Camp Bandage

At this free, family-friendly, fun and educational event, you can learn about injury prevention, safety, first aid and CPR.

McGruff the Crime Dog with crash test dummies and ­Immanuel Christian Academy students at Camp Bandage.

On Saturday, May 21, Immanuel Lutheran Church in Broken Arrow is hosting Camp Bandage. At this free, family-friendly, fun and educational event, you can learn about injury prevention, safety, first aid and CPR, see a simulated car crash, and lots more – and, as Camp Bandage’s slogan goes, what you learn could save a life.

At Camp Bandage, you’ll see fire trucks, ambulances, police cars, and K-9 units, all up close. You can watch and participate as professionals provide emergency care for various types of “injuries” (“victims” are portrayed by drama students and volunteers), including car crashes, motorcycle accidents, near-drownings, snake bites, heart attacks, burns, poisoning, fractures and lacerations. And, as always, Camp Bandage’s grand finale is the simulated car crash, where you can see how the police, fire department, and paramedics work a real accident. This year, Camp Bandage will also feature a new focus on health.

Camp Bandage, a safety camp and community outreach project, was founded in 1983 by Dr. A. L. Gerner and his wife Shirley, a nurse. “Dr. Gerner was a patriarch of Immanuel,” says Kurt Klein, Camp Bandage’s chairman. “They were concerned that people didn’t know first aid, and Camp Bandage grew out of that desire to teach.”

Camp Bandage could prove more beneficial than you might imagine. “One of our demonstrations this year is how to use a fire extinguisher,” says Klein. “Some things you take for granted, but it’s surprising how many people don’t know how to use a fire extinguisher properly.”

The need for such a program is great. According to Camp Bandage statistics, nearly 300,000 children are treated each year for bicycle-related injuries. Drowning, choking, and burns are among the leading causes of death and injury for young people. About 45 percent of deaths from accidental injury occur in or around the home.

“Dr. Gerner didn’t want anybody to be deprived of the opportunity to learn how to prevent these things, and so the event is free,” says Klein. “You can spend the whole day here and it won’t cost you a dime.” Camp Bandage will also be providing free hot dogs and drinks. Other concessions will be available for purchase, and so will Camp Bandage shirts and hats. There will also be a free fun zone for the kids that will include inflatables and a miniature fire truck.

Entertainment will be provided by, among others, the Glen Henry Experience, Moore’s Dance Studio, and the BAPD’s Hip Hop Cops. Heisman winner Billy Sims will be on hand as Camp Bandage’s Honorary Doctor.

The origins of Camp Bandage can be traced to the Gerners’ large, brush-covered ranch along the Arkansas River in southeast Broken Arrow. They taught safety to their own children, and also treated many children who had been injured by falls, burns and snake bites. Word spread throughout the community about the basic lessons the Gerners were teaching their children, and many parents asked them to make their safety courses public. They did, and with support from local, state and federal agencies, Camp Bandage grew year by year.

In 2001, following the deaths of the Gerners, Camp Bandage was suspended. In 2009, Immanuel Volunteers, in cooperation with the Broken Arrow Police and Fire Departments, resurrected the program. “Since we’ve brought it back, it’s been growing by leaps and bounds – we’ve had a great turnout and a lot of positive responses from the people who come and participate,” says Klein. “The police and fire departments are a big part of this. Along with our other sponsors, they are a tremendous reason why Camp Bandage is successful. We also have a very hardworking committee. They work almost year-round for five hours of presentation. It’s really a team event.”

Camp Bandage is Saturday, May 21 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Immanuel Lutheran Church, 400 N. Aspen in Broken Arrow. It’s free to come and free to exhibit. For more information, or to register for a booth or presentation, visit www.campbandage.org. If you want to exhibit, register by May 15.

For more information, contact

Camp Bandage

(918) 258-5506