Policy for Quarantined Campers/Staff

[nikki_nurse]

Hi,

I am a nursing student and I am working as the health care coordinator at a small camp in Canada. We have about 130 campers and 40 staff. I am the only health care worker there, although everyone is trained in first aid.

I am trying to come up with new policies and procedures for quarantines this summer and I would love it if I could get some advice on what to include in it.

So far I have included how long the camper/staff should be quarantined, tips on preventing the spread of illness, who to contact about sick campers/staff (parents, camp director etc).

Is there anything else that you would add it it??

Thanks so much.

Nikki

[campmonkey]

Would you mind sharing what you have so far. I am also the only health care worker at the camp where I work, a Canadian camp based in Maine, and have been trying to set-up new procedures for quarantines.

I would also add something about special meal accomodations if applicable. This was a big issue for me last year and I can't really be of any help here since I am still working on setting something up with the kitchen. Make sure you share your procedure with the kitchen before summer starts.

Have a great summer at camp, I am leaving tommorow!

[nikki_nurse]

So far for my quarantine policy, I have stated procedures if campers/staff get sick. There are two options of either going home (which I would involve the camp director in to make the call to the parents to see if they want their child to come) or to stay in the health center for 24 hours after they are symptom free.

For what to do when staff/camper gets sick, I put in the document to tell the program staff that they are not going to be in program for the next few days, tell the kitchen that we will need a meal tray, and tell the camp director who is quarantined. Then call the parents to inform them that their child is sick, take vitals q4-6hrs and treat symptoms according to our standing medication orders. Contact the health unit if there are 2 or more campers/staff with the same symptoms in the same time frame and create a case definition of symptoms and start a line list for outbreaks, Arrange transportation to medical clinic if needed. Then after they are better, inform the above people and sanitize the area that they are living in.

I still need to get it approved by the camp director, so if there is anything else that you think would be helpful to add, let me know.

Hope you all enjoy your summers at camp.

[Neveranurseagain, RN]

I keep campers in the infirmary for only 12hrs after they are symptom free. I do have them stop by the infirmary a few times during the next 12 hrs to ensure hydration etc. Many of my campers are from out of state, if not out from out of the country, so going home is not an option. They miss too much camp being in the infirmary for 24 hrs. and our camp is only 6 days long.

Remember to talk to the staff about confidentiality too, and not discuss the campers illness with other staff/campers. That is your job, if the need is there. Otherwise rumors may abound, and the camper may be stigmatized upon return to their cabin. Also arrange to have their sleeping bag washed as part of the sanitizing and issue a new toothbrush too.