Medical Essentials Topics
-
ABC's of Emergencies: Airway, Breathing, and Circulation
Camp health care providers hope they never see emergencies. But each summer, nurses and doctors are faced with life-or-death crises at camp. Ultimately, all emergencies are referred to a higher level of care, but some situations are so urgent that there is no second chance; professionals at camp must act immediately. The clear guidelines in this detailed module will give health care providers the reassurance and direction that can save lives.
-
Bites and Stings
Critters that Fly, Crawl or Swim
Know your bites and stings! If it flies, crawls, slithers or swims, it’s covered in this module. In most cases, bites or stings can be treated on-site. This module reviews the care after these unpleasant encounters, and teaches you when to be concerned enough to refer. You’ll learn to identify causative creatures, assess the patient’s background, post-bite clinical pathology, and principles of treatment for bites and stings.
-
Camp Medicines 101
Little Steps to Create Big Safety
Summer camp should be a healthy, safe, enjoyable experience for every child. But building a safe camp formulary is not as easy as buying a lock box & filling it with drugstore supplies. This module will focus on the establishment and operation of a camp infirmary or health center, including medication control and distribution. Learn the best strategies for overcoming medication management challenges at camp.
-
Diabetes Mellitus
Good Control is Key
Most camps have some diabetic campers and staff, as well as youth who present with their first episode of diabetes at camp. The role of the camp clinician is to suspect the disease when a non-diabetic child is ill, and to be engaged and active in monitoring and supervising the patient with known diabetes. The module gives guidance in how to help a diabetic be successful at camp. Hyperglycemia, hypoglycemia, good glycemic control, diet, and exercise are also discussed.
-
Ear Emergencies
Can You Hear Me Now?
Camp health care providers often see treatable ear conditions that do not require referral to a specialist or an off-site medical facility. In fact, ear pain is one of the most common complaints you'll see in the camp health center. Learn to differentiate between the acute conditions that you can treat, such as otitis media and otitis externa, and those which may need to be referred, such as a ruptured tympanic membrane.
-
Environmental Injuries
When Comfortable Environments Become Threatening
One of the highlights of summer camp is the beautiful outdoor environment in which it takes place. However, that environment can cause significant illness. The camp health care provider must be vigilant for near-drownings, lightening injuries, hyperthermia, and under some circumstances, hypothermia, just to name a few. This enlightening module highlights the prevention and treatment of environmental injuries.
-
Eye Problems: Evaluation and Management for Non-specialists
Because we have just one precious set of eyes, the clinical goal of managing any eye complaint at camp is to preserve sight. No matter what the cause, eye complaints test the skill of any provider. Prompt recognition and rapid treatment is the goal of this module. Find out what you need to know to prevent further injury and ensure the best outcome. Also included are discussions of basic eye anatomy, injury red flags, and the recommended "eye kit" for camp.
-
First-aid for Non-medical Personnel
Anyone Can Save a Life
First aid is care given to a casualty before professional help arrives. First aid can be performed by a bystander with minimal or no medical equipment, but how many camps train all their staff in CPR? A small investment of your time to learn and teach key lifesaving practices could make a huge difference this summer. A must-see module for all camp health care providers.
-
Fitness for Life: A Program for Summer Campers
Seventy-five percent of cardiovascular disease can be attributable to modifiable factors such as abnormal lipids, high blood pressure, diabetes, smoking, physical inactivity, and obesity. It’s the responsibility of all camp directors, health care providers, and counselors to act as role models to create a healthy camp environment. This module reviews the best fitness practices for campers and staff alike, as part of an overall program of wellness at camp.
-
Gastrointestinal Problems
Gut Check!
Many gastrointestinal complaints in children and adults at camp are mild and transient, and can be treated at camp. However, it's essential to recognize the signs of dehydration or serious abdominal pain. Infectious diarrhea is also challenging to manage in the camp setting. It needs to be recognized early, treated, and epidemiologically controlled. This module also includes information on the safe treatment of nausea, vomiting, and constipation.
-
General Approach to Traumatic Injuries
Rapid Assessment
This critical module emphasizes rapid trauma assessment and the steps necessary to evaluate, stabilize and transfer an acutely traumatized patient. Both minor and serious traumatic situations are covered, with an emphasis on handling these situations in the camp setting. Specific topics include head, spinal, thoracic, abdominal, and blunt injuries.
-
Genitourinary Complaints
It Hurts When I Pee
Campers are at the age when they are making the transition from child to adult. Menstruation may occur for the first time. Venereal diseases, scrotal swelling, pelvic pain, genital trauma, and urinary tract infections may also manifest at camp for various reasons. This thorough module is designed to heighten awareness of and review treatments for these and other medical issues.
-
Guidelines for Camp Health
Working Toward a Common Goal for Improved Health
Every year more than 10 million children attend camp, supported by over 1.2 million staff members. Interest in camping has been increasing, with an annual rate of growth in the industry of eight to ten percent per year. Who oversees camp health care? Included are governmental oversight, Americans with Disabilities Act information, AAP Guidelines, and ACA Standards. This module addresses emerging camp health regulations and offers some recommendations for better healthcare delivery.
-
Infectious Diseases
The Red Flags of Infection
Few cases at the camp health center are more puzzling than a youngster who presents with high fever that has no readily apparent cause. Such a temperature elevation may be suggestive of anything from heat stroke to serious infection. Keep at camp or refer elsewhere? This module will review how to identify causes of fever in children and how to spot the red flags that prompt emergent medical evaluation.
-
Mental Health and Related Issues
Emotional Bumps Along the Way
Few children develop from infancy through their adolescent years without experiencing some emotional and behavioral problems. Naturally, campers and staff bring their emotional and behavioral problems with them to camp. This module discusses a range of issues, from homesickness to nocturnal enuresis, ADHD, eating disorders, and suicidal behavior. Participants will learn how to screen for these conditions and intervene appropriately.
-
Mouth and Throat Conditions
Open Wide and Say...
Sore throats are fairly common occurrences at camp. Most are easy to handle, but some may be more serious. Early recognition and treatment of bacterial infections and viral illnesses associated with upper-respiratory problems can prevent complications. Also highlighted in this module are oral infections, dental problems, and mouth injuries. This module will teach you how to distinguish the serious from the benign and get campers and staff back in the action.
-
Musculoskeletal Injuries and Other Related Problems
From Fractures to Arthritis
Camps are active places. As a result, musculoskeletal injuries are common. This systematic module covers conditions such as fractures, dislocations, sprains, strains, and other tendon injuries that are common at camp. There is also discussion of arthritis, back pain, and atraumatic extremity pain that can affect campers and staff. Participants will learn the general principles of making their patients comfortable and ways to prevent further injury.
-
Nasal Problems
What's up your nose?
The same nasal problems seen at any doctors' office will also occur at camp. Nasal congestion secondary to allergy or colds is common. And because of the physically active nature of most campers and staff, foreign bodies, bleeding noses, and trauma, such as septal hematoma, are also frequent. The purpose of this module to is to appropriately train participants to diagnose and treat these problems at camp.
-
Neurologic Issues and Emergencies
My Head Hurts
Seizures can be frightening to witness or experience. In this module, you'll learn what you can handle at the camp health center and what prompts outside evaluation and treatment. In addition to headaches and seizures, this crucial module also discusses meningitis, encephalitis, altered mental status, loss of consciousness, head trauma, and vertigo.
-
Poisoning, Drug Abuse, and Alcohol Problems
Be Ready to Intervene
Prescription drugs, drugs of abuse and alcohol are common everywhere, even in camp settings. Camp health care providers need to be aware of these substances, both in regards to acute overdose and long term abuse. Although the best alcohol and drug policy at camp may be a zero tolerance policy, overdose or substance abuse can still occur. This module reviews how to manage most types of acute poisoning and discusses management of alcohol or drug abuse and how to intervene to get the camper or staff the help they need.
-
Reducing Medicolegal Liability
An Ounce of Prevention...
Proper, professional actions of all camp personnel help to reduce medicolegal liability. In most cases, sensitivity to potential medicolegal issues is a matter of common sense and following reasonable standards of care. It also requires a commitment to become as knowledgeable as possible about camp health matters. Camp health care providers must know their individual boundaries, such as when to refer to a higher level of care and when to call 911. This module reviews these and other liability-reducing parameters.
-
Respiratory Infections and Emergencies
Breathe Easy
Upper respiratory infections are just as common in camp as they are at home or school. This module deals with pulmonary infections and emergencies that health care providers typically see at camp. Children are not just little adults; rather they have unique treatment needs. The vast majority of pediatric emergencies originate from respiratory distress, so be prepared with the material from this important module.
-
Skin Disorders and Visual Diagnosis
Learn What to Look For
The skin is the largest organ in the body and during the summer it is more exposed to the environment than any other time of the year. This detailed module illustrates skin disorders frequently seen at camp, including Lyme disease, fungal rashes, and eczema, with an emphasis on those rashes which may be associated with a more serious, systemic illness.
-
Wound Care: Preventing Serious Consequences
Lumps, bumps, abrasions and lacerations of various sorts are among the most common conditions that camp health care professionals will see, both among staff and campers. Most wounds are minor; others are serious and require referral to higher level of care. To a great degree, what you care for in a camp medical facility vs. what is transferred will depend upon your training and experience. This module teaches how to improve comfort, lessen disability, and prevent serious infections.
