By: Jeff Lorenz
Submitted: 2010-02-11 09:51:45 | Word Count: 519
Millions of children this summer go to Summer Youth Camps in America. 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.
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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 chills friends are going. One need to assess if it meets their chills 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. Parents can no longer just assume that because all your children s friends are attending a camp that you should send your child as well. Do the research call references.
Prevention of homesickness begins long before camp starts. Parents and doctors alike need to be involved. Homesickness prevention, the authors write, should start weeks before a child goes off to camp, and can be led by parents with the help of the doctor or other health care provider who performs the child s pre camp health assessment. But what are a few things parents can do to reduce Homesickness?
1) Practice sleepovers in advance of camp.
2) Let the children be involved in the camp decision.
3) Support their decision to go to camp.
4) Do Not make a back up plan to save them if they get homesick.
5)Write early and often.
Walton, suggests Parents should also avoid making prearranged plans with their children about picking them up if they get homesick. If parents discuss camp positively, avoid expressing doubts about a child s ability to avoid homesickness .
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.
Asthma and allergies also bring new challenges for camps. Parents need to teach their children how to use rescue inhalers or EpiPens (allergy calming epinephrine injection devices). With or with out the summer camp. Camps need to help children 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 do not give recommendations for summer camps that serve of children with special needs. However, it suggest that local pediatricians take part in such camps, and help establish programs specific to them.
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Author Resource:-
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