Each Year 10 million American children will start heading off to Summer Kids Camp. Before you put them on that bus or drop them off experts are issuing new advice to both parents and camp directors, to protect the health of campers'.
For instance, the experts say, parents should make sure to ask camp officials now what kinds of health services, including emergency response, their child's camp has in place. Campers should provide, and camps should require, a full health exam and list of any medications that campers use -- and let children have immediate access to emergency drugs for asthma and allergies. And parents shouldn't see camp as a time to give kids a "holiday" from drugs for behavior issues or mental health issues.
A common issue like homesickness can be reduced with a little effort by parents and Doctors and Camp Directors in the weeks before camp. Your camp should give you a plan on how they all can work together to reduce homesickness.
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).
says Walton, "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."
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.
Walton feels parents and camp officials need to talk openly, before camp about all health problems their child might face at camp. Be clear on 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 Camp
For instance, the experts say, parents should make sure to ask camp officials now what kinds of health services, including emergency response, their child's camp has in place. Campers should provide, and camps should require, a full health exam and list of any medications that campers use -- and let children have immediate access to emergency drugs for asthma and allergies. And parents shouldn't see camp as a time to give kids a "holiday" from drugs for behavior issues or mental health issues.
A common issue like homesickness can be reduced with a little effort by parents and Doctors and Camp Directors in the weeks before camp. Your camp should give you a plan on how they all can work together to reduce homesickness.
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).
says Walton, "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."
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.
Walton feels parents and camp officials need to talk openly, before camp about all health problems their child might face at camp. Be clear on 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 Camp
About the Author:
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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