Monday, June 29, 2015

First Aid Fundamentals During Summer

Photo Credits: Stuart Miles of http://www.freedigitalphotos.net/
Summer is here, and along with the happy days of sand, sea, softball and soft ice cream you may encounter cuts, scrapes, bee stings, tick bites and heat stroke. 

Don’t let summer time bumps, bruises and bites get in the way of your good times; be prepared to treat your family quickly and efficiently. 

Everyone should have some basic knowledge of summertime first aid, and even kids in overnight summer camps are taught how to deal with warm weather emergencies. Following are some summer first aid basics.

The All-Important First Aid Kit
Always have a well-stocked first aid kit on hand, whether in the car, your beach bag or on the boat. Standard items like Band-Aids, antiseptic wipes, antibiotic ointment, hydrocortisone cream, over-the-counter pain relievers, tweezers, cold packs and calamine lotion are some important essentials.

Bee Stings
As long as you’re not allergic to bee venom, a bee sting is painful if basically harmless. Push out the stinger as soon as possible using a blunt-edged object, being careful not to squeeze any venom back into the area. Clean the stung area with soap and water and apply a cold compress. Afterward, relieve any remaining discomfort with a bit of calamine lotion or hydrocortisone cream. Hives or difficulty breathing may indicate an allergic reaction and you should seek immediate medical attention.

Tick Bites
With the increasingly common incidence of Lyme disease, parents have become more vigilant about tick bites. Although only the tiny deer tick is thought to carry the disease, any tick should be immediately removed. If possible, avoid tick problems by dressing kids in long-sleeved shirts and long pants when they’re playing in the woods or tall grasses. Hot days call for insect repellent, and you should have a tick check at bath time every night, remembering to examine the scalp as well. To remove a tick, grasp lightly with tweezers near the head and pull it off gently, trying not to leave the head in the wound. Clean the area and apply an antiseptic cream.

Poison Ivy
If you think you’re youngster’s been exposed to the notorious plant Poison Ivy and that it may be the cause of miserable summer rashes, wash all exposed areas with soap and water as quickly as possible. As an extra precaution, pop your child into a cool bath with baking soda or oatmeal to prevent spread of the plant’s rash-spreading oil, and be sure to wash all exposed clothing and sheets. Calamine can ease the itching, but call the doctor if the rash starts oozing or affected areas start swelling.

Jellyfish Stings
As the water gets warmer, jellyfish seem to multiply dramatically. If you have a run in with one these seaside stingers, soak the wound in vinegar water; this will help ease out the tentacles. Once tentacles are at the skin’s surface, gently scrape them off with a flat object like a credit card and rinse the affected area with salt water. If the jellyfish stingers are on the face or in the genital area, seek professional medical care.

Heat Stroke
Hot, sweaty, active kids don’t always remember to stay hydrated. Make sure your little one drinks lots of water and watch out for heat stroke symptoms like leg cramping, rapid pulse or hot, dry skin. In extreme heat stroke, sweating stops and the body can no longer cool itself off. A person affected with heat stroke can be cooled down by being immersed them in cool water, put cool wet cloth on the back of the neck and forehead while sipping on water, or  in a cool shower or wrapped in a damp, cool blanket.

If you're considering sending your child to an overnight summer camp, be sure to visit our site to learn about Camp Walt Whitman. Located in the White Mountains of New Hampshire, Camp Walt Whitman offers a safe, nurturing environment in a beautiful mountain setting. Our camp is a coed sleepaway camp, with separate areas for boys and girls. The kids have a blast, and make friendships that can last a lifetime. http://www.campwalt.com.

Thursday, June 18, 2015

The Best Way to Scope Out an Overnight Summer Camp for Your Kid

When the time comes to pick a summer camp for your child, the choice may seem overwhelming. 

Overnight summer camps have sprung up all over the United States, and the mind-boggling array of choices range from traditional summer camps to those with a specialized focus, from one-week stays to summer-long experiences. 

How big of camp do you want? Do you want fancy amenities? Horseback riding? Single sex? Co-ed? Religious? Air conditioning? How much can you afford to pay? Most importantly, where do you think your child will have the best and happiest experience? There are various ways you can winnow down the choices for your youngster’s sleepaway camp experience.

Summer Camp Visits
Many parents choose to visit several camps and get a first-hand look at what lies behind the glossy brochure and pretty website. During tours or open house weekends, you can get a look at the facilities and a general feel for what a day at camp would be like. 

If possible, it’s best to go when camp is in session to get a better idea of the overall vibe of the camp, how well supervised the kids are and how they interact with each other and the counselors. Your youngster will also get a chance to chat with kids his own age about camp. Talk to your child after each visit to get an idea of his impression and level of enthusiasm; after all, this will be where he’ll be spending a big chunk of his summer!

Ask Questions
You’ll probably have a lot of questions for the camp staff. Ask what the camper retention figures are, what percentage of counselors return each summer and what percentage of counselors were once youth campers?  What can kids do at camp that they can’t do at home? 

For many parents, the hope will be that it will be unique experiences like canoe trips, multiday games and just “roughing it” without their usual plethora of techy gadgets. Ask what makes the camp unique and what sort of reunions takes place; this will give you an idea of the variety of friendships that are forged at the camp over the years.

Get Some Phone Numbers
If you can, it’s a great idea to get a few phone numbers to talk with others  about the camp; you may be able to get this information from the camp director. Talking person-to-person gives you a lot of first-hand knowledge about the camp, and many camps will be happy to give you some references. 

If you know of any local kids who attend summer camps that interest you, give their parents a call and get a truly unbiased opinion. Depending on whether the camp is popular in your area, your child may also have friends who attend, and these families can be a great source of information.

Google
Ah, Google; we use it for everything. Go on-line and check out reviews posted of camps on your list of potentials. 

Though you can take some comments with a grain of salt, you can get a pretty reliable overall view of kids’ and parents’ feelings about a particular camp by reading reviews. YouTube videos posted from camps are another good choice. You may find clips posted by the camp administration or by campers themselves.

If you're considering sending your child to an overnight summer camp, be sure to visit our site to learn about Camp Walt Whitman. Located in the White Mountains of New Hampshire, Camp Walt Whitman offers a safe, nurturing environment in a beautiful mountain setting. Our camp is a coed sleepaway camp, with separate areas for boys and girls. The kids have a blast, and make friendships that can last a lifetime. http://www.campwalt.com.

Monday, June 8, 2015

Sleepaway Summer Camp Tour


Deciding on which of the hundreds of overnight summer camps is best for your youngster is a big decision. From camp fees to activities and camper-to-counselor ratio, there’s a lot for you and your future camper to consider, and one of the best ways to find the best fit for your child is to go on a few summer camp visits.

If you're considering sending your child to an overnight summer camp, be sure to visit our site to learn about Camp Walt Whitman. Located in the White Mountains of New Hampshire, Camp Walt Whitman offers a safe, nurturing environment in a beautiful mountain setting. Our camp is a coed sleepaway camp, with separate areas for boys and girls. The kids have a blast, and make friendships that can last a lifetime. http://www.campwalt.com.

Tuesday, June 2, 2015

How to Make Summer More Meaningful to Your Kids

 If you're considering sending your child to an overnight summer camp, be sure to visit our site to learn about Camp Walt Whitman. Located in the White Mountains of New Hampshire, Camp Walt Whitman offers a safe, nurturing environment in a beautiful mountain setting. Our camp is a coed sleepaway camp, with separate areas for boys and girls. The kids have a blast, and make friendships that can last a lifetime. http://www.campwalt.com.