Q: What should be considered when choosing a summer camp for a child with allergies and asthma?
A: A key component to keeping your child safe at camp is ensuring the staff is knowledgeable on handling severe allergic reactions or asthma emergencies and how to help a child properly use their devices. They also need to know when to call 911, where the nearest hospital is and the quickest route there.
If your child uses medications or if they carry an epinephrine auto injector for severe allergic reactions, visit the allergist before they leave for camp. Make sure their prescriptions are the appropriate dose and are up-to-date. Then send along a sufficient supply of their medications and a spare.
If your child has a food allergy, communicate with the kitchen staff to make sure no areas exist where cross contamination can occur.
– Dr. Curt Chaffin, The Allergy & Asthma Group of Galen; member, Chattanooga-Hamilton County Medical Society
Submit your health-related questions for a medical doctor to lwilson@timesfreepress.com.