t / Don't let asthma keep your children from

Judy lr&ston

F or many youngsters, the approach of summer means anticipation of that time-honored ritual: summer camp. It is a time for nature

hikes, stories around a campfire, arts and crafts, and fun and games. For children with asthma, however, summertime has too often meant staying home and missing all the fun.

Children with asthma do not have to miss the camping experience. They too can enjoy the adventure, exercise and cama- raderie, as well as the improved self-esteem, that comes with the successful completion of summer camp programs.

P r e p a r i n g f o r C a m p Youngsters with mild or moderate asthma are often able to attend regular summer camps, if the appropriate arrangements can be made ahead of time. It is well worth the time for parents to research the available camp programs in order to find one that is willing and able to provide the care that may be necessary for a child with asthma. For day camp, fewer accommodations are typically required than for an overnight camp. It is just as important, however, that these measures are in place. For example, the camp should provide a staff person who is willing to be responsible for over- seeing routine medications or treatments. In the event of an asthma episode, this per- son should know the appropriate steps to take. The parents should provide the camp with a list of emergency numbers (daytime phone numbers of the parents and the child's doctor) in the event of a serious

(2 enjoying the camp experience.

episode. Additionally, every asthmatic child considering camp should know his or her asthma triggers, be able to recognize the beginning of an episode, and know which camp personnel to alert if his or her asthma becomes a concern.

When considering an overnight camp for an asth- matic child, a greater level of preparation is required. The American Lung Association offers tips for families looking into overnight camps for asthmatic youngsters. First, it is important to make sure that the camp can handle a mild or even severe asthma episode. There should be at least one nurse skilled in asthma management on site at all times. Procedures to treat asth- ma episodes should be in place before camp begins. There should be an adequate num- ber of nurses to supervise all campers. Doctors and emergency care should be readily available in case of a severe attack. In addition, parents should be sure to pro- vide the camp with a sufficient supply of the necessary asthma medications and equipment (e.g., nebulizer, peak flow meter, etc.). Again, before leaving for camp, every asthmatic child should be aware of his or her asthma triggers, be able to recognize the onset of an episode, and how to respond. Parents should provide the camp a list of their child's allergies, the historyand severi- ty of the asthma, and a summary of his or her asthma medication usage. It is a good idea to provide the camp with

prescriptions for drug renewals as well.

A s t h m a C a m p s For children with chronic or severe asthma, special "asth- ma camps" can provide just the right environment for a healthy and happy camp experience.

Over the last 20 years a growing number of asthma camps have provided enjoy- able summer experiences for

youngsters. Today there are more than 150 asthma camps around the country. There are a number of formats including day camps and overnight camps. There are camps that are exclusively for children with asthma and those that integrate asthmatic kids with campers who do not have asthma. Regardless of the format, all asthma camps provide medical evaluation and asthma education to help their asthmatic campers learn more about their condition and how to control it.

Asthma camps are generally sponsored by a parent organization, such as the American Lung Association, the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, or a local hospital or medical society. The staff typical- ly includes a medical director, nurses skilled in asthma management, respiratory thera- pists, pharmacists and counselors. Activities are designed to provide fun for campers, while at the same time providing education about asthma. There are often educational programs available for parents as well.

Twelve-year-old Lewis Cramer has been attending Camp SuperKids in

A growing number

of "asthma camps"

are providing asth-

ma education as

well as summer

fun for kids with

asthma.

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In addition to the

educational com-

ponent, "asthma

camps" provide

traditional outdoor

summer camp

activities.

For more information about asthma camps, call The Consortium on Children's Asthma

Camps at (612) 885-0338 or contact your local

office of The American Lung Association

Minneapolis since the second grade. "It's a real gift for both me and my son to have summer camp available," says his mother, Paula Moyer, who is herself an asthmatic. "It's a place where my son doesn't feel dif- ferent because of his asthma. He's been able to meet other kids with asthma, some with even more severe asthma, and that's helped him develop leadership skills and improve his self-esteem."

The Consortium on Children's Asthma Camps was formed in 1988 to coordinate camp activities of national organizations involved in the care of children with asth- ma. The Consortium has developed guide- lines for operating asthma camps. These guidelines have been approved by the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology; the American Academy of Pediatrics Section of Allergy and Immunology; the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology; the American Lung Association; the American Thoracic Society; and the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America.

According to Penny Gottier Fena, Executive Director of the Consortium, the ultimate goal of asthma camps is to provide children with a fun camping experience, to teach them asthma management skills and to introduce them to other children with asthma. More than 12,000 kids nationwide attend asthma camps each summer, Fena estimates. Ages vary from camp to camp, but generally the pro- grams are geared to school-age children.

The benefits of these programs can last long after the campers go home. A recent study published in the Journal of Family Practice (Vol. 41, No. 5, Nov., 1995) found that children with moderate to severe asthma who attend asthma camps may actually experience a decrease in sub- sequent asthma-associated illnesses.

The study followed 90 asthmatic chil- dren between the ages of 6 and 12. The results were significant. The six-month post- camp period was compared to the immediate six-month pre-camp period. The average number of school day absences due to asth-

ma dropped from 6.1 days to 3.2 days per child. The average number of urgent outpa- tient visits for asthma exacerbations per child dropped from 3.4 to 1.5. There were also fewer hospitalizations in the group during the six-month post-camp period.

'~sthma summer camps provide an ideal setting for asthma education," the report conduded. "The outdoors provided a pleasurable and nonthreatening environment conducive to learning." Apart from the edu- cational program, the camping experience also gave children the chance to enjoy "nor- mal" activities, such as swimming, hiking and basketball, the researchers noted. "Perhaps for the first time, some of these children had the opportunity to interact with other children with asthma and put their own illness into proper perspective."

Paula Moyer well remembers what it was like when she was a child, before asth- ma camps. "As a youngster, I was alone and marginalized in the summer," she recalls. "Children with asthma can be at risk for depression and underachievement. It's easy to feel overwhelmed. There's so much more available now for my son. He loves it. Last year was the first year he brought home phone numbers of his new friends, and continued the friendships even after camp."

With an increasing number of children being diagnosed with asthma, summer

camps that can accom- modate them are increasingly in demand and the number of programs is growing. Whether it is a stan- dard camp that can provide the services to keep an asthmatic

camper safe or a special asthma camp, these camps play an important role for children with asthma. With so many choices becom- ing available, children with asthma won't have to miss another summer's worth of camp enjoyment.

j .dy Foley sto,, ia a freelance writer from Holbrook, Massachusetts. Her firm, Weston Public Relations, specializes in editor- ial, publications, media relations and special event services for health care and non-profit organizations.

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