Burn Camp Committee
What are Burn Camps?
Specialised camps for children with specific medical diagnoses have been in existence for many years. The move to establish camps for burn-injured children began with the week long camp created by Burn Centre staff at The Children's Hospital, Denver, Colorado, U.S.A. in the 1980's. It is now a concept that has spread across the globe and is widely considered to be an important component of rehabilitation services designed to facilitate the successful adaptation of burn-injured children. In short, burn camps aim to provide activities designed to help children face the challenges of a major burn injury in an atmosphere of fun, support and rehabilitation. The European Burn Camp concept was formed in 1998 with the aim of encouraging burn centres from European countries to take part in multi-national camp experiences. A number of international camps have been held, but the trend has been towards the setting up of a number of successful national camps. The emphasis is on sharing the knowledge and experience which exists in these camps, with the European Burn Camp Committee acting in an advisory and supportive capacity.
The European Burn Camp Committee
The committee is made up of people who have had experience of burn camps over many years. The work of the committee includes:
- Supporting the sharing of knowledge and expertise around running burn camps
- Developing a European platform to benefit all burn camps
- Defining the aims and purposes of Burn Camps
- Developing guidelines and standards for the organisation of Burn Camps
- Facilitating international exchange programmes between Burn Camps for staff and young people
- Organising specific burn camps sessions / workshops at European congresses
- Co-ordinating European research to establish a body of evidence to support the value of burn camps
Initiatives & Achievements
- Production of the guide "How to organise a burn camp". This is a professionally produced booklet outlining the basic principles of organising a camp. It includes topics such as selection of the children / obtaining sponsorship / arranging insurance / setting evaluation criteria. A review and update of this guide is one of the committee's objectives for 2008
- Organisation of a teaching course at the 2001 congress in Lyon. This was aimed particularly at those interested in establishing burn camps in their region / country
- Organisation of a burn camp round table session at the 2003 congress in Bergen
- Establishment of a ‘European Association of Burn Camps'. This was launched at the 2005 congress in Estoril, and membership invited
- Development of guidelines for running burn camp activities in Europe. These were presented at the 2005 congress in Estoril
- Development of guidelines for burn camp leader exchanges. These were presented at the 2007 congress in Budapest
- Development of an inventory of burn camps / individuals interested in establishing burn camps throughout Europe
- Development of simple evaluation tools to gain qualitative feedback from children, parents and leaders, regarding their burn camp experiences. A number of established burn camps have now participated in a pan-European evaluation study
- Development of formal links with the ‘International Association of Burn Camps', through the chairperson of the European Burn camp committee taking a committee position on the IABC
Further Information
If you would like any further information about Burn Camps in Europe, or the work of the European Burn Camp Committee then please do not hesitate to contact one of the committee members.
