| Each summer, thousands of children across the | | | | other outdoor environments. Review a camp's |
| nation attend summer camps. Parents choose | | | | footwear policy to determine if closed toed shoes |
| summer camps for their children based on the | | | | are required, or if sandals and flip flops are allowed |
| camp's overall philosophy and on their child's | | | | during active periods. |
| particular needs. However, before sending your | | | | - Lack or misuse of protective equipment. |
| child to camp, it is important to make sure that | | | | Although certain camp activities may require |
| the facility has a strong commitment to the | | | | particular specialized safety equipment, not all |
| safety and security of its participants. | | | | camps will require campers and staff to actually |
| The most common injuries and complications | | | | use the equipment. In fact, in half of all injury |
| from camp are due to: | | | | events in which safety equipment was needed, |
| - Illness. Campers and camp counselors are | | | | proper protective equipment was not being worn |
| almost twice as likely to become ill than they are | | | | by campers or staff members. Lack of safety |
| to become injured. Colds, the flu, and infectious | | | | equipment can cause serious complications, |
| diseases can spread quickly through a camp | | | | including back, neck, spine, and head injuries. |
| environment. It is important for parents to keep | | | | - Sharp objects. 15 percent of all injuries to |
| sick children at home to control the spread of | | | | campers and staff are caused by sharp objects. |
| illness, and for camp leaders who become ill to | | | | Camps should take proper precautions to keep |
| reduce their contact and interaction with children. | | | | facilities in top condition and staff should know |
| - Poor hygiene. Poor hygiene can lead to infectious | | | | about proper kitchen knife safety. |
| diseases, which in turn cause 20 percent of all | | | | - Fatigue. Injuries increase as campers and camp |
| illnesses among campers and staff members. | | | | staff get increasingly tired throughout the day. |
| Staff should adamantly require campers to wash | | | | When fatigued, camp staff become less |
| their hands before meals and encourage proper | | | | observant, and campers become increasingly |
| hand-washing habits throughout the day. In | | | | susceptible to illness and injury. Campers should |
| addition, children should know not to sneeze into | | | | not be overloaded with activity or deprived of |
| their hands, but rather into their sleeves or the | | | | sleep. Summer camps should take every possible |
| crook of their arms to prevent the spread of | | | | precaution to ensure the safety and well-being of |
| germs. | | | | campers and staff members. However, no |
| - Trips, slips, and falls. These are the most | | | | matter how reputable and safe a summer camp |
| commonly reported types of injury reported in | | | | appears, accidents can still occur. For more |
| summer camps. In fact, almost 30 percent of | | | | information about your legal options in the event |
| injuries at summer camp are sprain and strain | | | | of an accident, visit the website of the Iowa |
| injuries, which are caused by a trip, slip, or fall | | | | personal injury attorneys of LaMarca & |
| accident. Often these injuries result from the use | | | | Landry, P.C. |
| of improper footwear in rough, slippery terrain or | | | | |