CHAPTER 5: MEDICAL CARE INFORMATION 

MEDICAL FORMS ARE DUE BY MAY 1st 

ANY MEDICAL INFORMATION OR MEDICATION UPDATES AFTER THE MEDICAL FORM IS DELIVERED AND IN ANY EVENT AFTER JUNE 1, MUST BE COMMUNICATED TO US IN WRITING AND FOLLOWED UP WITH A PHONE CALL TO A CAMP DIRECTOR TO CONFIRM RECEIPT.

DISCLOSURE

It is the absolute responsibility of a parent to let us know everything emotionally, physically, and medically relevant regarding your child, to allow for a positive camping experience. If we see certain behaviors, for example that are negatively impacting your child, or your child’s peers and/or staff and we have no information provided to us, we can not deal with such issues appropriately and effectively. In the end it is your child that will be most negatively affected if you are not pro-active giving us school/camp historical relevant issues. Please be advised that if your child takes regular medication during the school year and you are considering a drug free holiday during the summer this must be approved by the camp

MEDICINE AT CAMP

All new information or up to date medical dispensing information that is received while at camp that is different or missing from what is on the medical form must be received at the office in writing. It is your responsibility to confirm with the office that we have received this information before your child arrives at camp. A copy of this information must go to the office so we can input any new information into the health check system and be able to advise appropriate staff, directors, doctors and nurses. Please double check with the office to make sure we have received this information.

TIMES MEDICATION IS GIVEN:

Morning medication is given out after breakfast (approx. 9:00 AM) and Evening Medication is given out after Flagpole (approx. 7:30 PM). If there is a specific medication that must be given outside of these times, we will need to speak to your child’s doctor to discuss the situation.

URGENT CARE MEDS NOT AVAILABLE LOCALLY: If your child requires critical medication, such that if they do not receive such meds immediately and it is not readily available at a Shoppers Drug Mart in Parry Sound, that it could place their life in jeopardy, you must send up a second (back-up) order of medication to the Toronto office by June 10th

MEDICATION DELIVERY TO CAMP

COMING LOCALLY: If you child is taking the Toronto bus, all meds are brought before camp to the baggage drop off and given to the designated staff person. If your child is placed on a prescription after the baggage drop off day, such meds will be brought to the bus. For campers with life threatening allergies, please send 1 EpiPen with medications to keep in the health centre and 1 EpiPen on bus with your child to keep in cabin.

DRIVE INS: If you are driving your child up to camp, or are returning a sick camper and are delivering medicine, please let a camp director know so we have this information and can ensure the meds make it to the health center.

COMING BY PLANE: Meds should be delivered immediately to the staff at the airport.

ALL MEDICATION MUST HAVE THE WRITTEN INSTRUCTIONS ON THE MEDICATION ITSELF AND ALSO ON THE MEDICAL FORM. PLEASE REMEMBER THAT ANY CHANGES TO MEDICATION INSTRUCTIONS FROM WHAT IS INDICATED ON THE PRESCRIBING “BOTTLE” AND/OR PROVIDED TO THE CAMP IN WRITTEN FORM MUST BE COMMUNICATED IN WRITTEN FORM AT ALL TIMES, EVEN FOR CHANGES MADE WHILE YOUR CHILD IS AT CAMP. If you send up medication do not attach a note to it that has different instructions than the bottle.

If your child has a life threatening allergy or other medical condition please contact us to discuss our medical protocol, as we do not automatically make campers wear EpiPens. Every situation is different and often kids can leave their EpiPens at activities like sail or swim (and they are left out in the sun) leaving them in even a more precarious position so we must discuss with you about our EpiPen locations around camp and how we train our staff and advise campers to make them aware of how best to protect themselves. Our nut allergy protocol is similar to all allergy protocols.

OUR PHYSICIANS, OTC MEDS & WHEN WE PHONE HOME

Once again this year, we are most fortunate to be providing medical care from a family or pediatric physician. We believe that having doctors who are experienced in dealing with children is an obvious asset to any camp.

We also believe that you, as a parent should be called for a significant medical event. If your child stays in the Health Centre for more than 24 hours for a specific health reason (not for lack of sleep), if your child is in need of antibiotics, if we confirm your child has broken a bone, you will received a call from our camp doctor. Accordingly, IF YOU RECEIVE A CALL REGARDING A MEDICAL ISSUE DO NOT BE ALARMED. It is likely just a courtesy call. If in fact there is an emergency, we will leave a message indicating it is an emergency. In many cases we may just leave a message for you to advise you of the situation and no call back will be necessary. OTC meds, attending to scrapes, skin infections with prescription creams will are examples of non-significant medical events.

If we contact you but do not hear back from you, we will of course proceed in the normal course in the best interest of your child, as determined by that physician. All medical issues are governed by the terms of our application and medical form and you can be assured that our health care staff will work hard to make Manitou a safe and healthy place for all concerned.

SUN HATS AND SUN TAN LOTION

SEND 3 HATS TO CAMP JUST IN CASE! The skin ‘remembers’ each time it is tanned and burned. Sun poisoning is a cumulative effect so we must make sure all campers and staff understands that wearing a hat is not just a request but also a RULE! At Manitou, we make every effort to ensure campers are wearing sun hats and putting on sunscreen all day. Find out from your child what type of hat they like to wear. Also, please send sunscreen. We do supply sunscreen at certain activity areas and it is available at the Tuck Shop, but please send your child with sunscreen and tell your child you want them to come home with an EMPTY BOTTLE!

USE OF INSECT REPELLANT

Please note that it is harmful to combine sun tan lotion with insect repellant. Accordingly, since most mosquitoes are out at dusk, we recommend the use of insect repellant starting after dinner. Our motto is sun tan lotion after breakfast and lunch and insect repellant after dinner. Always read the entire label before purchasing a product. Products commercially available in Canada vary in their DEET concentrations. If your child is under 12 years, it is recommended the Deet percentage is 10% or lower. For children 12 years of age and older, you can use a percentage of Deet up to 30%. Although sprays are easier to apply, they are also more likely to be inadvertently sprayed in the eye and also can be breathed in more readily. Therefore, lotions are always a better choice.

PEANUTS AND ALL NUT RELATED PRODUCTS AND ALLERGY PROTOCOLS

As you are well aware, peanuts are a life-threatening food for many children, and as a result many schools have eliminated them from their list of acceptable foods. At Manitou we would like to think that our respect for each individual camper makes it important to do what we can to remove peanut products from camp.

While we are not a “peanut-free” camp, we do strive to remove peanut products from camp. Our objective is to therefore be a peanut “aware” camp. That of course does not guarantee a peanut free camp as staff and campers can accidentally bring nut products into camp and often traces of a product can surprise the best of us at any time. Accordingly parents must make a personal decision as to whether they wish to send their child with a peanut allergy to camp. So this is what we do at Manitou to make our camp a safer environment for peanut allergic children:

• We do not serve peanut butter! Instead we will be serving jam, cream cheese, and other spreads so children have variety of alternatives. We also make the vegetarian meal available for any children who prefer it to the standard meal.  Our kitchen and tuck shop is nut aware, though sometimes the tuck shop will contain products with nut traces.  Please contact us for the status of the tuck shop for this summer and for a list of products that are safe.
• All staff in pre-camp and all campers will be given a clear message that nut products cannot be in camp. Staff will be trained on the location of our six to seven EpiPen locations, and given a demonstration of how to use them. This discussion will involve not only food allergies but also examples of many other triggers of anaphylactic shock.
• We allow no food into camp. Furthermore peanuts, or chocolate bars or peanut butter or traces of such products especially should not be brought into camp.  If you give food to your child ON THE BUS, please ensure the food contains NO NUTS or nut products.
• Discuss with us if you wish your child to wear an EpiPen at all times as parents have different views on such matters. Also discuss with us if your child should be allowed on a canoe trip. Bottom line is, speak to us so we can work out the best protocol for your child and their situation. Check out our Nut Safe Policy on our website manitoucamp.com in the Health and Safety section.

DENTAL ISSUES – BRACES

There is no local orthodontist in Parry Sound that we trust for fixing braces. We would prefer to just make your child comfortable at camp and then have the braces fixed when camp is over. The Health Centre will contact you if there are any orthodontic issues that can’t be fixed on site, so you can contact your child’s orthodontist to determine next steps.