136 - Injury Patterns in a National Cohort of Summer Camps

Poster Number: 136
Publication Number: 136.121

Carissa Bunke, University of Michigan Health System - - Ann Arbor, MI, Ann Arbor, MI, United States; Emma G. Kilbane, University of Michigan Medical School, Hopkins, MI, United States; Erin Kim, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States; James A.. Cranford, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, United States; Barry Garst, Clemson University, Clemson, SC, United States; Tracey Gaslin, Alliance for Camp Health, Fisherville, KY, United States; Nicholas Ronnei, DocNetwork, Ypsilanti, MI, United States; Michael J. Ambrose, DocNetwork, Ann Arbor, MI, United States; Andrew N.. Hashikawa, University of Michigan Medical School, Dexter, MI, United States

Background: Unintentional injuries are the leading cause of morbidity in children and adolescents. Summer camps offer a variety of activities for the 14 million campers attending camps yearly, with some activities putting children at higher risk for injuries. While preventing and reducing unintentional injuries at camp is vital, injuries at summer camps are currently not being routinely studied. 

Objective: The goal of our study was determine the current epidemiology of injuries from a national cohort of summer camps.

Design/Methods:

We performed a retrospective chart analysis of pediatric injuries occurring at residential summer camps from 2016-2019 using de-identified electronic medical record data available from CampDocs.com, an online camp electronic health record system. Free text within entries were analyzed for every entry to determine if they met study inclusion. Included entries were then coded for injury category, injury location on the body, mechanism, severity, and camper disposition post injury, including whether camper required higher level of medical care. A codebook was developed apriori for data abstractors.

Results:

A total of 256 camps across the United States were included. Of 44,870 total entries analyzed, 13,934 (31%) were coded as definite injuries. The most common categories of injuries were lacerations/abrasions (37.6%, n=5249), sprains/strains (27.8%, n=3882),  head injury/concussion (14.1%, n=1971), and bruise/contusion (9.4%, n=1308) (Table 1). Lower and upper extremity injuries (49.4%, n=7002 and 25.7%, n=3635 respectively) were the most common injury locations (Figure 1). Figure 2 depicts camp activities associated with injuries. Almost all injuries were coded as mild (90.7%, n=12644) or moderate (8%, n=1113) and were able to be treated at camp (95%, n=1321). Only 2.6% (n=363) requiring evaluation at a higher level of medical care.

Conclusion(s): This study provides updated data regarding the injury rates and patterns seen at summer camps. By understanding the common mechanisms and types of injuries seen at camps, we can work with camp stakeholders to evaluate and improve pediatric injury prevention initiatives at summer camps.