By Tracey Arial

Summer camp often conjures up pictures of happy kids swimming in the lake, doing arts & crafts or kicking around a soccer ball. But children who congregate together sometimes spread a lot more than friendly cheer. They can be exposed to athlete’s foot, head lice, ringworm and other communal illnesses. And the great outdoors also houses critters that sting or bite and plants that cause rashes or itching. Of course parents shouldn’t avoid sending their kids to camp but they should be aware of some of the potential problems and take preventative measures. 

1. Make sure that the camp staff has first-aid and emergency training. Most camps require counsellors and other staff to attend at least an eight-hour course given by a recognized organization such as St. John Ambulance, the Lifeguards Society or the Red Cross, says Jacqui Raill, director of the Canadian Camping Association, which represents the provincial camping associations. Some camp directors insist staff have a certification in first aid and CPR while others have a full-time nurse and doctor on site. 
     

2. If your child has allergies or any other medical condition, make sure the camp staff is informed and supplied with adequate medication. Raill, who is also the director of Camp Oureau in St. Donat, requires parents to complete a medical survey that her doctor examines carefully so that staff can be informed about particular issues with each camper. She also stocks her first aid kits with Epipens (used in the case of a severe allergic reaction) and asks parents to provide two sets of medication, one that stays with the child and a second for the nurse’s station.
     

3. Ask about a camp’s “hydration policies.” It’s important that camp counsellors and staff encourage children to consume liquids during the day to prevent dehydration. “We all carry water bottles,” says Raill. “We do games during each activity to get campers to drink frequently. We also replaced all our sugared juice at lunches with water and we provide fresh fruit all through the day.”
     

4. Encourage your child to wear flip-flops in locker rooms and around the pool to prevent the spread of athlete’s foot and warts. When a camper returns home, parents should check his or her feet for flaking, peeling skin (a sign of athlete’s foot) or small growths that could be warts. Consult a doctor or pharmacist about treatment for these conditions. 
     

5. Send your child to camp with a wide-brimmed hat and sunscreen. The Canadian Pediatric Society recommends the use of sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 30 on a child’s skin, including nose, ears and lips. Remember that sunscreen doesn’t start working until at least 20 minutes after it’s applied, so have a child put it on before heading outside. Also make sure that counsellors remind children to re-apply sunscreen during the day — sweat and water will wash off sunscreen after a few hours. 
     

6. Rashes are a common summer problem and may signal that your child has touched poison ivy oak or sumac or been bitten by an insect or spider. If your child is attending an overnight camp, remind him or her to tell a counsellor about any body rashes. Otherwise, check your own child regularly. Most rashes just need time and maybe some calamine lotion or warm compresses to heal. But if you are concerned or the rash is extensive, seek medical help. 
     

7. Active children need strong, well-fitted shoes with good support to prevent or lessen ankle and foot injuries. The camp may offer suggestions for appropriate footwear, but consider solid shoes with backs or running shoes, not flip-flops or light sandals. 
     

8. Make sure your child’s hair is either short or neatly tied back, for two reasons. Loose hair is uncomfortable and a safety hazard during play. As well, lice do not disappear in the warm months and short or tied back hair reduces the risk of transmitting these pesky critters. If you’re child is coming home from camp each night, do a check once a day. If a young person is away at camp, check as soon as they get home. If you find any signs of lice, notify the camp immediately and consult with your pharmacist for the appropriate treatment. 
     

9. Ask the camp director about how counsellors are trained to identify and respond to heat illness. The major symptoms are muscle weakness, mild confusion, headache or nausea. If not treated quickly, heat illness can progress to heat exhaustion or heat stroke, a potentially fatal conditions in which the body temperature becomes dangerously high. A child suffering from dehydration or heat illness needs to be moved to a cool place and given plenty of fluids and possibly seen by a doctor if his or her condition doesn’t improve. 
     

10. Finally, as obvious as it seems, don’t send your kid off to camp if he or she is sick. Sure it’s a hassle to organize childcare, but just as at school, a sick kid will simply pass his or her germs along to the others. For everyone’s sake, keep sick children at home until they are better.