Summer Camp Fails to Recognize Lyme Disease

Case Overview

This case takes place in New Jersey and involves a child who contracted Lyme disease while at an overnight summer camp. The child repeatedly presented to the camp’s nursing office with signs and symptoms of Lyme disease over the course of multiple days, eventually seeing the nursing staff more than a dozen times. Despite his repeated complaints, the child was he was turned away without a thorough investigation of his symptoms. As a result of treatment delay, the child suffered severe and permanent brain damage.

Questions to the Workplace Safety expert and their responses

What are the protocols for treating children who present multiple times for medical care while at an overnight camp?

If a camp is ACA accredited, they have certain protocols that should be followed. If a medical condition is not resolved at the camp after 2-3 inspections, an outside specialist needs to be consulted. A log book is also maintained for every visit made by a camper to the medical center.

Is it the camps responsibility to teach campers preventative measures aimed at reducing exposure to Lyme disease?

Overnight camps have orientations and health seminars provided to the staff and campers at the start of the camp regarding precautions against Lyme disease, ticks and the like.

About the expert

This highly qualified expert graduated with a BA in Political Science from Brooklyn College, City University of New York and a JD from the University of Virginia School of Law. He subsequently practiced law for the following 20 years. Currently, he is the Executive Director at an ACA accredited summer camp in New Jersey, which he has managed and operated since 1996. At this co-ed overnight camp, he oversees all operations and safety protocols of the staff and 300 campers.