Dealing With Allergies at Summer Camp

If your child has allergies or asthma, it’s important to prepare them for their time away from home. This means having the right medicine, equipping them with the right information, and knowing what steps to take if or when they have an attack.

Here are some important things to remember when dealing with allergies or asthma at summer camp:

Remember, your child isn't alone. Chances are there are other kids at camp who have the same allergies your child has. The best thing you can do is to find a camp that is equipped to deal with these kinds of things; one that has a well-stocked medical supply room with a trained medical staff on-site.

Be prepared. Even if the camp has medical supplies, it doesn't hurt to pack some essentials with your child as well. In case of emergency or in the event your child is alone when they have an attack, they can reach for their meds and administer them themselves. Teach your child the proper usage and make sure they know what to do in case of an emergency. Pack some anti- histamine medication and an EpiPen with them.

Know the triggers. What are their allergy or asthma triggers? Teach your child to look out for signs of triggers and to be vigilant when they spot them.

Have a conversation with the camp coordinators. Above all, it’s important to inform staff at camp about the extent of your child’s allergy and what to do in case of an attack. Ask all the pertinent questions: How often do they deal with allergies or asthma? How do they deal with an attack? How far is the nearest hospital? What kind of background does the medical staff have? Are they on-call 24 hours a day? Are all counselors equipped with phones or two-way radios? Do all staff members know how to use an EpiPen? Are they all trained in administering first aid?

Camp Tamarack is fully equipped to handle health and safety issues. We have a qualified doctor, a registered nurse and a health care provider on staff who can help administer required medication to your child. The camp staff is also trained for emergency response such as for CPR- C and Standard First Aid. The camp has a health centre, first aid kits and access to the local Bracebridge hospital is only 8 minutes away.