Protecting Your Kids from Summer Camp Injuries

Steps to follow to keep your children safe

Before you send your child to summer camp this year, Phillips Law Firm has a few tips you can review with your child in an effort to prevent an accident while they are away from home.

Beware of others with illnesses:

Colds, the flu and other contagious diseases can spread quickly in a camp environment. Often physical activity participation is required so it is important your child wash their hands as frequently as possible between activities. If your child is ill it is best to keep them home to prevent others from falling ill. Make sure protocols for medical treatments and ill-care procedures are clear before enrollment.

Be hygienic:

Encourage your child to shower at the end of each day, or whenever the camp schedule allows. After long days of outdoor activities, it is important to stay clean. Reusing the same sleeping bag or blankets for a prolonged period of time without first washing off dirt and perspiration can create a breeding ground for germs. Have your child wash their hands before eating to avoid bacteria and germs transferring in their mouths.

Wear proper footwear:

Closed-toe tennis shoes are often required for camp activities. Make sure your child has the appropriate foot-wear necessary for all sport activities. If you send your child to camp with only flip-flops they are more susceptible to broken toes or slip and falls. Almost 30% of camp-related accidents are due to trip, slip or fall accidents. Many accidents may be prevented with the proper foot-wear.

Use the proper safety equipment for each activity:

Misuse or lack of safety equipment can lead to serious injury. If rock-climbing is on the schedule for your child at summer camp make sure they have access to a helmet and proper safety gear. Neck and spine injuries are the most common injuries from faulty equipment.

Make sure health records and emergency contact forms are properly updated:

Camp attendees are in the hands of the camp guidance teams, and if your child has an allergy it is important for supervisors at the camps to be aware any preexisting medical conditions. For example, if your child has a potentially deadly allergy to bees but you forgot to mention the fact on their medical forms, life-saving medications might not be able to be administered because permission was not granted. Send your child with an EpiPen or other physician-prescribed medications necessary for emergency distribution. Many summer camps do not allow children to take mobile devices to camp. If an emergency does occur, it is crucial your emergency phone numbers are accurate.

Have your child attend all appropriate safety training course:

Fifteen percent of summer camp injuries are knife-related. Young camp attenders may have never cooked for themselves before and are not aware of the dangers of cutting knives. It is important your child attends all safety seminars in preparation for newfound independence.

Warn your child about peer-pressures during free time:

Twenty percent of all summer camp injuries occur during what is called “free time”. Campers are allotted a certain percentage of time to choose their own activities while at camp. While some campers choose this time to reflect and write letters home, other campers may want to partake in physical activities with their new friends. Young persons may feel pressured to partake in dangerous activities to impress their new friends, so it is a good idea to warn them in advance of the pressures they may face. At Phillips Law we handle cases of serious personal injury. Call (800) 708-6000, we are here to help you, offering free case consultations 24/7 to help answer any questions or concerns you may have regarding your case.