Keeping Kanakuk Kamps Clean Summer 2009

K-West is healthy! And they should be. Ward and his staff have done exemplary work in educating their Kampers and Staff on proper hygiene, and have set the bar for the whole world on cleaning. Below is the new water bottle policy, drafted at K-West after a doctor agreed that twice a week was plenty as long as there was no sharing.
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Cleaning Water Bottles at K-West:

Every Wednesday and Sunday: (* Each bottle and lid must be marked with a name to be washed!)

Breakfast: Cabins 1-4
Lunch: Cabins 5-8
Dinner: Cabins 9-12

Protocol:
There will be flats in the kitchen by the wash sink where the counselors from each cabin will bring the kamper and staff water bottles at the beginning of the meal. The kitchen staff will send them through Hobie and then place the flats back on the counter for the counselors to retrieve all the bottles and distribute before the end of the meal. Please only wash your bottles at the meal time scheduled for your cabin. - Thanks so much!!!

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K-West has also created the most detailed cleaning check list (creatively titled "Mr. Disinfection 2009).

Here is just a sampling (it's 10 pages long and covers every area of the entire Kamp):

DOCK

• All Ski Equipment (skis, boards, skates, etc.)
• Fishing poles, rods, supplies
• All equipment in boats (keys, steering wheel, buttons, throttles, handles, ladders, ski rope handles, the thing you hook the ski rope to, tie downs)
• Ladders (handles, steps, etc.)
• ....

KAMPOUT

• Mattresses (front/back, edges)
• Tents, floor, zippers, etc.)
• Benches, serving table, grill

MAIN OFFICE

• Porch: poles, clipboards, outside windowsills and windows, door, door handle, railings, rope for bell.
• Trash Cans
• Phones
• Fax Machine
• Clock, weather radio, lightening meter
• Mailboxes
• Papercutter
• All light switches

The list goes on and on. There are 10 items for the inside of vehicles! 34 for the pool area!

Way to go K-West for being so detailed and diligent. Now, the place I've always said is the most hospitable and home-like to visit is also the cleanest!

I was talking to Dr. Mike Johnson, Chief of Medicine at CMC Pineville in North Carolina, and Infectious Disease Specialist, over at the Family Kamp and he helped me feel comfortable that we were doing the right thing when he said, “I can’t see any reason in the world to close down a camp. You have done more in the way of precautions than any health system in the world.” Dr. Mike went on to say that, “parents need to understand that H1N1 is all around us and is generally very mild. They [parents] should be no more concerned about their child getting H1N1 than they are about them getting pinkeye. I’m here at Kanakuk Kamps with my family, including small children, and feel perfectly safe!”

Dr. Mike also explained that the virus only survives for "minutes to hours" on surfaces and that the hotter and drier it is, the shorter the survival time.

I'm learning lots of fun stuff about viruses. I used to be a paramedic and there's still a little bit of me that's interested in medicine. Honestly, I wish I was learning about muscle fatigue and heat exhaustion. I may get a chance to do just that if I spend another day chasing the, fast walking, fast talking, doesn't like "parking close", Health Services Director :-) Is that part of the fitness program?

Just realized this is a long post. More tomorrow.



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