(a) Record of an on-call physician required. Documentation
shall be kept on file of a physician licensed to practice in Texas
who is available to be on call at all times to advise health service
personnel on all first aid and nursing services provided by the camp.
(b) Emergency transportation. Transportation shall
be available at all times to transport any sick or injured camper
in an emergency.
(c) Medical staffing requirements. A physician, registered
nurse, licensed vocational nurse, or a person with an American Red
Cross Emergency Response certificate, or its equivalent, shall be
in the camp and on call at all times, and will be considered the Camp
Health Officer. For camps having documented evidence, such as a letter
from the local emergency medical services (EMS), that the camp is
located within a 20-minute community EMS response time, a person certified
in American Red Cross Community First Aid and Safety, or its equivalent,
shall be in the camp and on call at all times, and will be considered
the Camp Health Officer.
(d) Requirement to report incidents of abuse or neglect
of a minor.
(1) Requirement to report incidents of abuse or neglect
of a minor at a youth camp.
(A) If a person, including any member of camp staff,
a camp counselor, or camp director has cause to believe that a minor
has been or may have been abused or neglected as those terms are defined
in the Texas Family Code, Chapter 261, and the abuse or neglect occurred
at the youth camp, then that person shall immediately make a report,
in accordance with Texas Family Code, §261.101(a) to one of the
appropriate agencies designated by Texas Family Code, §261.103.
Accordingly, a report shall be made to:
(i) any local or state law enforcement agency;
(ii) the Department of Family and Protective Services
Abuse Hotline, which may be contacted at (800) 252-5400 or through
the secure web site http://www.txabusehotline.org/; or
(iii) the Department of State Health Services.
(B) If a person making a report in accordance with
subparagraph (A) of this paragraph has not already notified the Department
of State Health Services as part of such a report, the person shall
also immediately notify the Department of State Health Services' Policy,
Standards, and Quality Assurance Unit by phone at (512) 834-6788,
by fax at (512) 834-6707, or by email at PHSCPS@dshs.texas.gov that
a minor has been or may have been abused or neglected at a youth camp.
(2) Requirement to report incidents of abuse or neglect
of a minor other than at a youth camp. If a person, including any
member of camp staff, a camp counselor, or camp director has cause
to believe that a minor has been or may have been abused or neglected
as those terms are defined in the Texas Family Code, Chapter 261,
and the abuse or neglect did not occur at the youth camp, then that
person shall immediately make a report, in accordance with Texas Family
Code, §261.103.
(A) Except as provided by subparagraphs (B), (C) and
(D) of this paragraph, a report shall be made to:
(i) any local or state law enforcement agency;
(ii) the Department of Family and Protective Services
Abuse Hotline, which may be contacted at (800) 252-5400 or through
the secure web site http://www.txabusehotline.org/; or
(iii) the agency designated by the court to be responsible
for the protection of children.
(B) A report may be made to the Texas Juvenile Justice
Department instead of the entities listed under subparagraph (A) of
this paragraph if the report is based on information provided by a
child while under the supervision of the Texas Juvenile Justice Department
concerning the child's alleged abuse of another child.
(C) Notwithstanding subparagraph (A) of this paragraph,
a report, other than a report under subparagraph (D) of this paragraph,
shall be made to the Department of Family and Protective Services
if the alleged or suspected abuse or neglect involves a person responsible
for the care, custody, or welfare of the child.
(D) A report of alleged abuse, neglect, or exploitation
in any juvenile justice program or facility shall be made to the Texas
Juvenile Justice Department and a local law enforcement agency for
investigation.
(3) The youth camp must develop and maintain a written
policy regarding the method for reporting to the Department of State
Health Services suspected abuse or neglect of a minor occurring at
the camp. This policy must be maintained on-site.
(4) The Department of State Health Services, by policy,
shall forward a report of alleged abuse of a camper that is received
by the Department of State Health Services to the Department of Family
and Protective Services or another appropriate agency.
(e) Requirement to report camper death or communicable
diseases. Camper death or confirmed cases of waterborne or foodborne
diseases, such as cholera, dysentery, typhoid, salmonellosis, shigellosis,
or infectious hepatitis, shall be reported to the Department of State
Health Services' Policy, Standards, and Quality Assurance Unit, within
24 hours of occurrence (or confirmation in the case of disease) by
fax at (512) 834-6707, or by email at PHSCPS@dshs.texas.gov.
(f) Designation of a first aid area. A first aid area,
used exclusively to handle health and emergency cases, shall be designated
and suitably equipped. Supplies should be in single use packaging.
A first aid kit containing at the minimum the items listed in this
subsection shall be available in the first aid area.
(1) Sterile adhesive bandages in assorted sizes.
(2) Sterile gauze pads in assorted sizes.
(3) Hypoallergenic adhesive tape.
(4) Triangular bandages.
(5) Sterile roller bandages in assorted sizes.
(6) Scissors.
(7) Tweezers.
(8) Moistened towelettes.
(9) Antiseptic.
(10) Thermometer.
(11) Splints.
(12) Petroleum jelly or other lubricant.
(13) Cleansing agent/soap.
(14) Exam quality gloves.
(15) Eye wash solution.
(g) Isolation of a child with a communicable disease.
A child ill with a confirmed or suspected case of a communicable disease
shall be isolated to provide safety to other children and quiet to
the patient. Any child that is isolated shall be supervised as determined
by the Camp Health Officer. A child with a staphylococcal skin infection
is not required to be isolated, if the infection is kept completely
covered by a bandage.
(h) Medical log required. A bound medical log, or other
unalterable record keeping system, listing date, name of the patient,
ailment, name of the Camp Health Officer, and the treatment prescribed
shall be kept in the first aid area for the duration of the camp year
for which the license is issued.
(i) Camper health records shall be kept on file. The
first aid area shall keep a health record on each child with the child's
name, allergies, immunizations, parent's name, address, and telephone
number, and parent or guardian authorization for emergency medical
care.
(j) Availability of an emergency telephone. The camp
shall have a telephone readily available, preferably in the first
aid area, for emergency use.
(k) Emergency plans required. A written plan of procedures
to be implemented in case of a disaster, serious accident, epidemic,
or fatality shall be formulated and posted in the camp's administrative
on-site office or location and in each permanent and semi-permanent
occupied building. The plan shall include procedures for emergency
shelter and for evacuation of each occupied building and the facility.
Campers shall be instructed as to their actions in the event of fire,
disaster, or the need to evacuate. These procedures shall be reviewed
by the staff with specific assignments made to each staff member and
counselor. All camp staff and volunteers shall be made aware of this
plan during the staff-training program or volunteer briefing. Documentation
of this training shall be kept at the camp's administrative on-site
office or location.
(l) Storing and dispensing prescription medication
to campers. If a child is taking a prescription medication when he
or she reports to camp, the medication shall be in the original container
with the prescription label, and the medical staff shall place that
medication, sharps, and related paraphernalia or devices in a lockable
cabinet or other secure location that is not accessible to campers.
The medication shall be administered by the Camp Health Officer or
camp counselor, if authorized in writing by the Camp Health Officer.
At no time shall the child be allowed to self-administer the medication
without adult supervision. Medications needed for immediate use for
life-threatening conditions (e.g., bee-sting medication, inhaler)
and limited medications approved for use in first-aid kits may be
carried by a camper or staff person. The camp shall have on file a
written statement of medical necessity from the prescribing doctor
or the written approval of the Camp Health Officer for any camper
to carry medication and related paraphernalia or devices.
(m) Camp trip first aid kits. First aid kits containing
at the minimum the items listed in subsection (f) of this section
shall be taken on all out-of-camp trips.
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