Bivouac Health Brochure 2015

Bivouac

Health & Safety Information September 8-18, 2015 Camp Marienfield | Harrisville, NH

Bivouac has two primary goals which are equal in importance: one is to help students develop a sense of confidence in their own ability to cope with unexpected and challenging situations; the other is to cultivate in the students an awareness of the interdependence of all members of a community.

Buckingham Browne & Nichols School • www.bbns.org/bivouac

Prevention Strategies

Activity Limitations If a student possesses any type of health condition that could be affected by physical exertion, it is important to bring this information to the attention of the school at least one month prior to departure so that we can determine what accommodations may need to be provided in order to make the Bivouac experience as safe and enjoyable as possible for your child.

Food Allergies & Dietary Restrictions At Bivouac we strive to provide a healthy, nutritionally balanced menu. We are diligent about allergies and will make adjustments to our menu to accommodate students with medically necessary dietary restrictions. It is imperative that we have this information at least one month prior to the start of school.

Sun At Bivouac we do everything possible to minimize harmful exposure to the sun. However, given the outdoor nature of our program, it is impossible to eliminate risk. We do provide sunscreen and encourage frequent application. We suggest that all students bring lip balm with SPF of at least 30 with them. In addition, we encourage students to wear clothing with appropriate coverage, including hats with brims.

Hydration Careful attention is paid to hydration status while at Bivouac. We require that each student bring a reusable water bottle labeled with his/her name.

Students are encouraged to take frequent water breaks while hiking and performing other outdoor tasks.

Other Health Considerations The BB&N Bivouac staff is exceptionally skilled at managing the health of students with special health situations. Students with epilepsy, diabetes, celiac, and Crohn’s disease ( just to name a few) have all had very successful and fun Bivouac experiences. We ask that parents please contact our Upper School Nurse, Julie Lindstrom, via email ( jlindstrom@bbns.org) as early as possible to begin the process of planning for the trip.

Contact Lens Care We strongly recommend that students with contact lenses use daily disposable contacts while at Bivouac. In addition, students who wear contacts are urged to bring their glasses on the trip.

Feminine Care Feminine hygiene supplies are available on an emergency basis through the nurse. We recommend that parents with daughters who have not experienced their first menstrual cycle discuss the matter with their child prior to Bivouac.

We feel that with adequate preparation the experience of a menstrual period can be a normal and healthy occurrence. We also suggest that all girls bring feminine hygiene supplies with them. There is a private bathroom in the health center for young women to use when they have their periods.

Insects BB&N monitors reports from New Hampshire government agencies regarding Eastern Equine Encephalitis and West Nile Virus. We do provide insect spray to students at appropriate times and teach them the importance of wearing clothing that will decrease their risks of being bitten. Certain aspects of the program will be altered during times of high risk to minimize exposure to biting insects. Likewise, we alert students to the presence of deer ticks and the importance of checking for bites and having students of the same sex perform checks to areas such as the back and scalp which may not be visible. Our staff is trained to spot the warning signs of Lyme disease.

Sanitation The rustic atmosphere notwithstanding, at Bivouac we are very attentive to sanitation. Dishwashing, food storage, and cooking procedures are carefully reviewed with all students. In addition, there is alcohol-based hand sanitizer in all squads.

Health Facilities & Staff Bivouac has a primitive health center on-site. The facility is designed to be a triage center and provides episodic care for students with acute illness/injury. Students requiring further evaluation are referred to Keene Clinic for routine matters or Monadnock Community Hospital in Peterborough, NH, for more urgent situations.

Should a student require overnight care, he/she will be admitted to the health center for observation and rest. We provide parent-level care at camp. If it is determined that a student may require a prolonged period of recovery, the Health Staff and Bivouac Director, in consultation with the students’ parents, will determine whether that is best accomplished on site or at home.

Bivouac has a full-time Registered Nurse trained in emergency room procedures on duty at all times. The nurse(s) live on-site and are available 24/7 for the duration of the Bivouac experience. In addition, the BB&N school nurses are available via telephone for consultation through the Bivouac Director. Our school counselors are also active participants in the Bivouac program and are excellent resources for the students and staff.

Most, but not all, staff members and Junior Guides who will be present during Bivouac are certified in first aid or CPR. All Bivouac staff are trained in the recognition and treatment of emergency situations such as seizures, allergic and diabetic reactions, and the administration of emergency epinephrine and glucose. We are confident that our students are in kind, caring, and capable hands!

Communication of Health Information BB&N believes it is imperative that we respect the students’ right to both privacy and confidentiality. Information such as medical and mental health diagnoses will only be released with permission from the student and his/her family. If a student should require special accommodations, the Bivouac staff will be made aware of only those elements necessary to provide a safe environment for the student and meet the expectations of the program. Due to the remote setting of the Bivouac program, it is extremely important that parents disclose all health issues on the BB&N health forms. It is our strong belief that the Bivouac staff must be aware of all students with life-threatening allergies, diabetes, and seizure disorders.

In the case of an emergency, parents will be contacted as soon as possible by phone. Parents will be consulted if we feel a student needs out-of-camp healthcare or has been admitted to the health center for observation. The phone numbers provided on the Student Health Form will be accessed. We promise that we will make a sincere effort to reach parents through a variety of means. If we must leave a voicemail, we will leave a message which briefly and tactfully describes the situation and will state the name and phone number for the best person to contact at Bivouac.

Parents are generally not contacted if a student is seen in the health center for routine problems that do not require a referral. The decision to consult parents in these situations is determined on a case-by-case basis by the Bivouac nurse.

We request that parents contact us in writing if this notification policy does not meet their needs and provide us detailed instructions as to how they wish this to be handled.

Required Health Forms, Information & Vaccines In order to provide optimal care for all students while at Bivouac, it is essential that the following items are on file with BB&N Health Services as soon as possible: • The BB&N Student Health Form must be complete, signed and submitted electronically at least one month prior to the Bivouac departure • Documentation of a physical exam within the 12 months preceding the opening of school • Compliance with Mass. DPH immunization requirements for school entry • Signed and completed Medication Administration Plan submitted 1-2 weeks prior to departure.

In order to consider modification of the Bivouac program for students with special health concerns, BB&N requires documentation from the student’s healthcare provider describing the situation and accommodations requested. BB&N health professionals may request a release of information to speak with the provider for clarification or additional information to ensure the safest and most enjoyable experience for the student.

Medication Policies The Bivouac health center has a very basic assortment of common, over-the-counter medications available for the nurses to administer to ill or injured students, following BB&N protocols. If a student requires or prefers a particular medication, it will need to be sent on the Bivouac trip following the guidelines below.

All medications (including non-perscription) brought to Bivouac must be listed on the Medication Administration Plan. The meds will be stored with and dispensed by the Bivouac nurses. Upon arrival, students will register with the nurses to arrange a dispensing schedule that will meet their needs while minimizing disruption to their daily routine. Please be assured that BB&N will do everything possible to keep confidential the nature of students’ medication needs. For the safety of all students, it is essential that medications must be delivered in their original packaging or pharmacy-labeled container.

BB&N does make an exception to this policy for medications that are used to treat potentially life-threatening situations. We call these rescue medications.

With parental permission, students may carry and self-administer their rescue medications after registering them with the Bivouac nurse and she determines that the situation is safe and appropriate. The following are considered rescue meds at Bivouac: • EpiPen/Auvi-Q: treatment of actual or suspected anaphylaxis • Inhaler (Bronchodilator)*: treatment of episodic asthma • Insulin/Glucagon: treatment of hyper/hypoglycemia *Please send a back-up rescue device to be stored with the nurse.

A note on Emergency Epinephrine: For those students with significant allergies who may require the use of an EpiPen/Auvi-Q or other device, we ask that parents talk with their child about avoidance strategies prior to the start of the school year. In addition, it is essential that the student know how to properly use the device in the unlikely event that there is not a trained adult immediately nearby.

If this is something that parents would like help with, please contact our Upper School Nurse, Julie Lindstrom, via email ( jlindstrom@bbns.org) prior to departure.

She will be happy to facilitate a training session.

A note on ADHD medications: We understand that many students enjoy a “drug holiday” over the summer and may not wish to take medication while away.

We respectfully but strongly request that all student who routinely take ADHD medication bring a supply to Bivouac. The nurse will safely store the medication and should the student determine that he/she would benefit from taking it, parents will be contacted for permission. The medication should be listed on the Medication Adminstration Plan submitted in August.

We look forward to welcoming you this September to BB&N Bivouac!!!