Students learn variety heath topics under the medical school content. The curriculum covers many systems of the human body. The operations and emergencies are correlated with the content that is being presented. Each child receives a hands-on manual with worksheets, diagrams, and emergency evaluation forms. There are also additional resources in the book. The topics are shown below:
The Skeletal system – body outlines, bones and fractures.
Muscles and joints – examination of the tongue
Eyes – Anatomy of the eye, types of vision loss, eye tests
The Digestive System – Look at the stomach and liver
Nutrition and Hygiene – Proper food choices, Bacteria and germs.
Respiration – Examination of breathing and the lung
The Endocrine System – brain and reaction time
The Circulatory System – Examination of the heart, blood types, and major vessels in the body.
Students dress in surgical garb and learn the process of sterilization. Then they “operate” on various parts of a pig bought from the butcher. Each investigation involves learning about parts from a diagram and following directions to discover the parts in a specimen. Items are purchased so every two campers have a part to examine. Use plastic plates so they can be thrown out at the end.
There are many parts to examine. Set aside on afternoon for each examination. The tongue is the simplest examination and should be done on the first operating day. Most of this day will be learning about the surgical equipment and clothing that is worn. Students then take scrapes of the tongue and examine them under a microscope. An eyeball is one of the most interesting operating days. Students observe the optic nerve and get to cut the eye open. An eye diagram is hen completed. The stomach and liver are examined together. There is a lot of blood in the liver, and the specimen needs to be drained and washed. The stomach is really dry and is just like a piece of tough skin. Both are diagramed after the examination. The brain is the hardest examination. It is soft and will far apart without careful cutting. It makes a great slide under the microscope. There are usually only one or two lungs to be examined for the whole class. The instructor can put a straw in the lung and inflate it showing the actual process of breathing. Part of the lung then can be cut for individual examination. The heart is the highlight of all the exams. All the blood vessels and values can be examined. It can be sliced in half in order to see all the chambers.
Students are summoned to a variety of emergencies that relate to the health topic that is currently being studied. The students are divided into doctor teams and responsible for setting up their own emergency station. Most camps have between 12 and 16 people. They are divided into three teams, with a total of five doctors per team, but one team member will be a surprise victim. \
Emergencies Throughout the Camp
Broken Bones – A variety of arm and leg injuries require a split and a sling. Victims in emergency bays.
Bleeding Emergency I with a wide variety of cuts, none severe. Victims in emergency bays. .
Heart Emergency Victims in emergency bays with different heart symptoms.
Mixed Emergency– A mixture of bleeding, breathing, bee stings, and broken bones from all patients gathered in emergency bays. Each patient has a different emergency.
Bleeding Emergency II All severe cuts with blood loss. Use red finger paint for blood. Four victims need to be treated at location and then brought to emergency bays on a stretcher.
Combination Injuries– Only three patients but each one has multiple injuries.
Fire Rescue – Missing students caught in a fire. Triage outside.
Mass Casualty Event – Tornado in another camp room. Multiple victims with many injuries.
There are many events that can be integrated into this camp.
The ambulance companies are usually happy to give free tours to students. Students sit in the ambulance and learn about all the equipment. They are put in a stretcher and learn how to immobilize patients. The use of a stair chair is also demonstrated. The Resusci Anne doll is also used to teach CPR.
A trip to the hospital is very complex. Students can examine the cafeteria to learn about meal plans, nutrition and the intense sterilization process. They can attend the imaging area where X-rays, CT scans, and ultrasound equipment can be demonstrated. The maternity area is really interesting because new babies are identified and examined. The pharmacy of a hospital is always one of the largest in the area and is open twenty-four hours a day. The favorite area is the emergency room with helicopter access. Sometimes, campers can even sit in the chopper.
One of the most unusual activities, is having a student planned restaurant outing. This is usually done some time during a field trip. They completely plan a trip to a pizza restaurant. Students work in committees. They research the menu, take preorders for food, calculate the cost include tip, and then eat at the restaurant. The food is already preordered so there is no waiting. There is even a committee to plan table placement and restaurant clean up. It is quite an involved process but it is a great learning experience.
A very important event to end the camp is the summary celebration day. This involves making a power point presentation to the parents, complete with an emergency demonstration. Students are given an assessment, usually in an online quiz after a game review. Students also provide input in a camp evaluation survey. These are very important ways to complete the two-week experience.
