Health and Safety: Preventing Injuries and Illnesses
(Four Part Series)

General Information
The emergence of H1N1 flu highlights the importance of preventative behaviors and practices. These four mini-courses target prevention strategies that camps can use to reduce the likelihood of camper and staff injuries and illness. Learn how to minimize the spread of communicable diseases, reduce slips and falls through the use of proper footwear, increase the use of protective equipment in youth activities, and improve safe knife-handling techniques.

These courses are based on results from ACA’s Healthy Camp Study funded by the Markel Insurance Company.

Course Description

OUCH: Protective Equipment, What All Staff Should Know
New to the Illness and Injury Prevention series, this course will help camps to reduce the number and severity of injuries that occur due to non-use of appropriate protective equipment. This course is will teach camp directors and staff strategies for increasing compliance with the use of protective equipment essential in many camp activities.
No Outbreaks Here: Simple Strategies for Reducing the Spread of Communicable Diseases at Camp
Did you know that campers are twice as likely to become ill at camp as they are to get injured?  You owe it to your campers and staff to stop the spread of germs! This course teaches camp professionals how to reduce the spread of communicable diseases like the common cold. In the end, you'll have a healthier camp community. Specific activities that camp directors can include in staff orientation and training are included in the course.		"Each training module addresses a specific injury or illness area…our camp has already implemented some changes, and added the training modules to our staff orientation." — Mary Marugg, Sonlight Camp "9 out of 10 Camp Directors who used these courses in 2008 would recommend them to other camp and youth development professionals." — 2008 Healthy Camp Survey
Footloose: Minimizing Slips and Falls at Camp
When you think about injury prevention, do you think about the terrain at your camp and the types of shoes your campers and staff are wearing? If not, then you should think again. Educating your campers and staff about appropriate footwear, supported by policies and procedures, is an important way that you can reduce slips and falls at your camp while also minimizing the likelihood of foot, ankle, and toe injuries. This course teaches camp directors and staff about choosing proper footwear for camp activities- a must for all camps.
Knife Safety: Reducing Sharp Object Injuries at Camp
One of the most common causes of staff injuries in camps is self-inflicted knife injuries to the hand or finger. But knives and other sharp objects are a part of camp, with important uses in food service, arts and crafts, camp maintenance, and other areas. This course is designed to teach camp staff how to properly use and store knives to reduce the likelihood of a hand or finger injury. Want to reduce "lost-time" incidents in your camp, then this course can help.