[youtube:pTbm0BuWg84;[link: Summer Camp] ;http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pTbm0BuWg84&feature=related] Millions of children go to Summer Kids Camps. Yet before you even commit to find that perfect place for your child experts suggest you make sure it is safe.
Recent guidelines by the American Academy of Pediatrics and the ACA (American Camp Association.) suggest parents be aware of their camps health and safety policies. Dr. Walton, is lead author of the paper and official policy statements.
The new policy statement for the first time advises parents to thoroughly assess whether a camp is right for their child’s mental, emotional and physical well-being, as well as their interests and skills.
That means, Walton says, that camps should provide parents with a complete picture of what their programs involve, whether it’s strenuous sports, rough wilderness camping, horseback riding — or intense music or computer practice. If an activity raises risk for kids with certain medical conditions, for instance scuba diving and asthma, camps should tell parents about those risks ahead of time.
Prevention of homesickness begins long before camp starts. Parents and doctors alike need to be involved.
Parents should also avoid making pre-arranged plans with their children about picking them up if they get homesick. This only gets kids thinking about the way out of camp. Only should parents discuss camp positively, avoid expressing doubts about a child’s ability to avoid homesickness.
The American Academy of Pediatrics guidelines say the pediatricians need to be involved with camps in their local have up to date protocols and help as medical backups for camp health personnel.
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.
The new guideline does not give detailed recommendations for camps that serve only children with special medical circumstances, such as cancer, physical disabilities, blindness, deafness or diabetes. But it recommends that camps work with local pediatricians and health professionals to assess children’s fitness to take part in such camps, and establish programs specific to them.
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Swift Nature Camp is a Minnesota Summer Camp for boys and girls ages 6-15. Our focus is to blend traditional Summer Camps For Kids with that of a Science At Summer Camps that promotes an appreciation for nature.