Are Youth Camps Really Safe Havens from COVID-19?

When you choose to send your child away to an overnight trip, weekend retreat, or even off to summer camp, you expect the people running the event to take every precaution in keeping your little one safe. Today more than ever, the coronavirus pandemic makes implementing strict safety protocols paramount to your kids arriving back home safe and sound.

But what happens if your children come into contact with an infected individual while away from home? What if they get sick, or spread the virus to a member of your family? If your child becomes gravely ill due to improper precautions, can you hold the negligent party responsible for personal injury?

A common-sense approach to keeping our children safe from COVID-19

The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) is one of the prevailing sources for seeking safety information regarding coronavirus, as well as guidance on preventing the spread of this deadly pandemic. While some recommendations are periodically modified scientists make new discoveries, standard guidelines remain  consistent.

The CDC advises these coronavirus protocols:

• Wearing a cloth face covering in public places
• Avoiding crowds
• Remaining six feet apart from other people
• Coughing or sneezing into your arm
• Washing your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds
• Refraining from touching your face
• Regularly disinfecting frequently touched surfaces
• Staying home when you’re sick

Early indications of the pandemic pointed towards the elderly and those with underlying health conditions at highest risk for complications and/or dying from coronavirus. While children were initially believed to be somewhat unaffected, the last several months have proven that some can be very susceptible to COVID-19. This creates some urgency in changing how we view pandemic safety when it comes to our children.

Are best safety practices being followed by youth groups?

Every situation our kids encounter when it comes to coronavirus should not be a one-size-fits-all approach. Administrators must consider all different settings and activities to determine the appropriate level of protection. However, the overall perspective is that the more contact kids have with other individuals, the greater the odds they’ll become infected.

The CDC outlines risk levels for youth and summer camps as follows:

• Low: Children come from the same local area. All day activities are conducted in small groups where each child and staff member remains six feet apart. Outdoor recreation is emphasized without sharing of any community objects.
• Medium: Groups of children and staff intermingle while remaining at least six feet apart and there is no sharing of community items. The focus is still on outdoor activities. Children are all still from the same local area.
• Medium high: While participants all come from the same local area, children and staff do not practice social distancing or wear masks, and allow intermingling of groups.
• High: Participants come from a wide geographical area, intermingle without wearing face coverings, or practicing social distancing.

The guidance promoted for creating a safer youth group or camp experience includes the general guidance set out above but also requires:

• Staying home when appropriate, including if staff or a child has come in contact with anyone who has tested positive for COVID-19.
• Using cloth face coverings when it’s not possible to social distance.
• Maintaining an adequate supply of hand sanitizer and other necessary cleaning products.
• Posting signage and making periodic announcements reminding staff and campers to follow the guidelines.
• Providing space for children and staff to separately store personal belongings.
• Stocking enough materials to deter sharing of common items to minimize cross contamination.
• Keep up with proper maintenance of water and ventilation systems to prevent the virus from spreading.
• Modify spaces when necessary to promote social distancing and safe contact.
• Avoid food preparation as much as possible by having staff and children bring their own meals when possible.

Warnings are being ignored and children are suffering

Parents send their kids to these programs with the belief that safety guidelines are taken seriously, but how well are administrators enforcing them?

The YMCA’s Lake Burton Camp in Georgia recently became a ground zero for coronavirus cases. The age ranges between children and staff members spanned from seven to 22 years of age, and about 18% of those at the camp became infected. Actions that led to the outbreak included:

• Children sleeping in close quarters.
• A counselor who became sick with coronavirus was replaced by another counselor who slept in the “infected cabin” and then returned to his original cabin where he passed the virus on to other staff members and children.
• The YMCA failed to communicate anything to the children’s families about the outbreak.

In Florida, a high-risk teen died after becoming exposed to COVID-19 at a church youth gathering alleged to have been organized for the purpose of exposing children to the virus. At the gathering:

• There were 100 other children in attendance.
• No masks were required.
• No social distancing was observed.

Youth programs around the country are experiencing outbreaks of COVID-19; some with devastating results. You and your children trust these organizations to keep your kids safe and healthy on their watch. When they fail in that responsibility, our compassionate personal injury attorneys will hold them accountable for you.

If your child has become sick due to attending a youth activity, you need highly qualified legal advice. The South Carolina attorneys at McGowan, Hood, Felder & Phillips, LLC can help you quickly take action to protect your loved ones. To schedule your free consultation with a member of our legal team, call 803-327-7800, or we invite you to reach out to us through our contact page.