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Hi all,
I am looking for input from other health center staff or nurses about how you manage your sick or suspected sick kiddos at camp in the health center. I work at a small camp with about 80 kids and 30 staff but only have a single room for a health center that has a shared bathroom with my own space. I am concerned about how we will manage potential covid suspect cases if I only have 1 room to house a sick child. The room has two beds, but I don’t think it’s a smart plan to put 2 kids in the same room while trying to differentiate what each kid might have going on.
Last summer we were a closed campus and this year the directors aren’t planning to keep the campus closed so I’m assuming the likelihood of bringing in a case or 2 of covid is possible. Last summer we had the “camp crud” run though camp like wildfire from cabin to cabin and I was less concerned about covid possibilities at that time but this year I’m thinking I will need to be more suspicious which will include keeping kids in the health center slightly longer to ensure negative testing and symptoms. I’m currently trying to convince the camp directors that having at least another open room in the health center would be helpful for handling general daily camp visits and the potential of having more than 1 kid in need of infirmary care at a time. Our health center building has a total of 3 bedrooms: the nurse bedroom, the exam room/sick camper room, and another bedroom used for other camp staff with a shared bathroom for all three rooms.
Personally, I don’t want another staff member housed in the health center if it would leave another room open for a possible sick kid but I’m not sure I have that level of “pull” for planning purposes. I’m also trying to convince our directors that we really should have a plan for where to house anyone who tests positive, how we will care for them, who will care for them, and at what point do we have family come pick up their sick children if testing positive. I’ve shared the ACN Communicable Disease Planning guide and continue to try to communicate the need for developing an actual plan. I’m wondering what others would do in this situation and what others are planning to do for an isolation plan in similar situations. Any advice is greatly appreciated!
We prepared a separate building for our potential/confirmed COVID campers/staff to avoid the exact concerns you express. Our First Aid Center is located beside a divided residential building that includes its own restroom. In the past, it was used for overnight lodging of volunteers, so it was already set up with 4 beds, etc.
Historically, our First Aid Center has had a separate bedroom with bathroom for isolation away from the shared bay of 6 beds. However, it’s location near the treatment and bay areas, combined with the shared building ventilation wouldn’t make it appropriate for Covid quarantine. That’s what drove the decision to find a different location. Having a completely separate area allowed the healthcare staff to quarantine campers/staff with concerning symptoms without disrupting they typical care/stay needs at the First Aid Center or risking cross-contamination of air or high-touch surfaces.
Camp policy required anyone with a positive test or waiting on a test to return home within a set number of hours, so we only needed to monitor them at the alternative site for a limited time. To avoid leaving a camper unattended, a member of the health team or a support counselor would be stationed on the covered porch of the quarantine building, with access to appropriate PPE if needed to interact with the camper before parent pick-up.
Marie,
Your thinking is solid, and I agree that there would be challenges to managing covid cases with your current setup. A great start would be to free up that other bedroom and not have it used as staff quarters. Some other considerations might be temporary housing right next to the health center, such as a wall tent with a bunk or cot, or a camper or travel trailer. Your state regulations might also have guidance for what to do with a covid positive camper or staff, and indicate that you need isolation for that person. The state guidance might provide some authority behind your conversations with the leadership staff.
Amanda has some great suggestions for isolating a symptomatic or suspected covid person, but having a staff member on a porch or within ear shot. Baby monitors also work well in some situations.Now is a good time to think through all of the scenarios, not in the middle of summer when someone is symptomatic!
Best,
MaryMary Marugg, RN
ACH Director of OperationsGreat ideas everyone. Many camps did isolation with tents, chairs, and cots last year. Simple to erect and simple to take down without a huge expense especially if you are keeping these youth onsite.
Consider that they don’t have to stay indoors – they can have their own open air sides-up tent where they are 6 feet away from others while in isolation. Think creatively and consider nontraditional methods for isolation and a little fun at the same time.
Best to you
Tracey Gaslin
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