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Knife Policy AHG Troop NC0512

Explorers, Pioneers and Patriots may earn the right to carry a pocketknife to designated AHG functions by completing requirements for the Sharp Girl card.

When girls complete the requirements they will be awarded a Sharp Girl Wallet Card.

The Leaders of AHG Troop NC0512 recognizes that AHGers look forward to using a pocket knife. It is our troop's goal that any interested AHGer learn how to safely use a pocket knife with her parent's permission. We have established the following mandatory policy for safe pocket knife use.

AHGers in Troop NC0512 may carry and use pocket knives ONLY when they obey the following rules:

 Only AHGers that have earned a Sharp Girl Card may carry and use a pocket knife.  Knives may only be carried on outdoor camping trips, hikes or other approved activities ONLY when permitted by the Troop Coordinator or other Leader.  The Sharp Girl Card MUST is carried by the AHGer at all times when she is carrying or using her pocket knife.  AHGers may use their pocket knife only when the Unit Leader or a designated Leader is directly supervising the AHGer's activities. The supervising adult MUST NOT be involved in any other activities while supervising AHGers’ use of knives.  AHGERS MUST NEVER CARRY THEIR POCKET KNIVES TO SCHOOL OR AHG ACTIVITIES AT SCHOOL.  Under no conditions are switchblade knives or sheath knives permitted.  Troop NC0512 Leadership (Troop Coordinators, Unit Leaders, Assistant Unit Leaders) have the final authority on knife use at all official troop events. 2

AHGers from other Troops that are attending Troop NC0512 activities, will be allowed to use pocket knives only if they adhere to these stated rules

 For a minor infraction, one corner of the Sharp Girl card will be cut off. If all four corners of the card are cut off, the AHGer will lose her Sharp Girl Card for 3 months. With the approval of the Unit Leader, she may re-earn the card after 3 months.  For major infractions, including any accident, the AHGer will lose her Sharp Girl Card immediately for 3 months. With the approval of the Unit Leader, she may re-earn the card after 3 months.

Other AHG Knife Rules

 Although the AHG program allows and even encourages the use of knives by AHGers, there are certain types and sizes of knives that are forbidden. AHGers are encouraged to carry pocketknives with a blade that is no longer than 4 inches. There are some states that consider any blade over 3 inches long to be a concealed weapon, so some councils require all AHG knives to be 3 inches or shorter. Double sided blades are not allowed in AHG, as they are unnecessarily dangerous. Likewise, spring loaded knives and switchblades are considered unsafe and are not allowed in AHG.

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Proper Knife Handling/Training

With a signed permission slips, Explorer, Pioneer and Patriot AHGers will learn safety procedures and demonstrate their knowledge on cardboard practice knives. They will then progress to whittling soap/raw potatoes with plastic knives. After successfully practicing, girls will then be allowed to progress to pocketknives. Before receiving their Sharp Girl card, they must demonstrate to leaders their knowledge by completing individual testing.

First, do not treat the knife as a toy, because it will never be one. Never carry an open knife in your hand

Safety Circles As knife training begins, AHGers should spread apart in safety circles. Make a safety circle by holding a closed pocket knife in your hand and extending your arm out in front of you with the closed knife. Turn in a complete circle and make sure that you do not touch anything or anyone within this circle. Be sure to check overhead clearance as well. The distance minimizes the risk of accidental injury to an adjacent girl if one girl fumbles her knife.

Opening and Closing Hold the knife in your left hand. Insert your right thumbnail into the nail slot on the blade. Push against the hinge with the little finger of your left hand and pull the blade out until it slips into the “lock” position. To close, hold the handle firmly in your left hand being careful to keep your finger to the side. Then push the back of the blade with the fingers of your right hand until it clicks into the closed position.

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Cutting Open the blade into the “lock” position and hold the handle in your entire hand. Always cut at an angle and away from you. To cut vegetation, first bend the vegetation until the grain is taut and cut close to the ground. When trimming branches cut from the thick end to the thin. When using the knife, always cut away from your body. Do not try to make big shavings or chips, and never use the knife to shave bark from a tree. When you make cuts, always cut at a slant. To pass the knife To pass to someone else, the person handing off should hold the knife by the blade and place the handle into the receiver's hand. The AHGer should not let go of the blade until the person taking the knife has the handle firmly in their grasp and says "Thank you," indicating that they are now in control of the knife. This procedure ensures that someone is always in complete control of the blade of the knife. Caring For Your Knife Keep the blade clean and dry. Always clean the blade after each use. You should know how to sharpen the knife properly; a dull blade has a better chance of slipping and cutting you than a sharp blade. Keep the blade off the ground and do not try to cut things that will dull or break the blade. Store the knife in a protective sheath or place in your pocket until needed. Clean your pocket knife periodically with a dry, lint-free cloth and a small quantity of machine oil. Placing few drops on the hinge mechanism of the blade will keep the knife well-lubricated and ready for years of service. Sharpening your blade for one minute every day will keep it in perfect condition. You need to keep a small whetstone about your person at all times. Place this on a level surface and wet it with a little water or oil. Place the knife flat on the stone, sharp edge away from you. Raise the back edge of the blade, about the width of the blade, and draw it toward you over the stone repeatedly. Turn over the blade and repeat.

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Practice Knives Practice knives cut from heavy cardboard allow safe initiation into knife handling. The practice knives are cut in two parts--the blade and the case-- which are secured with a brad. The brad permits the blade to pivot in relation to the case just as a real knife does. AHGers can practice proper hand placement and safe opening and closing techniques without danger of cutting themselves. Plastic Knife Whittling Use bars of soap or raw potatoes as subjects for practice whittling. Supply plastic knives as whittling tools. This exercise gives experience in pushing a knife blade through a solid surface without the increased risk of metal blades. Testing Leaders will test the level of the girls’ skill by wiping lipstick along the edge of cardboard or plastic blades. If a girl mishandles her blade, lipstick on her hand will reveal where she would have been cut by a real knife.

Sharp Girl Card An AHGer MUST carry her Sharp Girl card with her to activities where knife handling is involved (you will be notified in advance if an activity requires using a pocketknife). Part of being RESPONSIBLE and being allowed the privilege of using a knife is keeping up with your card. If an AHGer does NOT bring her card, she will NOT be allowed to utilize knives! Lost or Damaged cards must be replaced before an event. It is the AHGers RESPONSIBILITY to notify Unit Leader if a replacement card is needed. A maximum of 2 cards will be provided to an AHGer.

If an AHGer is using a knife improperly they are first shown the correct way to use it and if they continue using the knife in an unsafe way the knife is taken away for a certain period of time. A leader will cut a corner off an AHGer’s Sharp Girl card if they use a knife improperly.

It is important for an AHGer to understand that a knife is a tool that can seriously hurt them or others, so they should treat the knife in an appropriate manner or they can lose the privilege of being able to use one. 6

Date: ______

As a parent/legal guardian of ______,

I give my permission for my daughter to be trained in pocketknife safety as stated in the AHG Troop NC0512 Knife Policy. I understand that if my daughter successfully earns her “Sharp Girl” card, she will have earned the privilege to utilize a pocketknife at troop events. I also understand that inappropriate/unsafe actions as determined by troop leadership may result in the suspension/termination of those rights and I will support the leadership in their decisions.

Parent/Guardian Signature:

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Print Below:

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