SUMMER CAMP 

Now that Covid-19 is getting under control—with vaccines available to younger children and fewer cases being reported in many areas of the country—parents are once again thinking about sending their kids to summer camp. Kids are thinking about it, too! Camp can be a favorite summer activity for children of all ages, leading to lasting memories and friendships. Unfortunately, it can also be a setting for accidents, since many camp activities take kids out of their comfort zone and let them experience the outdoors in new ways. Boating, swimming, camping, hiking and all sorts of summer fun can lead to injuries, some of which are severe. Below are the most common types of accidents associated with summer camps:

TRANSPORTATION-RELATED ACCIDENTS

Children can be injured on their way to or from the summer camp. For example, if the bus they travel on is involved in an accident, your child can sustain serious injuries. Every transportation-related accident involving children traveling to and from a camp needs to be evaluated individually for what company/person is responsible: was the driver impaired? were there bad road conditions? was there a defective part in or bad maintenance of the vehicle? was excessive speed a factor? These are just a few of the circumstances that contribute to accidents and which must be analyzed in order to determine liability. 

SWIMMING ACCIDENTS

The swimming pool area is one of the most common places for serious accidents to occur. Camp-related aquatic accidents also commonly occur at lakes, ponds and quarries. Children at camp often have varying levels of swimming ability and therefore must be closely monitored. Lifeguards, camp counselors, and people trained in CPR should all be present when children are in pools, lakes or any body of water.  

Accidents can occur outside of the water but nearby it due to slick surfaces, running and jumping into the water, and misuse of diving boards, tire swings, and other swimming equipment. Many of these accidents cause minor injuries such as scrapes and cuts, but some can lead to concussions/TBI and broken bones.

HEAT STROKE AND SEVERE SUNBURN

With temperatures rising and severe heat waves becoming more common, heat stroke is a real risk, even in younger populations. Severe sunburn is also more of a risk, and we now know it is often a precursor to skin cancer. Both heat stroke and sunburn are easily prevented; the former requires proper hydration with particular attention to electrolytes and the latter requires proper sunscreen and/or sun avoidance during peak hours of the day. Unfortunately, the risk of these incidents is still underestimated today, leading to a lack of proper preparation. Be sure that your child’s camp counselors are aware of not only the temperature but the heat index (which includes humidity and is the “real feel” temperature), and that they provide hydration and rest on excessively hot days. Similarly, your child should not be over-exposed to the sun—even with sunscreen on—and might need to seek shade and shelter at peak sun times.

OVERSIGHT OF SUMMER CAMPS IN GEORGIA

When considering sending your child to summer camp, below are some key questions to ask:

1. Is the camp licensed by the Department of Early Care and Learning (DECAL)? If so, the program is required to adhere to all state regulations for health, safety, supervisions, physical space and much more. You can also look up their inspection reports on DECAL’s website. It is available at http://www.decal.ga.gov/ProviderSearch/SiteSearch.aspx

2. If not, find out if they filed for an “exemption from licensing”. They must inform parents about their exemption and are supposed to display a sign around the front of the building or desk.

3. What is the camper-to-teacher ratio for the majority of the day?

4. How do they handle supervision of children, discipline issues?

5. What age groups will be combined together? (If you have a younger child, you may not want them mixed with older children.)

6. What is the schedule for the program, what will they be doing each day? Review how much is downtime versus planned activities

7. Ask the qualifications of the teacher: Age, training, years working with children: especially ask who has First Aid and CPR training.

8. Does all staff have satisfactory and up-to-date criminal background checks?

9. What is the policy for handling injuries and illness?

10. What does the physical space and outside play area look like? Can children wander away or can outsiders reach them? Are there fences, locks or other precautions?

11. Do the campers go swimming or near water? Do they take swim proficiency tests? Is there a lifeguard on duty? What are the ratios for supervision in water?

12. What insurance does the program carry? Do they have liability insurance?

Source: Georgia Child Care Association

LIABILITY FOR SUMMER CAMP ACCIDENTS

Although a summer camp and its staff cannot prevent every accident or injury, they are responsible for providing a safe environment for campers and there are safety standards to which they must adhere. If these are not complied with and an accident or injury occurs, then the camp can be liable for the costs incurred in dealing with the injury—both economic and noneconomic damages. For example, if the camp fails to ensure that a proper number of lifeguards and/or counselors oversee swimmers and a child is injured in a swimming accident, the camp could be held liable for the medical costs associated with that injury as well as the pain and suffering it caused. Or, if a child wanders off from the group and injures himself, the camp could be held responsible if there was inadequate supervision or lax boundary security.  

If you are planning to send your child to summer camp, be sure to inquire into the above points under “Oversight.” Should your child become involved in a camp-related accident, contact Dave Thomas, an experienced personal injury attorney at The Thomas Law Firm for a free consultation regarding your legal rights.