Six Ways To Prepare Your Child For Summer Camp Season

Sunshine and trees. Sunburns and skinned knees.

Minor injuries and illnesses are as much a part of summer camp as S’mores.

But with a little planning, you can help your kids avoid bug bites and other summer camp bugaboos like poison ivy rashes and dehydration, according to experts from Northwell Health-GoHealth Urgent Care, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Academy of Dermatology Association, and the American Camp Association.

“You can’t prevent every bump and bruise, but you can send your kids out the door with an understanding of safety and basic supplies to keep them comfortable in hot, buggy conditions,” says Michael Green, M.D., Associate Medical Director, Northwell Health-GoHealth Urgent Care.

Here are six ways to prepare your kids for a day or sleepaway camp.

soothe it with methods recommended by the American Academy of Dermatology Association (AADA), such as: inform a counselor immediately if they think they touched or ingested a poisonous plant.

• Facial swelling;

• Itching that gets worse or makes it impossible to sleep;

• A fever. If your child comes home with a mild rash, treat it with oral antihistamines— not creams, as they can worsen the rash and itching. Also try:

• Washing the skin and clothing;

• Letting blisters heal without popping them;

• Taking short, lukewarm baths;

• Applying calamine lotion or a hydrocortisone cream and a cool compress.

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Manage medications. Review the camp’s medication protocols and complete all authorizations or forms prior to drop off. To be accredited by the American Camp Association, a summer camp must gather health history information for each camper and have a healthcare center. Some camps also require a physical health exam for campers. “I know it’s a lot of paperwork, but it’s important to be thorough when you fill out those forms,” says Dr. Green. “No one knows what your child needs better than you do.” Talk to camp directors and counselors about your child’s medication needs. At drop off, confirm counselors have all prescriptions, over-the-counter medications, inhalers or EpiPens.

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• Apply an aloe vera or soy moisturizer or an over-the-counter hydrocortisone cream;

• Avoid “-caine” products, such as benzocaine;

• Allow blisters to heal without popping them;

• Give your child more water, a cool bath or shower, and acetaminophen or ibuprofen to reduce swelling, redness and discomfort.

4Pack insect repellent with DEET. Insect repellent can prevent itchy, uncomfortable insect bites. It also helps prevent insect-borne infections like Lyme disease and the West Nile and Zika viruses, says Dr. Green.

According to the AADA, children should go to an emergency room immediately if they develop:

• Difficulty breathing or swallowing;

• A rash around one or both eyes, the mouth, or the genitals, or a rash on most of their body;

Practice water safety. Sign your child up for swimming lessons before they leave for camp. Make sure they know to never enter the water unless there is a counselor or lifeguard present. Children who are not proficient swimmers should always wear life jackets. So should anyone who is boating, water skiing or jet skiing. Floatation devices, like water wings, should not be used as a safety device. Teach children to never drink from natural water sources like ponds, lakes, or streams since these water sources often have germs that can cause serious infections.

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2Hydration is critical. Kids should drink five to eight cups of water per day, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. Drop them off with a full tank by giving them a big glass of water or milk with breakfast. Send them to camp with a full water bottle. Make sure camp leaders keep extra water handy for refills. “Kids tend to forget to drink water when they’re having fun, but dehydration can be dangerous. Kids should always have easy access to water, and camp staff should remind them to drink it,” says Dr. Green 3

Load ‘em up with sunscreen. Pack your child’s backpack with UVA/UVB sunscreen SPF 30 or higher. Apply a base layer before dropping off and ask camp leaders to remind your child to reapply it every two hours and after swimming, sweating or showering. A rash guard shirt, shorts or body suit with UPF is another great way to protect against sunburns. If your child comes home with a sunburn,

Children under 10 years old should not apply insect repellant on their own. DEET is not approved for infants under two months. Show older kids how to apply it over sunscreen, avoiding their eyes and mouth. Have them carefully spray DEET onto their hands first and rub it onto their exposed skin. Remember to apply in a well-ventilated area, and that a little goes a long way. DEET 10% works well for about two hours and DEET 20-30% will last about five hours. Only apply once a day.

Campers should wear light-colored, lightweight long sleeves and pants to avoid bites. Ensure they conduct tick checks after hiking or playing in long grass. Treat insect bites at home with acetaminophen or ibuprofen to relieve pain, hydrocortisone cream or an over-the-counter oral antihistamine to alleviate itching, and ice to reduce swelling.

Charlene Kathy (DeMeo) Haughney

Charlene Kathy (DeMeo) Haughney peacefully passed away on June 2, 2023, at the age of 72 surrounded by her loving family. She is predeceased by her parents Steffie and Victor and her sister Cynthia Morrison (John). She is survived by her husband Glenn, sister Christine and brother Nick (Linda). Also survived by her children Jamie and Scott (Vanessa) and three grandchildren Theodore Jackson, Luca, and Carlo. She also is survived by niece Nicole, (Matt) and daughter Sierra, nephew Nick, (Brittany) sons Bryce, Dash, and Max, sister-in-law Claire, nieces Keelan and Siara and brother-in-law Kevin (Diane).

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Teach plant safety. Engage kids by showing them images of poison ivy, stinging nettle, giant hogweed and other plants that should not be touched. Gamify it by creating flash cards and seeing how many they can get right. Tell them to

Charlene graduated from the Paul D. Schreiber H.S. class of 1969 and Marymount College in Salina Kansas with a degree in theater. She loved cooking, reading, her book club, exercise group and enjoyed watching cooking and old TV shows.

Charlene was a long time Port Washington resident and after moving to Farmingdale met her future husband Glenn, fell in love, married, and moved to Massapequa Park to raise their family together.

May you Rest in Peace our Dear Wife, Sister, Mother, and Grandmother.