Medical services of a mulicultural summer camp event: experiences from the 22nd World Scout Jamboree, Sweden 2011

Abstract

BackgroundPrevention and treatment of medical issues are the main task of a health service at a youth camp. However, only few reports about organisation and implementation of camp health care are available. This makes it difficult for future camp directors to plan and estimate the health care needed for a certain camp size. We summarize the experience in planning and running health care for the 22nd World Scout Jamboree (WSJ) 2011 in Sweden.MethodsDuring the WSJ, 40,061 participants from 146 nations were gathered in southern Sweden to a 12 day summer camp. Another 31,645 people were visitors. Members for the medical service were 153 volunteering medical professionals with different language and cultural backgrounds from 18 different countries.ResultsOf 40,061 participants 2,893 (7.3%) needed medical assistance. We found an equal distribution of cases to approximately one third surgical, one third medical and one third unspecified cases. Much energy was spent on health prevention, hygiene measures and organizing of psychological support.ConclusionsA youth camp with a multicultural population and a size of a small city demands flexible staff with high communication skills. Special attention should be paid in prevention of contagious diseases and taking care of psychological issues.

Mass gatherings medicine: public health issues arising from mass gathering religious and sporting events

“…Apart from risk of transmission of infectious diseases, injuries, and burns, it induces a range of psychological disorders, inc luding homesickness and behavioural and neuropsychological disorders. 64 No major infectious diseases outbreaks were reported during the Jamboree. However, within 9 days of the end of the event, six cases of laboratoryconfirmed invasive meningococcal disease caused by Neisseria meningitides capsular serogroup W occurred among scouts and their close contacts in Scotland and Sweden.…”

Medical Services at an International Summer Camp Event Under Hot and Humid Conditions: Experiences From the 23rd World Scout Jamboree, Japan

“…The mean daytime and nighttime relative humidity was 61 ±13% and 79±11%, respectively. Compared with the 22nd WSJ in Sweden in 2011, 3 both mean daytime and nighttime temperatures throughout the 10-day camp were about 10°C higher. Daytime changes in mean wet-bulb globe temperature (WBGT) values from July 31 to August 8 were measured in front of the WSJ medical center.…”

“…2 Medical care plays a crucial role in the WSJ by helping to ensure that participants can carry out camping and outdoor activities safely and comfortably. Compared with the 22nd WSJ, which was held in Sweden in 2011, 3 the 23rd WSJ was held under extremely hot and humid conditions in Japan. Furthermore, most attendees had to travel much further before arriving at the WSJ site.…”

“…Several reports [4][5][6] on long-term camping have highlighted the importance of first aid in preventing and treating trauma and infectious diseases; however, only a few studies regarding the organization and implementation of camp-wide health care have been conducted. 3 Based on our experience at the 16th Nippon Jamboree, which was held in 2013 at the same site during the same season (summer) as a precursor to the 23rd WSJ, the primary focus of medical care was the prevention of heat stroke and skin diseases, including insect bites.…”

Disease proportions and drug prescribing pattern observed in a free health camp organized at Dhorphirdi Village Development Committee of Western Nepal

“…Health Camp is generally organized to provide health care services to the people who are generally out of reach to the basic health care facilities. Disease prevention as well as treatment of medical issues should be the main objective of any kind of health camps [ 4 ]. Prevalence of disease in particular area may be affected by various factors including socioeconomic status, life style, awareness among people, availability of health care facilities, etc.…”