Health Care At Camp

Millions of children go to Summer Youth Camps. Yet before you even commit to find that perfect place for your child experts suggest you make sure it is safe. The new guideline, published in the June issue of the journal Pediatrics, was written by a team led by a University of Michigan Health System physician who specializes in camp health. Edward Walton, M.D., FAAP, FACEP, is lead author of the paper, which is an official policy statement of the American Academy of Pediatrics and was produced in conjunction with the American Camp Association.

the key to this policy is parents need to thoroughly determine whether a camp is right for their child'. Don't just assume its great because your childs friends are going. One need to assess if it meets their childs mental, emotional and physical well-being, as well as their interests and skills.

Walton says, "camps should provide parents with a complete picture of what their programs involve". Look at the total package and be sure it is safe an healthy for your child.

Long before camp starts parents need to be talking about homesickness with their child. Parents need to use their resources like with the doctor who does the child's pre-camp health assessment and fills out the health form.

"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.

The increasing numbers of children who have asthma and allergies also bring new challenges for camps. The new guideline recommends that parents teach their children how to use rescue inhalers or EpiPens (allergy-calming epinephrine injection devices) long before the kids go to camp, and to work with camp officials to specify what situations might require children to use the devices. And camp officials are advised to allow children who know how to use such devices to carry them or 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.

These guideline are set for traditional summer camps not for those camps with special needs. Yet it is recommend that all camps work with local pediatricians and health professionals to ensure that the best health care is in place for the children.

Finding the Right Summer Camp for your you is no easy task, Si, visit a FREE resource Summer Camp Advice at Summer Camp

Bookmark - Share

Quick Login

Username:

Password:

Enter the code shown







Forgot your password?

Main Menu

Categories

Resources

Tags

New York   Hotels   Travel   Vacation pachages   Visiting Milan   Vacation   Accomodation   travel guide   Cyprus   Great Britain   Isle of White   Italy   Tuscany   Tuscany Villas   family holiday   France   Malta   Minorca   Spain   holiday   Cheap flight   Majorca   Isles of Scilly   Wales   Summer Vacation  

Stats

Total Category: 69
Total articles: 3516
12 users online.