WCLEC Communicable Disease Policy

EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS

Communicable disease is an inherent risk of camp. WCLEC strives to protect the health of its program participants, employees, and guests by minimizing the risk of exposure and limiting the transmission of infectious organisms, by adhering to the following guidelines for employees, guests and program participants:

• WCLEC reserves the right to not hire or admit a person into its education programs who poses a communicable disease risk to others.  This is determined by the appropriate healthcare professional(s) or the Executive Director according to the WCLEC Health Screening document and the most currently available CDC- accepted screening criteria.
• WCLEC reserves the right to not hire or admit a person into its education programs who has not submitted forms in full by the required deadlines. If for some reason individuals are not able to comply with this requirement, they should contact WCLEC prior to arriving at the camp.  
• WCLEC reserves the right to not admit a person if the submitted immunization record does not meet State of Washington guidelines.
• In the event of a communicable disease outbreak, WCLEC reserves the right to:

• • require all guests to leave WCLEC property immediately
  • prohibit employees from reporting to work
  • require employees to leave the premises

• Contagious/ill program participants and employees are immediately placed in temporary isolation.
• Parents or guardians are required to remove their children from camp within 48 hours since no quarantine accommodations are available on-site.

GUESTS, VISITORS, EMPLOYEES & VOLUNTEERS

WCLEC strives to protect the health of its employees, volunteers and guests by minimizing the risk of exposure and limiting the transmission of infectious organisms, by adhering to the following guidelines for employees and guests:

• WCLEC reserves the right to not hire or admit a person who poses a communicable disease risk to others.  This is determined by the appropriate healthcare professional(s) or the Program Director(s) and the most currently available CDC accepted screening criteria.
• WCLEC reserves the right to not hire a person who has not submitted forms in full by the required deadlines. If for some reason individuals are not able to comply with this requirement, they should contact WCLEC prior to arriving at the camp.  
• WCLEC reserves the right to not admit an employee if the submitted immunization record does not meet State of Washington guidelines.
• In the event of a communicable disease outbreak, WCLEC reserves the right to:

• • require all guests to leave WCLEC property immediately
  • prohibit employees & volunteers from reporting to work
  • require employees & volunteers to leave the premises 

• Contagious/ill guests are required to leave the premises immediately.
• Guests who believe they may be infected with a communicable disease are not allowed to enter the property.
• Guests must leave the property if they are deemed to be a communicable disease risk, as determined by the most currently available CDC-accepted screening criteria. 

PLANNING AND PREVENTION OF COMMUNICABLE DISEASE

This document outlines the planning and prevention strategies WCLEC employs to minimize the potential risk of an outbreak, targeted responses to an outbreak, and recovery. No single activity ensures success, but implementation of multiple strategies increases the likelihood of protecting campers and staff.

WCLEC expects:

• Each program participant and staff member to arrive rested, hydrated, well-nourished and healthy.  
• Each program participant and staff member to have fully and correctly completed the required health forms by the required submission date.
• Program participants and staff to have an updated immunization profile verified by the individual’s non-related­ Primary Care Provider.
• The camp’s administrator and program leaders, in conjunction with the camp’s designated healthcare professional(s), determine what immunizations associated with communicable disease control are needed by campers and staff in order to participate and work at camp.             
• Program participant families and staff to acknowledge receipt of the WCLEC communicable disease policies and potential actions should a communicable disease outbreak occur.
• If a program participant is found to have a communicable disease while at WCLEC, the participant’s legal guardians or parents arrive within 48 hours of notice to remove the program participant.
• WCLEC will provide temporary isolation of the participant, to the extent possible, since isolation may not be possible in all circumstances.  
• In the event of a program shut down due to the spread of a communicable disease all guardians remove program participants within 24 hours.
• Guests who believe they may be infected with a communicable disease to not enter the camp property.
• Guests leave the property if they are deemed to be a communicable disease risk, as determined by the most currently available CDC-accepted screening criteria. 

Role of Program Administration and Health Advisor(s)

• Review all program participant and staff health records no later than 2 weeks prior to registration day.
• Conduct health assessment of arriving employees and program participants for the presence of a communicable disease.
• Share pertinent information about the WCLEC environment and program with the Primary Care Provider (PCP) as needed.
• In concert with the parents and PCP,  help with initial care for infected individuals while minimizing the exposure risk to others
• Track and trend the medical log entries daily for common ailments and/or frequency of cases of illness with similar symptoms which may indicate an infectious disease outbreak
• Provide guests information regarding nearby healthcare facilities they can utilize to get tested and treated for communicable diseases. WCLEC healthcare facilities and resources (e.g. medications, test kits, etc.) are intended for use by Program Participants and staff only.  WCLEC health care facilities are not available for guests or visitors.
• Orient all staff and campers to illness reduction strategies
• Establish and maintain access to reliable health information
  • CDC (www.CDC.gov)
  • ACA (www.ACAcamps.org)
  • ACN (www.CampNurse.org)
  • State of Washington Department of Health (https://www.doh.wa.gov/)
• Establish and maintain relationships with local resources:

• • Mason General Hospital
  • Shelton Family Medicine
  • The Health Care Center

Role of the WCLEC Board/President

• Identify key people for the WCLEC Communicable Disease Outbreak task force who would be responsible for critical services should an outbreak occur.
• Conduct preseason training as needed.
• Review and revise this policy annually and as needed on a yearly basis and as needed 
• Define and establish parameters to determine a “tipping point” whereby external resources are utilized.