Safety Camps
Programs
Unintentional injury is the leading cause of death for children under the age of 14. More children die each year from preventable injuries than from all childhood diseases combined.
Children are injured or killed in traffic as passengers, pedestrians, and bicyclists. They may also be harmed by burns, drowning, choking, falls, and poisoning.
Each year, poison centers manage over 1 million potentially poisonous exposures in children under the age of 12.
Changes in society have increased the risk of accidental poisonings in the home. As more families have working caregivers or single-parent households, some children may be home alone or responsible for younger siblings.
Safety Camp
Safety Camp was first developed in 1990 by the Eden Prairie, Minnesota Police Department and has grown to national prominence. The goal is to teach children about safety in a fun, day-camp environment while building relationships with police, fire, and medical personnel.
Most camps are designed for children who have completed 3rd or 4th grade. Camps typically include 60–150 participants over 2–3 days.
Specialists from public safety and community organizations lead activities on various safety topics. Campers rotate through sessions in small groups (typically 15–25 participants) for 30–60 minutes each, allowing all campers to experience each topic.
Available Activities
These activities can be used at Safety Camp or adapted for other educational programs for elementary students.
For poison emergencies or questions, call Poison Help at 1-800-222-1222.
Need help accessing these materials? We are working to make all documents on this page accessible. If you need this information in another format, please call Poison Help at 1-800-222-1222 or contact us—we’re happy to help.