Summer is often a relaxing (yet busy!) time for families. School is out and there is more time to spend together. There are also more opportunities for travel and fun activities such as attending summer camp.
Summer Injury Prevention
Unfortunately, injuries at camp are common for kids. They are often minor, ranging from typical bumps and bruises to poison ivy and insect bites. However, there is a lot of risk involved with attending summer camp. (Which isn’t to say it’s a bad idea—camp provides excellent hands on learning opportunities and allows students to explore new hobbies!) Talk to your kids about exercising extra personal caution at camp, especially when it comes to the following:
- Swimming and other water sports
- Tag and other games that could lead to a slip and fall incident
- Heat stroke
- Poison ivy
- Severe sunburn
- Infectious disease
Make sure your children know to be on the lookout for poison ivy, bees, wasps, mosquitoes, etc. Teach them to apply sunscreen early and often to prevent painful sunburn. Talk to them about staying hydrated during the hot summer days as well as exercising proper hygiene to prevent catching colds and other infectious diseases from other campers. Ensure that they have proper footwear that fits well to help prevent the likelihood of broken bones from slip and fall accidents.
Questions to Ask
When evaluating a camp, be sure to ask plenty of questions and examine the grounds if possible. Does the playground and sports equipment look safe? Are life vests provided for water activities? What is the ratio of campers to counselors? What kind of training have the counselors completed? What happens in the event of an emergency or if your child is injured?
Taking proper precautions can help you have peace of mind and ensure that your child has a great time making memories at summer camp!
If your child has been injured due to a summer camp injury, you may want to contact the Schuerman Law office today. Schuerman Law has been working with personal injury claims for over 40 years. John Schuerman will compassionately advocate for injured individuals as well as their families while fighting for full compensation of their claims. Schuerman Law offers evening and weekend appointments in addition to home and hospital visits. Schedule a free consultation today by calling 1-800-274-0045.
