ST. LOUIS — As school is out for the summer, children will be heading to camps soon in the St. Louis area, but there are a few things parents should do before sending them off.
What You Need To Know
- MinuteClinic Nurse Practitioner Carrie Noonan advises parents to schedule a physical exam for their children and make sure they are up to date on their tetanus shots
- Parents should review camp paperwork that will have details about any requirements to be completed ahead of time
- Parents should pack plenty of DEET bug spray for their child as this summer is expected to be another severe tick season
- Use broad spectrum sunblock with an SPF of 30 to prevent sunburns and skin cancer
MinuteClinic Nurse Practitioner Carrie Noonan advises parents to schedule a physical exam for their children and make sure they are up to date on their tetanus shots.
During the physical exam, she said MinuteClinic providers look for any red flags that could put one’s child at risk when away from home.
A complete head to toe exam includes looking at eyes, nose, throat, listening to heart and lungs, assessing major joints, in addition to reviewing vaccination and medical histories.
“We’re very thorough with our camp physical exams,” Noonan said.
She mentioned parents should review camp paperwork that will have details about any requirements to be completed ahead of time.
For children with time sensitive medication, Noonan said parents can work with camp staff to make arrangements.
“If your child has any chronic health conditions that you’re taking that into account and working with staff at the camp to ensure child’s safety, especially if a child has asthma or diabetes,” Noonan said.
Parents also can review the list of activities that their children will participate in.
“If there’s going to be a lot of swimming activities, (I) want to make sure that the parents are comfortable with their child’s ability to swim,” Noonan said.
“If they’re not comfortable with all the activities, talk to the camp ahead of time and decide if there are some things that you wouldn’t want your child to participate in.”
Additionally, Noonan advises parents to pack plenty of DEET bug spray for their child as this summer is expected to be another severe tick season.
“We are seeing an increase in ticks and Lyme disease the last few seasons,” she said. “We want to make sure that parents and their children are showing up prepared whenever they’re sending them off to camp.”
She added that wearing long sleeves, pants and high cut socks also can prevent ticks and poison ivy.
To prevent burns and protect against skin cancer while out in the hot sun, Noonan said to use broad spectrum sunblock with an SPF of 30. Sunblock should be reapplied every couple of hours throughout the day.
In making sure children stay hydrated, Noonan recommended they have a sturdy water bottle that they can easily open and close to have with them throughout the duration of camp.
To schedule a physical exam at a MinuteClinic, visit CVS’ website.
