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'.
Parents should be sure to ask camp officials the kinds of health services Provided. The experts say, ask about emergency response times, health protocols, and staffing. All camps should require a health exam and list of any medications that campers may use. Today no longer is summer camp seen as a "time off" medications.
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.
Edward Walton, M.D. helped write guidelines for camper safety policy for the American Academy of Pediatrics along with the 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.
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.
All in all Overnight Summer Camps have a fairly clean record for health and safety. Ask the camp owners and directors how safe their camp is. Do you feel they are ready 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.
