Citation

Goldlust E, Walton E, Stanley R, Yard E, Garst B, Comstock RD, Erceg LE, Cunningham R. Inj. Prev. 2009; 15(6): 413-417.

Affiliation

University of Michigan Medical School, Department of Emergency Medicine, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA. eric_goldlust@brown.edu

Copyright

(Copyright © 2009, BMJ Publishing Group)

DOI

10.1136/ip.2008.020487

PMID

19959735

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To describe injury patterns at overnight summer camps in 2006, and identify risk factors for more significant injury. DESIGN: Surveillance data obtained from Healthy Camp Study from 2006 were analyzed from 71 overnight camps, representing 437,541 camper-days and 206,031 staff-days. RESULTS: Injuries were reported in 218 campers and 81 staff. 51.8% of injured campers were male versus 34.6% of staff. Among campers, 60.1% were evaluated off-site; 2.3% required hospital admission. 43.9% of injuries required >24 h activity restriction (deemed "significant injury"). Among campers, significant injury was associated with camp sessions > or =14 days (RR 1.48); among staff, with male sex (RR 1.85) and camper-to-staff ratio (RR 0.67). There were no associations with age, time of day, setting, or level of supervision. CONCLUSIONS: Significant injuries are uncommon at overnight summer camps. Rates appear similar to those in comparable activities. Targeted interventions may further reduce injury risk.

Language: en