Risk management is one of those areas where we never really “arrive” and have it all together. We learn new things. We hear of challenges faced by other camps. We experience a tragedy such as 9/11 and begin to ask ourselves questions about potential crises at camp . . . and we should!
Here’s an opportunity for a self-test to think about your camp’s readiness. Be brutally honest with yourself. The standards process asks about many of these routine risk management items. The check-up asks about frequency of use and the integration of these procedures into routine business operations.
At the end of the quiz you will find a scoring grid to help you evaluate your readiness for dealing with crises. The applicable ACA standard is listed in parentheses. You need to be prepared for both routine and unimaginable crises.
- How many times in the past year did you rehearse a fire drill from your dining hall with campers/guests participating? (OM 9, 10, 11)
___ None (0 points)
___ 1-2 (1 point)
___ 3 or more (3 points)
- Was your exit time the last time you had a drill better or worse than the previous rehearsal?
___ Haven’t rehearsed (0 )
___ Don’t know (1 point for honesty)
___ Any other answer (2)
- When was the last time you reviewed all your insurance coverages, deductibles, and safety plans with an agent of your insurance company? (OM 5, 11)
___ Within the last 18 mos., face-to-face (3)
___ Within the last 18 mos., by phone (2)
___ More than 18 mos. (1)
___ Don’t know (0)
- How many times in the last year did you test the readiness of your lifeguards by staging a surprise mock incident? (PD 8; OM 20, 21)
___ None (0)
___ 1 (1)
___ 2 or more (3)
- How many times did you rehearse an evacuation of the entire camp?
___ None (0)
___ 1 or more with staff (2)
___ 1 or more with campers/guests and staff (3)
- When was the last time you reviewed your emergency and operating procedures for activities against current recommendations of professionals in that field? (PD 17; PA 4-10; PC 5; PH 8-9; PT 8)
___ Never (0)
___ 3 yrs. or more (2)
___ Within the past 2 yrs. (3)
- When was the last time a liability attorney reviewed your camper application process, forms, permission forms, and guest group contracts? (PD 8; OM 20-21)
___ Never (0)
___ 5 yrs. or more (1)
___ 18 mos. to 5 yrs. (2)
___ In the last 18 mos. (3)
- When was the last time your personnel policies, letter of agreement, and staff application were reviewed by a labor attorney? (HR 3, 8)
___ Never (0)
___ 5 yrs. or more (1)
___ 18 mos. to 5 yrs. (2)
___ In the last 18 mos. (3)
- When did you have your last professional, external review of your ropes/challenge course and procedures? (PC 11)
___ Never or more than 5 yrs. (0)
___ 18 mos. to 5 yrs. (0)
___ Less than 18 mos. (3)
- If you develop your own health forms, when did you last review that form with the Academy of Pediatrics or other professional health society AND legal counsel to determine if it is current and appropriate?
___ We use ACA forms (3)
___ Our own form was reviewed in the last 2 yrs. (3)
___ 2-5 yrs. (2)
___ More than 5 yrs. or never (0)
- When did you last review OSHA requirements against camp practices to assure that your staff safety and health requirements are adequate? (SF 2; HW 19)
___ Never or more than 5 yrs. (0)
___ 4-5 yrs. (1)
___ 2-3 yrs. (2)
___ Less than 24 mos. (3)
- When did you last review (and revise, if necessary) your communication plan between: (OM 17)
___ Health lodge and camp office Never (0)
___ Health lodge and EMS/doctor’s office — 4 yrs. or more (1)
___ Waterfront/pool and office/EMS/nurse — 18 mos. to 3 yrs. (2)
___ Living units and camp office less than 18 mos. (3)
___ Groups who are off-site and camp — less than 18 mos. (3)
___ Camp and the media less than 18 mos. (3)
- Do emergency exits from all sleeping quarters meet state standards? (SF 1)
___ Yes (3)
___ No or don’t know (0)
- Do you have a financial plan with a multi-year budget and specific goals for contingencies and reserves?
(OM 2)
___ Yes, all of it (3)
___ Some of those (2)
___ None of those (0)
- When did you last review incident reports/accident reports/health logs to identify patterns in accidents, and health or safety issues? (OM 5)
___ Never or more than 5 yrs. (0)
___ 4-5 yrs. (1)
___ 2-3 yrs. (2)
___ less than 2 yrs. (3)
- Do supervisors of staff spend time every day deliberately observing staff and evaluating performance and enforcing your camp safety regulations? (HR 20)
___ Yes (3)
___ Well, on some days they do (1)
___ No or I’m not sure (0)
- Do you implement a specific training program for department heads, unit leaders, and administrative staff that trains them in their role as supervisors? (HR 19)
___ Yes (3)
___ No (0)
- Have you held a meeting with administrative staff or board to consider the implications of 9/11 and/or the war on terrorism on your operation?
___ Yes (3)
___ No (0)
- Are you implementing a comprehensive record keeping plan including time lines for maintaining all of the following: insurance policies, contracts, staff applications and health records, camper applications and health records, and accident/incident reports? (HW 20)
___ Yes (3)
___ At least half of those (2)
___ No (0)
- Can you name a lawyer and a mental health professional that are available to you on a moment’s notice in case of a crisis? (HW 3)
___ Yes, both (3)
___ One, but not both (2)
___ No (0)
- Do you know your state’s child abuse reporting agency, how to reach them, and when you are REQUIRED to do so? (HR 16)
___ Yes, all those (3)
___ Part of the information (2)
___ No (0)
Total your points:
0-20 = I hope your insurance is good, your constituency is loyal, and your legal counsel is good!
21-44 = You have a lot of work to do to meet minimum standards! Today is a good time to start!
45-60 = This is the minimum range to meet ACA standards. Still room to improve!
61-77 = Keep up the good work!
Originally published in the 2002 Winter issue of The CampLine.
