Tips for Preparing for Summer Camp

As school lets out for the summer, many children look forward to seeing old friends and making new ones at their favorite summer camp. However, without proper preparation, camp for some kids can be less like a dream and more like a nightmare. What are some ways you can prepare in advance so your kids gain the most from their summer camp experience?

Bring Immunizations Up to Date

The one call you don’t want to receive is from the camp nurse saying your child has chicken pox, measles or some other childhood disease—especially one that could have been prevented. Immunizations not only keep your child safer from these illnesses—it also keeps your child from passing disease to others. Check with your child’s pediatrician to make sure his shots are up to date. (While you’re at it, don’t forget the tetanus booster.)

Pack the Sunscreen and Insect Repellant

A bad sunburn can keep a child indoors for days while others get to play outside; an extreme burn may need medical attention. Protect against both by including sunscreen with a high SPF factor in your child’s luggage—and make sure she knows how to apply it. Also, include mosquito repellent to prevent painful, itchy bites and to reduce the risk of insect-borne diseases like West Nile Virus or encephalitis.

Remember the Meds

If your child takes prescription medicines or is diabetic, double check to make sure he has enough medicine to get him through camp. (Get some refills at the pharmacy, if necessary.) Also, make a list of your child’s meds and their dosages so the camp nurse knows how to monitor and administer them.

Pack for Warm and Cool Temps

Your child may only want to bring shorts and tank tops along, but early summer temps can still be unpredictable, especially in wooded or mountainous areas. Make sure your child has at least a light coverup, jacket or hoodie for the occasional cool day to reduce the risk of getting ill.

Most kids make it through summer camp unscathed, but in the unlikely event of an injury due to someone’s negligence, give our Washington D.C. personal injury attorneys a call. We’re here to help.