Each summer, West Bend sends a team of safety experts across the Midwest to present to thousands of camp counselors at YMCAs and summer camps. When visiting with camp counselors we talk about many of the popular topics that probably come to mind: drowning prevention, abuse recognition, and field trip safety to name a few. And because we know campers will be spending a huge portion of their time outdoors in the …continue reading the rest of Fighting Dehydration with a Water Monster
Archive for the ‘Summer Camp’ Category
Safety Concerns for Summer Camps in 2012
April 21st, 2012
Every year around this time, West Bend’s loss prevention representatives start preparing for dozens of summer camp counselor presentations. Last year, in fact, we presented to more than 1,250 summer and day camp counselors throughout May and June.
Because every single camp is unique, we’ve found that a single, pre-prepared presentation or video simply won’t cut it. Discussing incident reporting to an experienced staff of counselors, for example, is going to be different than a similar discussion with …continue reading the rest of Safety Concerns for Summer Camps in 2012
Bully: A Documentary
February 24th, 2012
We are eagerly awaiting Bully, a feature-length documentary from The Weinstein Company due to hit select theaters on March 30th.
Official word on the project: “BULLY tells the remarkable stories of five brave families that will challenge viewers to move from shock and resignation about bullying to action, transforming schools and communities into places where empathy and respect are valued and bullying is unacceptable. The film’s powerful stories offer youth, parents, and educators …continue reading the rest of Bully: A Documentary
Facebook Subscribe: The Safest Way to Interact with Minors?
October 17th, 2011
As we’ve stated time after time, we feel strongly that online contact with minors should be extremely limited. As someone that does online marketing and social networking for a living, I understand better than most how these social media restrictions can be frustrating for youth-focused organizations like summer camps, youth sports programs, Boys & Girls Clubs, and schools. The interactive communication between activity programmers and children can be an incredible outreach tool, but the fact of the matter is …continue reading the rest of Facebook Subscribe: The Safest Way to Interact with Minors?
Beware of the Blood Suckers
September 12th, 2011
What would you say if I told you thousands of sharp-toothed creatures with an unquenchable appetite for your blood are making a mass exodus from wooded forests straight to your home? You might tell me to put down the Twilight books or stop watching HBO’s True Blood. You might also suggest that I promptly take the tin foil off of my head. Or… you might recognize that I haven’t completely lost my mind and that my warning does, in fact, have some teeth behind it.
No, we’re not talking about vampires, we’re talking about …continue reading the rest of Beware of the Blood Suckers
Time to Referee The Choking Game
August 24th, 2011
With school getting ready to start back up for kids across the country, now seems like a good time to readdress a very scary trend with adolescents and young adults. Almost two years ago we published a safety article on The Choking “Game”, an activity kids engage in that cuts oxygen off to the brain. The lack of oxygen causes the participant to feel a temporary high and dizziness. Unfortunately, many children often …continue reading the rest of Time to Referee The Choking Game
When Not to Quit: Man Revived After 96 Minutes
August 22nd, 2011
Performing CPR in a life-or-death situation is mentally, physically, and emotionally exhausting. I hope this incredible story about a man who was successfully revived – with no resulting brain damage – after 96 minutes provides the extra burst of strength and motivation you may need the next time someone’s life is in your hands. While the article primarily focuses on …continue reading the rest of When Not to Quit: Man Revived After 96 Minutes
Don’t Be Facebook Friends with Children
July 15th, 2011
The British Medical Association (BMA) recently released a report titled “Using Social Media: Practical and Ethical Guidance for Doctors and Medical Students.” Generally speaking, the audience of CultureOfSafety.com doesn’t typically include medical professionals, so you may be wondering why we are sharing this resource with you. Well… this report aligns closely with many of the recommendations we’ve been making in our Social Media Best Practices Guide and a previous blog post about enforcing unpopular policies, but goes a step further and introduces …continue reading the rest of Don’t Be Facebook Friends with Children
Counselor Training Prevents Tornado Disaster
June 10th, 2011
Tornadoes have been dominating the news as of late… and for good reason. According to data from the National Weather Service, more than 500 people have been killed by tornadoes in 13 different states already this year. Before-and-after photos from Joplin, Missouri show the unimaginable power of a tornado.
With so many sad stories so far in this storm season, we’re happy to share a tornado story from one of our customers that ended with a group of …continue reading the rest of Counselor Training Prevents Tornado Disaster
Developing a Culture of Safety at Camp – Part 3
April 29th, 2011
Effectively teaching or leading a group of peers requires a dynamic personality. The ability to demonstrate a skill is only half of the equation.
If counselors, trainers, supervisors, or coaches lack the skills to effectively communicate instructions, your campers or program participants will be put at risk. As Su Rider of Wesley Woods mentions, a special focus should be placed on …continue reading the rest of Developing a Culture of Safety at Camp – Part 3
