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Each Year 10 million American children will start heading off to (http://www.swiftnaturecamp.com/Summer_Kids_Camp.htm) Summer Kids Camp. Before you put them on that bus or drop them off experts are issuing new advice to both parents and camp directors, to protect the health of campers’.

Parents should be sure to ask camp officials the kinds of health services Provided. The experts say, ask about emergency response times, health protocols, and staffing. All camps should require a health exam and list of any medications that campers may use. Today no longer is summer camp seen as a “time off” medications.

With a little effort by parents before camp much homesickness can be alleviated.

Ina recent journal of Pediatrics, new standards were proposed for Summer Camps. Edward Walton, M.D. helped author a paper, outlining an official policy statement for the American Academy of Pediatrics and was produced in conjunction with the A.C.A. (American Camp Association).

says Walton, “Summer camp, whether it’s day camp or sleep-away, can be a great experience for children — but it’s crucial that parents, camp officials and medical professionals work together to make it as safe and problem-free as possible for children.”

Walton and U-M colleagues recently published a study in the journal Wilderness & Environmental Medicine showing that almost half of camp health officers reported caring for children with significant medical needs, including diabetes, asthma, attention deficit disorder and epilepsy. But 44 percent of the camp health officers had medical training at the paramedic level or less, and 40 percent said it would take an ambulance more than 10 minutes to get to their camp. More than 70 percent said the hospital that would receive an injured or ill camper was small or rural.

In light of these statistics, Walton advises parents and camp officials to communicate openly, early and often about any health problems a child has or might face at camp, how the camp would respond, and how parents can be reached in an emergency.

The bottom line here is to look into the camps safety record and be sure to ask the camp owners and directors how safe their camp is. Are they prepared for your child? To learn more on how to pick a summer camp go to Summer Camp Advice. A FREE directory about (http://www.summercampadvice.com) Summer Camp – 35634

Swift Nature Camp is a (http://www.swiftnaturecamp.com/usa_summer_camphtm) American Summer Camp for boys and girls ages 6-15. Our focus is to blend traditional summer camp activities with that of a (http://wwwswiftnaturecamp.com/science-atcamp.htm) Animal Summer Camp.