by Mike Matzinger
An incident in South Lebanon, Ohio shows why youth safety education matters.
A 6-year-old girl was assaulted by a repeat offender inside a store restroom. When the man entered, the child used a technique she learned through Scouts called the Lion’s Roar. She shouted “Stop!” as loud as she could, which startled the attacker and caused him to flee. Authorities later tracked him down and arrested him.
Lion’s Roar is a required personal safety adventure for kindergarten-aged Cub Scouts in the Lion rank through Scouting America. It teaches children how to recognize unsafe situations and respond using the Protect Yourself Rules.
These rules focus on simple actions kids can remember:
— Shout to draw attention and tell someone to stop
— Run away from the unsafe situation
— Tell a trusted adult what happened
Children also learn how to identify trusted adults and understand personal boundaries.
This lesson is part of Scouting America’s Safeguarding Youth program, which includes youth protection education, strict safety policies for adult leaders, background checks, and clear reporting requirements.
https://www.wlwt.com/article/south-lebanon-arrest-robert-deweese-child-assault-charges/70579341