Injury patterns at US and Canadian overnight summer camps: first year of the Healthy Camp study.
OBJECTIVE
To describe injury patterns at overnight summer camps in 2006, and identify risk factors for more significant injury.


METHODS
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.
Goldlust
E
E
University of Michigan Medical School, Department of Emergency Medicine, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA. eric_goldlust@brown.edu
Walton
E
E
Stanley
R
R
Yard
E
E
Garst
B
B
Comstock
R D
RD
Erceg
L E
LE
Cunningham
R
R
D000293:Adolescent; D002165:Camping / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002170:Canada / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010507:Periodicity; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D015599:Trauma Severity Indices; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D055815:Young Adult