Clinical Practice

Resources for Camp Health
Practice Guidelines

Practice Guidelines from the Alliance for Camp Health

These guidelines provide direction and support for five of the most common activities performed by health care staff at camps. 

Communicable Disease (Coronavirus, Immunizations, Measles and more)

For the latest COVID-19 information go to the ACH Coronavirus COVID-19 page

Coronavirus (COVID-19) FAQ’s for camps (March 2020)

A Healthy Camp Starts at Home (From the American Camp Association Healthy Camp Toolbox. Revised 3/2020)

Communicable Disease Management in the Camp Setting Erceg, March 2020

Measles Brief Gaslin, May 2019

2019 Measles Outbreak Ambrose, May 2019

From the Center for Disease Control (CDC)

Immunizations

Measles

Medication Management, CBD Oil

Managing medications at camp is regulated by each state, and is impacted by Pharmacy Regulations, state Boards of Nursing and regulations that govern camps. Below are some resources to discovering how to manage medications for your specific program.

Epinephrine at Camp (May 2021)

Allergy and Anaphylaxis

Allergy and Anaphylaxis Emergency Plan

Form developed by the American Academy of Pediatrics

Epinephrine at Camp (2023)

A resource to include some details about unassigned Epinephrine at camps, a link to guidelines state by state, suggestions for purchasing and associated cost. Read more

Does your state allow stocking epi in schools? The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America has a map providing state by state details for stocking epinephrine in schools. Read more

Anaphylaxis Study

ACH participated in an Anaphylaxis study in conjunction with Nationwide Children’s Hospital and Ohio State University initiated in May 2016. Camp nurses provided feedback regarding anaphylaxis in the camp setting allowing us to better understand the implications of care and identify measures to address safety.

Study Findings

Food Allergy Prevalence and Management in an Overnight Summer Camp

Anaphylaxis Knowledge in Camp Personnel

Survey data were collected from camp directors, medical personnel, and camp staff concerning food allergy and anaphylaxis. Knowledge gaps were identified in these groups, particularly in identifying anaphylaxis, but recent training was associated with increased knowledge.   Read the Article

Food Allergy Trends and Epinepherine Autoinjector Presence at Summer Camps Read the Article

JOURNAL ALLERGY CLINICAL IMMUNOLOGY PRACT VOLUME 5, NUMBER 2

Life with Food Allergies Website

A non-profit organization committed to Food Allergy Research and Education (FARE)  https://www.foodallergy.org

American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology Website

Kids With Food Allergies Website

Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America

Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Connection Team

 

Building A Health Center
Communication

Communication With Aphasic Children. By: Tracy Canales, RN, BSN

This power point explores effective communication with aphasic children.

Download a Picture Board to laminate to facilitate communication with aphasic children.

Environmental and Critter Concerns

Ticks and Lyme Disease

Lice Treatments (a quick reference)

From the Centers for Disease Control (CDC)

Mosquito Bites

    Bugs and Pest Control – A resource for Pests and Pest control (to include ticks, bedbugs, rodents, flies ants and more)

    Healthy Camp Research

    Many resources were generated from the Healthy Camps Research Study (2006-2010.) Visit these resources to include a Policy Statement-Creating Healthy Camp Experiences, Promising Practices and Policy Implications, as well as others.

    Healthy Camps Resources

    MESH Resources

    ACN Members – check out all the MESH resources page. These MESH Resources are an ACN Member benefit. Log in as a member to access this page.

    MESH Resources from ACN
    Incident Reports

    Here are examples of incident reports intended to help you gather pertinent information about an unexpected incident at camp.

    American Academy of Pediatrics

    Improving Health and Safety at Camp

    Additional resources are available to ACH members to include webinars.

    ACH Membership

    ACH welcomes Nurses, Directors, Behavioral Health Specialists and all others committed to camp health

    And more resources! Find an example of Standing Orders, the Scope and Standards of Camp Nursing Practice, Basics of Camp Nursing book and more in the ACH Store.

    More Resources

    ACH Publications and More