What level of medical supervision is available?

• Find out if there are medical personnel on-site (meaning that a nurse or doctor is at the camp while the campers are there) or if they are available ‘on-call’ (which means they come only if called or for parts of a day).
• If a medical professional is not available, you’ll want to make sure that counselors who provide first aid (and seizure safety) are properly trained.
• If your child needs seizure medication at any time during camp, make sure that the staff can give these safely.
• Once you find out the level of medical supervision, make sure this matches with your child’s needs and that you and your child’s doctor feel comfortable with this plan.

Is the camp able to accommodate special needs for diet, mobility or other issues?

• If your child is on the ketogenic or other type of diet for epilepsy, find out how meals are prepared and if meals need to be sent in.
• If your child may need to be given Diastat or another medication at times of changes in seizures, make sure that staff can do this in the camp setting and that there is a place for your child to recover.
• For children with VNS Therapy, make sure that the magnet can be used easily. If a child has a different device or has had epilepsy surgery, make sure the staff are educated about the treatment and what to do. If camp staff are not familiar with these treatments for epilepsy, talk to your child's doctor or nurse for help training camp staff.
• If your child needs to rest or needs help walking after a seizure, make sure there are places and people who can provide this.

What is the camp environment like?

• Do your own check to make sure the camp is accessible and safe for your child.
• If the child has difficulties moving around and needs help (ie. cane, crutches, wheelchair or other device) make sure these can be used in the camp setting.
• Make sure the camp setting is not too crowded and look at the 'natural' hazards in the area. Would you child injure himself too easily if he had a seizure? Are there too many places where he can fall?
• Pay particular attention to the swimming facilities. Make sure there is enough supervision by the waterfront.
• Look at campfire safety and the amount of supervision available.
• Check out safety precautions used for rope courses or other climbing activities.
• For over-night camps, check out the cabins or where the campers sleep for safety risks and the level of supervision that is available.

How flexible is the schedule for camp sessions and for daily routines?

• Ask for a schedule of activities for a typical day - does it match your child's interests and needs?
• Is it flexible to accommodate any special needs your child may have?
• Is it flexible enough to manage seizures during each activity?
• Can your child leave early or arrive late if he has a bad day or needs to go to a doctor’s appointment?

What is the camp’s safety record?

• Find out how frequently injuries or safety problems have happened, and most importantly, how the camp has responded to them.

Continue to Evaluating Camps Part 3

Topic Editor: Steven C. Schachter, MD and Patricia O. Shafer, RN, MN.
Reviewed: Robert Fisher, MD and Patricia O. Shafer, RN, MN

Last Reviewed: April 2010