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Health
Medical provisions at camp
published 2005
By Marija Djondric
When mom and dad aren't there to tend to the inevitable scrapes, bumps and bruises of summertime, it's comforting to know who is.
Camps must employ staff with some first aid training and minimum lifeguard certification. However, Duncan Robertson, public awareness director with the Ontario Camping Association, says the vast majority of camps go well beyond these basic requirements. For example, at Onondaga Camp in Ontario, where Robertson is the director, many staff members have advanced life-saving skills.
Robertson says many camps employ full-time nurses who handle everything from cuts and splinters to medications and confidential medical records. It's also not uncommon to find a doctor at camp. They often bring their families for one- or two-week "vacations" in exchange for providing their services to those few campers who need a physician's attention.
Despite all the medical provisions, homesickness remains the number one ailment affecting campers, says Robertson. Some campers go through a period of adjustment, usually at the beginning of their stay, where they feel "uneasy" and generally unwell, particularly at mealtimes when stomachs tend to be a bit queasy. All staff, medical and otherwise, work to help campers overcome homesickness.
Prevention is another issue, a "huge deal" according to Robertson, especially when it comes to sunburn and heatstroke. Staff are responsible for making sure campers follow waterfront and other camp rules about wearing hats and applying, and re-applying, heaps of sunscreen. Drinking plenty of water is encouraged at every turn.
Robertson adds that although colds and flus are not a major concern at camp, handwashing and good general hygiene are expected.
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