When you have a child with severe allergies, every new day brings the risk of an allergic reaction. This risk multiplies when a child leaves the comfort of their home for adventures at a sleepaway summer camp.
Do not panic. Your child can certainly make it through the summer without an allergic reaction, but it is always best to be prepared.
Communication
Of course, you should always notify camp counselors, cafeteria workers, nurses, and any other relevant staff members of your child’s allergies.
It is also in your child’s best interest for them to have a detailed knowledge of their own allergies. This way they can recognize any early signs and symptoms of an allergy and get help immediately. They can also be on the lookout for known allergens before an episode occurs.
Mak
e a Checklist
A list is always an excellent idea to ensure that you have indeed packed all of the necessities for your child in order to treat or prevent a serious allergic reaction. Calamine lotion, anti-inflammatory medications, and epinephrine auto-injectors are all high on the list of must-haves for your child this summer.
Also, be sure to inform your child of each of these items and where they are located. It does very little good to have all the medications under the sun if your child cannot find what he or she needs while experiencing symptoms of an allergic reaction!
Specialty Camps
There are, in fact, certain summer camps that exist to provide special attention and services for kids with allergies. Such camps feature staff members that are all familiar with common allergies, their symptoms, and how to treat them.
Depending on your particular location, you may or may not be able to find one of these specialty camps close to your home. However, specialty camps are fairly common and should typically be located within a few hours of your residence.
Check-Up
It never hurts to have a second opinion in order to put your mind at ease. We highly suggest that if you are feeling overwhelmed or anxious about your child having a severe allergic reaction at their first sleepaway summer camp, you should schedule an appointment with your allergist in order to make sure that you have covered each and every area of your concern.
To schedule an appointment with one of our pediatricians here at Pediatricare of Northern Virginia about the wide variety of allergy services that we provide, please call our office today at (703) 330-3939 to schedule an appointment.