Are Kids Safe At Camp

Posted by lonnie Lorenz

January 19, 2010

This summer over 10 million kids will be off toSummer Youth 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.

Probably the most important thing is for parents to ask Camp Directors prior to camp what kinds of health services, and emergency response can be expected at camp. It is expected that camps require, a full health exam and list of any medications. Children also need access to emergency drugs for asthma and allergies. The days are gone as seeing camp as a “medication holiday.”

Even homesickness, a common psychological malady for campers, can be prevented with a little effort by parents and doctors in the weeks before camp.

Ina recent journal of Pediatrics, new standards were proposed for Summer Camps. Edward Walton, M.D. helped author a paper, outlining an official policy statement for the American Academy of Pediatrics and was produced in conjunction with the A.C.A. (American Camp Association).

“Summer camp, whether it’s day camp or sleep-away, can be a great experience for children — but it’s crucial that parents, camp officials and medical professionals work together to make it as safe and problem-free as possible for children,” says Walton, a clinical assistant professor of pediatrics and emergency medicine in the U-M Medical School who has studied camp health for 18 years. “We hope this new guideline can help with that process.”

Walton writes in the journal of Wilderness & Environmental Medicine showing that nearly 45% of camp have health care workers without significant training to meet the medical needs, including diabetes, asthma, attention deficit disorder and epilepsy. For most camps ambulance services are more than 10 minutes from camp and nearly 75%t said the hospital was smaller and less equipped than a city hospital.

In light of these statistics, Walton advises parents and camp officials to communicate openly, early and often about any health problems a child has or might face at camp, how the camp would respond, and how parents can be reached in an emergency.

The bottom line here is to look into the camps safety record and be sure to ask the camp owners and directors how safe their camp is. Are they prepared for your child? To learn more on how to pick a summer camp go to Summer Camp Advice. A FREE directory about Summer Camps

Swift Nature Camp is a American Summer Camp for boys and girls ages 6-15. Our focus is to blend traditional summer camp activities with that of a Animal Summer Camp.

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