NARRAGANSETT COUNCIL
BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA

M E M O R A N D U M

June 18, 2009

TO:           Camp Yawgoog Leaders and Parents

FROM:    Dave Anderson, Scout Executive
                  Tom Sisson, Reservation Director

We wanted to take a moment to discuss the extra steps we are taking to ensure the health and safety of our summer campers in light of the situation surrounding the H1N1 Flu virus.

We have established an ongoing dialogue with the Rhode Island Department of Health and have agreed to serve as a “model” camp for monitoring and reporting flu-like illnesses.  In addition, the Council’s Risk Management Committee is carefully monitoring developments and has recently met specifically on this topic.  Our actions are based on Health Department guidance as well as instructions from the camp physician. 

As you may be aware, our current procedures involve a medical screening upon arrival at camp; and, we continually stress good hygiene procedures including proper hand washing and sanitizing. 

We have taken or will be taking the following additional precautions:

• During the staff training & development week we will (1) instruct staff to place special emphasis on hygiene with all campers; (2) be especially observant to detect any campers with flu-like symptoms; and (3) inform their camp director immediately if they come down with any symptoms.

• We will be contacting camp leaders prior to their arrival in camp asking them to check with the families of their Scouts to ensure that the boy has not exhibited flu-like symptoms (defined by the Rhode Island Department of Health as a fever plus a cough or sore throat) in the past seven days or been exposed to anyone who has exhibited these symptoms.

• During the medical re-check we will specifically ask if the camper or leader has exhibited flu-like symptoms in the past seven days or been exposed to anyone who has been sick.

• At every opportunity we will continue to stress proper hand washing and sanitizing as we have during the past several years.  There are hand sanitizing stations at restroom facilities in every campsite as well as in the dining halls and other locations throughout camp.

• During the first leaders’ meeting we will discuss the above and reinforce the need to carefully monitor the health of campers and immediately report any illness.

• We will be in constant contact with the Rhode Island Department of Health to monitor the situation.

We look forward to a safe, healthy, fun-filled summer at Camp Yawgoog!  If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact either one of us – Tom Sisson (401) 539-2311 or Dave Anderson (401) 351-8700 x18.

dsa