How Staff Can Prepare for Campers Who Take Medication

This is a guest post by Charlie Fletcher.

Going off to summer camp is one of the most exciting things to do in the summer as a kid. It is a completely different experience than one they are used to. Leaving for camp is at once an exciting break from the same old routine and an adventure that can leave butterflies in their stomachs.

As any parent who spent time at a summer camp growing up knows, it can be a life-shaping experience. Summer camp is an opportunity to learn skills you never thought you needed and to do fun things you never imagined when you left the city. Likewise, it is a chance to gain independence without mom and dad around, and a place to make lifelong friends.

Though summer camp is a chance to get away and do something different for the summer, children on medications and their parents have just a little bit more to worry about. Camp staff will play a major role in helping to ease parents’ concerns and ensuring children get the medications that they need. It does add some level of complication though, which is something that all professional camp leaders should be ready for.

Rules Surrounding Medications

Many of the rules that surround medications at a summer camp are determined by state. This means that camps and camp hosts need to review the regulations of the state they are located in. Some states have very discrete regulations specifying how camps are supposed to handle medications and who can deliver it to campers. Others provide no directions and leave choices regarding medications up to camp hosts and parents to work out together.

One of the biggest things to remember as a member of camp staff is that the medical information of patients should be protected. In this instance, camp staff are similar to nurses and other medical professionals. This means that all staff members are required to respect and work to preserve the privacy of the campers receiving medications. Though the individual camper may choose to talk openly about their conditions and medications, professional staff never, ever should.

Prior to campers ever arriving, it is worthwhile to gather relevant camper information. Today, many camps are doing this online as a means of tracking information, payments, and sending out updates all in one place. Asking parents in the same form for any known medical concerns or medication information early in the process can help staff prepare to adequately manage medication distribution.

Preparing for Medical Concerns

There are a handful of important ways that camp staff can prepare for the arrival of campers who need medications. For instance, if needed, camp hosts can hire staff nurses or other necessary medical professionals. Likewise, they can work to make sure that all camp staff have training that will help them respond to any medical emergencies that might take place over the course of campers’ stay.

Camp leaders and staff members should also be prepared to speak extensively with parents about the details of their child’s medication. It is imperative to make sure things like dosage, frequency, and possible side effects of medication are clearly understood prior to the child’s arrival. Understandably, parents may ask a lot of questions about how the staff are preparing for their child’s arrival, how they plan to ensure medication is taken, and how they will handle any medical concerns that might arise.

Some campers are going to be easy and willing to take their medication on a regular basis. But other students may dislike the medication or might get carried away with camp activities and forget to take their dose. Camp staff members need to be prepared for this and work to develop strategies to help campers get better at taking medications.

Creating a Safe and Fun Environment for All

Of course, all of these precautions are intended so that every camper, regardless of their medical situation, can have a great time at camp. Though medical situations can occasionally present challenges for camp leaders, parents, and campers, this is no reason for anybody to miss out on an opportunity to participate. Creating an environment that allows for such inclusion is the responsibility of the camp host and staff.

There are quite a few important steps that camp leaders can take to make sure this type of environment is created. For instance, camp hosts should develop clear and consistent policies regarding medical situations including things like medications. They should also work to ensure that these policies are distributed to and understood by all members of the staff regardless of whether or not they are working directly with the campers or behind the scenes.

Camp activities should be designed — to the extent possible — to include all the campers who want to participate. This might mean certain accommodations need to be made to account for the frequency of medication doses or potential side effects. However, this is something that camp leaders should strive for and expect from their staff.

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Summer camp is an amazing experience that every child should get the opportunity to have. The need for medication can create some challenges, but these are ones that camp staff and parents can work together to ensure will not interfere with participation. Taking steps to prepare by communicating with parents early, providing staff training, and designing inclusive activities are key to success.

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Charlie Fletcher is a freelance writer passionate about workplace equity, and whose published works cover sociology, politics, business, education, health, and more.