Healthcare at Camp
Immunization Policy
All children attending BB Camp must be up to date in their routine childhood immunization as determined by the provincial schedule. Additionally, all campers are required to be immunized with 2 doses of a COVID-19 vaccine. The routine vaccination of all campers and staff is an important public health matter especially in a high risk communal-living environment of a sleep away summer camp.
Health Centre
Our health centre is well-stocked and staffed by nursing students who have completed at least one year of clinical placements. We are a 7 minute boat ride from the Lake of the Woods District Hospital, and also utilize QDOC, a virtual telehealth service that connects us with Manitoba Doctors. BB Camp is lucky to have a robust medical committee made up of Doctors who are available for consults whenever needed.
Our camp policy is that parents are notified when:
• there is an emergency that requires your child to be taken to the hospital,
• your child is in the health centre overnight,
• your camper has a virtual visit with a doctor on QDOC
• your child needs to be taken for x-rays or lab tests and a cost may be incurred,
• your child needs to be put on antibiotics, or
• your child has been treated for lice.
Camp has experienced medical staff, and a wide network of medical professionals to consult that are qualified to make appropriate decisions concerning your child's health. If you should have any questions about the medical care your child is receiving, please feel free to email lyurman@bbcamp.ca and you will be put in touch with the appropriate healthcare staff. Please notify Camp immediately of any medical condition that develops between the submission of your child’s medical form and the start of their camp session.
Medications the health center is stocked with a variety of over-the-counter drugs and specialized equipment. Please note that provincial law requires that all medications be kept in the health center at Camp. There can be NO medications in the cabin this includes over the counter medications of topical creams, vitamins, and homeopathic medications - exceptions: Inhalers and Epi-Pens. Do not send medicines such as pain relievers, eardrops, etc. as they are always kept on hand. If your child takes something over the counter on a regular basis, please include this in your medical form and send it with your camper (turning it in to staff at the dock, along with written instructions). Sharing prescription drugs with others may result in expulsion from Camp.
Blister Packs
If your camper requires two or more pills at a time, medications must come blister packed, or on a med roll by a pharmacy.
Medication “Vacation”
We understand that some parents wish to give their child a “vacation” from their regular school-year dose of medication over the summer. Often, this is because Camp is assumed to be a less structured, stress-free environment. While Camp is a time for relaxed fun, there are many different situations to deal with: new social situations, changes in routine, and different levels of structure depending on the day. For these reasons, we strongly recommend that you discuss the above factors with your physician before considering taking your child off medication. Please note that we do not support medication holidays without the consultation of your child’s physician and any plan to discontinue medication taken during the school year must be discussed with the Executive Director prior to Camp.
Bedwetting
Our staff are trained to deal with bedwetting discreetly. If your camper regularly or periodically experiences bedwetting, please tell us about it on their medical form. It is best for us to know ahead of time so we can easily help your child. Bedwetting will certainly not affect your camper’s ability to come to Camp. Be sure to include extra bedding when you pack; we want to make your camper’s stay here as comfortable as possible. If and when a camper wets the bed, any sheets or clothing will be discretely laundered in our health center.
Eyeglasses
Children who wear glasses should bring an extra pair to camp in case of breakage or loss. Please make sure your child’s name is marked on their eyeglasses. If glasses need to be repaired or replaced at camp, you will be billed for this service.
Dental Work
It is important that children’s dental and orthodontic needs are attended to before Camp. There is no dentist at Camp and in the event that your child must have dental or orthodontic treatment, you will be billed for this service. Camp medical insurance does not cover dental work.
Lice
We will check all campers and staff for head lice upon arrival at Camp this summer. To facilitate this, we will have to have hair loose, which may require staff to remove any braids, etc. that children arrive in. Please let them know this to avoid disappointment. We ask that you please check your child’s head before the start of Camp. If your child is found to have lice or nits at Camp, your child will be treated immediately, and we will contact you once treatment has been completed. Head lice are small, wingless insects that feed on human blood. Unfortunately, they are easily spread in environments where people live closely together, like Camp. Sharing towels, beds, hair accessories, headphones, hats, kippot, T-shirts, and other personal items (i.e. combs and brushes) contribute to their ability to spread. Please discourage your child from sharing such items while in camp.
Medications
We do not allow campers to keep or take any medications in their cabins.
For the safety of the entire cabin, medication needs to be properly stored and administered for medications by a designated health officer.
Please explain to your child that the only medication they may keep in the cabin and self-administer is an inhaler for asthma and/or an Epi-Pen, and that our nurses are very careful to keep medications confidential.
If your child needs an inhaler or epi-pen, send at least two with valid expiry dates. One stays with the child, the other (labelled) goes to the Health Centre in case the first one gets lost and sent on overnights.
All medications, vitamins, topical ointments, herbal concoctions, and OTC meds must be stored in and administered by our Health Centre. If your child is coming to Camp with medications, label them and give them to the bus counsellor.
If you are driving your child to Kenora, please give them to the Camp Staff at the Main Docks upon arrival.
We ask that you have your child’s oral medications that are in pill, capsule, or caplet form pre‐packaged in “bubble packs” or “blister packs” by your local pharmacy.
This ensures our efficient tracking that your child has received his/her medication. Most pharmacies will provide this service upon request.
Don’t send over-the-counter medications “just in case.” We stock plenty of Advil, Claritin, Gravol, etc.
Camp staff cannot accept verbal medical information. After you have submitted your online Health Form, if you need to update your camper’s medical info, email the camp and they will pass the confidential information on to our Health Centre.