Summer Camp
Safety 101
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s you’re getting the kids ready for one of the year’s absolute highlights – summer camp – teach them how to stay safe while they’re having fun. Based on my own experiences as a parent of summer campers as well as conversations with other parents, here is a list of some of the most important safety concerns. Field Trips Many summer camps take the kids on day or overnight trips, which can be great fun. To avoid any accident driving to and from their destinations, teach your kids proper behavior while on board a vehicle – stay seated at all times and buckle up – and ask the camp whether the vehicles are inspected regularly by qualified mechanics. Also ask the camp how field trips are managed. Are campers split into smaller groups? How do the counselors communicate with one another? What is the counselor-to-camper ratio? Is there a buddy system? What is the emergency protocol if a camper is lost? Hiking Another popular activity in many summer camps is hiking. Summer camps are often located in beautiful surroundings, so it only makes sense to take the kids on a hike. Pack a pair of hiking boots with good traction so that your child’s feet stay steady on the ground. Remind them not to take
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any unnecessary risks, like walking too close to cliff sides or running when they should be walking. It’ll get the other kids’ attention, but it’s dangerous and not worth it. Medical Information Kids do get sick at camp. Hopefully, it’s not going to be anything serious. But to be on the safe side, provide the camp with a detailed health history, including illnesses, injuries, operations, allergies and current medical problems (if any). Review the facilities and activities for anything that might trigger medical/allergic reactions. Give the camp copies (front and back) of your hospital, medical and dental insurance cards. Finally, make sure that the camp has a well-staffed and well-equipped medical station, know their procedures for dispensing medication, and explain to your kids who to alert if something is wrong with them. Sun Screen Sun safety also means teaching your kids to put on sun screen whenever they’re about to go outside and to reapply it throughout the day. Buy some sun screen before camp starts and make your kids try it to ensure they don’t have any adverse reactions to it. Swimming Most kids love to splash around with their friends in the camp swimming pool, if there is one. It’s a source of endless fun, but it can also be dangerous if they don’t know basic water safety and how to swim. If your kids aren’t already proficient swimmers, sign them up for swimming lessons before camp starts and encourage them to never engage in dan-
gerous activities like holding someone else’s head under water. Ask the camp what it does to enforce water safety? Is the pool always supervised by lifeguards who’re trained in CPR? Does the pool have rescue equipment like life jackets and a shepherd’s hook to grab kids who may be drowning? Is play time organized by proficiency level so that beginners and advanced swimmers aren’t in the pool at the same time? Water Few things are as important as teaching your kids to stay properly hydrated all day. It’s hot outside, they sweat a lot, but they’re having fun so they often forget to drink at all or as much as they should be drinking. You don’t want them to get dehydrated or, worse, get a heat stroke so shop together for a water bottle that they like and remind them to fill it up throughout the day. Find out what the camp counselors do to ensure that the kids stay hydrated. Do they remind them to drink? Do the campers have regular water breaks during the day? Water Sports The same safety concern applies to water sports like boating and jet skiing. Your kids need to understand how important it is to wear a life jacket at all times when they engage in any water sports. They should also understand never to dive in shallow water or participate in other dangerous activities. Tanni Haas, Ph.D. is a Professor in the Department of Communication Arts, Sciences, and Disorders at the City University of New York – Brooklyn College.
MONTEREY BAY PARENT • March 2020
