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ANN ARBOR,
MI - As this winter's deep freeze continues to chill much of
the country, the warm breezes of summer may seem a long way off.
But thoughts of summer are filling the minds of millions of parents
of school-age children right now, as they face looming January and
February deadlines to sign their kids up for summer camp. More than
10 million American children attend camp each year.
As parents
ponder the glossy brochures and surf the web sites of soccer camps,
music camps, computer camps and traditional all-around camps, a
University of Michigan Health
System expert advises them to keep their children's health in
mind.
No matter what
kind of camp a child might attend, parents should ask camp organizers
the same basic questions about how they keep kids safe, handle medical
emergencies, and deal with routine health needs, says Edward Walton,
M.D., a UMHS pediatric
emergency medicine specialist who studies camp health issues.
And if a child
has special health needs - from allergies and asthma to more serious
conditions - or if the camp will be physically demanding, parents
should make sure they understand the camp's ability to handle preventive
and emergency care.
"Camp
is a great experience for kids, and helps them grow and develop
emotionally and socially," says Walton, whose own children
just signed up for the same camps he and his sister attended when
they were young. "But when choosing a camp, parents need to
make sure they're comfortable entrusting organizers with their child's
health. Asking a few questions now can help you have peace of mind
this summer."
Walton recently
presented findings from a U-M study of camp health in Michigan at
the American College of Emergency
Physicians annual meeting, evaluating the medical training of
camp health officers and the availability and use of medical support
near the camp. He notes that Michigan is one of the nation's more
proactive states for summer camp health, with state laws requiring
annual licensing, a dedicated camp health officer, and first-aid
training for many camp staff.
Even so, Walton
and his colleagues found that out of 129 Michigan camps, half had
a camp health officer with paramedic training or less. A roughly
equal number had registered nurses on staff.
Two-thirds
of camps surveyed reported that ambulances responding to an emergency
at their facility would go to a small or rural hospital, and more
than a third said it would take an ambulance 10 or more minutes
to get to their camp.
"There's
a lot of variation, so parents should be sure to ask questions,"
Walton says.
 He
also advises that parents check whether a camp they're considering
is accredited with the American
Camping Association, which has even more stringent health requirements
than state laws. Walton, a clinical assistant professor in the U-M
Medical School's Department of Emergency
Medicine, is also a member and educator with the ACA.
As parents
consider their children's options, Walton offers the following list
of questions to ask.
What's the
camp's philosophy?
Is it a general camp or a specialized one? How much physical activity
do campers have, and what's the potential for injury during those
activities? If it's a sports camp, are trainers and coaches prepared
to handle sprains, strains, heat stroke and other emergencies?
Who supervises
the children? What's their age, experience, and first-aid training?
Inexperienced or young counselors may not be able to respond as
well in an emergency as more experienced or trained ones. And instructors
in especially risky activities - such as horseback riding, swimming,
water sports and adventure hiking - should have more training in
safety measures and first aid. Walton notes that the majority of
the small number of deaths that occur each year at American camps
are caused by drowning. Parents should also ask about whether the
camp conducts background checks on counselors and other staff.
What kind
of medical staff works at the camp? What are the medical facilities
nearby?
Ask if the camp you're considering has a nurse or person with emergency
medical training on site at all times, and how quickly they are
available in emergencies, Walton advises. Also, ask about the nearest
hospital and urgent care clinic, and the local ambulance service.
What's the
supervision for trips away from camp?
Field trips are often an exciting change of pace for campers, but
parents should ask about the ratio of chaperones to campers, and
the requirements for drivers of vehicles campers ride in.
How are
campers' medications and special dietary needs handled?
More children than ever use prescription medications for asthma,
behavior and mental health disorders, allergies, diabetes and other
conditions. Awareness of food allergies and dietary restrictions
is also rising. Parents should check on how camps store and dispense
daily medications, whether they allow asthma inhalers and "epi
pens" to be kept in cabins for asthma attacks and allergic
reactions, and whether they can tailor meals to meet special diet
needs. Walton also cautions parents not to see summer camp as a
time for their child to take a "medication holiday" and
halt their use of behavioral drugs like Ritalin. The new experiences
and social situations of camp don't mix well with a sudden change
in medication.
Do I need
to buy extra health insurance? Will my insurance cover local medical
care?
Many camps require parents to buy additional insurance coverage
for their children, or to provide proof that the child is covered
by an existing policy. And, many HMOs and other insurance plans
require special permission or immediate notification for medical
care delivered in areas outside a local "network" of doctors
and hospitals, even for emergencies. Walton advises parents to check
with both the camp and their own insurance company.
If my child
has a chronic condition, is the camp prepared to handle it?
Many parents of children with diabetes, asthma, epilepsy, and other
chronic conditions know that medicine and special precautions make
it possible for their child to have a normal life most of the year.
But camp can present special challenges, especially if a child needs
routine medicines or foods, or might suffer an emergency that camp
counselors don't know how to handle. Parents should be realistic
about their child's health and choose a camp that can handle day-to-day
issues such as insulin shots, and crises such as seizures.
What's the
camp's policy about phone calls, and homesickness?
Psychological well-being is just as important as physical health,
Walton notes, and he urges parents to find out whether their child
will be allowed to call home if he or she is feeling homesick. But
parents should resist the temptation to retrieve a homesick child
from camp immediately, he adds; they should talk with counselors
first and see if they can address the issue. And, they should avoid
sending mixed messages by saying, "I wish you were home."
A lot can be
done to address homesickness before camp even begins - starting
with a realistic assessment of whether a child is ready to go to
a sleep-away camp. Young children should try sleepovers with friends
or relatives before being signed up for camp. If they do plan to
go to camp, parents should talk frankly with them in the weeks before
they leave about how it's all right to miss home, while emphasizing
the fun and new experiences camp will bring.
Walton also
recommends that parents read "The Summer Camp Handbook"
by psychologists Christopher Thurber, Ph.D., and Jon Malinowski,
Ph.D. for more information on the psychological aspects of sending
a child to camp. Coincidentally, both authors are friends of his
from when all three attended summer camp together.
Written
by: Kara Gavin
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