Overnight Camp Safety issues
Shortly, nearly 10 million children be going to Summer Camps. But before they go, health experts are issuing strong new advice to both parents and camp directors, and recommending new precautions to protect campers’ health.
The American Academy of Pediatrics along with the American Camp Association created an official policy statement about camper health and Summer Camp responsibilities. Edward Walton, M.D. is lead author of the paper.
The new policy statement for the first time advises parents to thoroughly assess whether a camp is right for their child’s mental, emotional and physical well-being, as well as their interests and skills.
Camps need to give parents a complete and truthful view of what their camp activities involve. All summer camps whether it’s strenuous sports, rough wilderness camping, horseback riding — or intense music or computer practice, need to let the parent know what is expected of each child. Camps need to let parent know that some activities might be more difficult for some children.
Homesickness prevention, the authors write, should start weeks before a child goes off to camp, and can be led by parents with the help of the doctor or other health care provider who performs the child’s pre-camp health assessment.
“If parents discuss camp positively, avoid expressing doubts about a child’s ability to avoid homesickness, involve the child in preparations for camp, and arrange brief trips or sleep-overs away from home, children will be better prepared to go to camp,” says Walton. “Parents should also avoid making pre-arranged plans with their children about picking them up if they get homesick.”
The new guideline recommends that the pediatricians get involved with their local camps to ensure sure that standing orders are up-to-date. They can also act as medical backups instead of the local emergency rooms at hospitals.
Asthma and allergies also bring new challenges for camps. Parents need to teach their children how to use rescue inhalers or EpiPens (allergy-calming epinephrine injection devices). With or with out the summer camp. Camps need to help children have them nearby at all times.
“The delay that can occur when another camper or counselor has to run to the camp nurse’s office to grab an inhaler for a child who is having an asthma attack or an EpiPen for a child who has been stung by a bee can have real health consequences,” says Walton.
The new guideline do not give recommendations for summer camps that serve of children with special needs. However, it suggest that local pediatricians take part in such camps, and help establish programs specific to them.
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