite rank of Eagle Scout. Tripler nurse, Patty Fitzgerald of the Adult Medicine Clinic, shows Pierce Young, right, and Derrick Kam, left, of Boy Scout Troop 223, how to take each other s blood pressure. Learning how to take blood pressure is one of the requirements the boys need to fulfill in order to receive their Medical Merit Badge. Photo by Suzan J. Holl Col.