Health and Safety

Summer at Sandy Spring prioritizes health and safety. We operate on the SSFS campus, which is located in a prominent area of Montgomery County and backs up to Woodlawn Manor – a trusted Park Police facility.  There is always a registered nurse on duty during the normal camp day, and our nurturing, caring staff contribute to a safe camp environment. In addition, head counselors and workshop specialists have received First Aid and CPR certifications, while all aquatics staff are certified lifeguards.

Required Health Information

Parents and guardians of campers must complete all online health information before camp begins. Required documentation includes both a current health history (ie: medical form) and an immunization record, which includes the date of your camper’s last tetanus vaccine. This information must be submitted no later than June 1st. Campers are not permitted to begin camp until all of their health forms are complete.

Medications

Parents and guardians of campers who need to take medication during the camp day should submit Medication Administration Authorization Forms to the camp office by email, postal mail, or fax, no later than June 1st. These forms can also be uploaded directly to the CampBrain registration site. A separate form is required for each medication. Additionally, camp nursing staff may only provide over-the-counter (OTC) medications to campers who have a signed Over the Counter Medication Form.

Medications can be handed to the camp nurses by a parent or guardian at drop-off on Monday mornings from 8:00-9:00 AM. Medications must be in the original container, and for prescription medications, must have the pharmacy label attached. The pharmacy label must match the information on the Medication Administration Authorization form, and this form must be signed by both a prescribing provider and a parent or guardian in order for medication to legally be administered to your child by camp nursing staff.

Epinephrine Auto Injectors and Asthma Inhalers 

Campers who use epinephrine auto injectors (ie: EpiPens) and asthma rescue inhalers must have the appropriate action plans on file. Sandy Spring uses the FARE form and Asthma Action Plan form, however similar forms that contain all the necessary information are acceptable. Note that these forms must be signed by a healthcare provider and be dated within the past  year in order to be valid.

Junior Campers – Head Counselors will hold on to these specific medications throughout the camp day and will return them to the campers on Friday afternoons if campers are not returning the following week.

Intermediate Campers and Older – Every Monday, any camper who needs a Epinephrine Auto Injectors and/or Asthma Inhaler will need to check in these medications to the camp nurse. The camp nurse will then return these medications back to the camper in a red, insulated bag. This bag will be clipped onto the camper’s backpack and will be taken with the camper throughout the camp day. Each afternoon, this clipped medical bag will go home with the camper. Parents and guardians must ensure the medical bag is clipped on their camper’s backpack each morning so it can return to camp the following day. Camp staff will be checking that the medication is brought back each day. If a camper is missing medication, a parent or guardian will be notified by the camp nurse. Each Friday, the medication will be put back in the camper’s backpack to go home for the weekend, but the empty, red medical bag will stay at camp. 

Medical Care
All head counselors and workshop specialists are trained in basic first aid and CPR.  Anything requiring more than basic first aid is directed to our on-site nurses for attention. Nurses and emergency personnel are immediately notified in the event of a situation which requires CPR or the use of an AED.

Parent Notification of a camper illness, injury or incident, while at camp:
Parents or guardians are notified of a camper’s illness, injury, or incident by a nurse during the camp day as the situation requires. If a visit to the health room requires the camper to be picked up early, the parent or guardian will be called. Campers must be picked up within an hour of notification.

If your camper is able to continue their camp day, an Ouch Report will be filled out by the head counselor and placed in the camper’s bag. Camp nurses will also include a Medical Report if any OTC medications were given to your child during the camp day.

The following outlines the basic first aid and illness treatment we provide for issues that may result from camp participation:

Bee stings:  For campers without known allergies to bee stings, stings are treated with ice and campers are observed in the nurses’ office for 30 minutes following the sting. Summer at Sandy Spring staff will complete an incident report outlining the treatment provided and a copy will be provided to the parent at the end of the day. Parents will be notified immediately if the camper shows any signs of an allergic reaction or prolonged discomfort from the sting. Campers with a known bee allergy are asked to provide current Epi-pens. Counselors of Junior campers will carry Epi-pens, while Intermediate campers and older will self-carry.

Illness:  If a camper complains of generalized symptoms such as headache, stomach ache, or fatigue, they will be taken to the nurse for observation. Campers with nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea; a temperature above 99 degrees with respiratory symptoms; or above 100 degrees (after attempting to cool down) will be sent home from camp. Campers with known illnesses are encouraged to stay home in order to rest up for busy camp days ahead. Return to camp is warranted when symptoms have improved and the camper’s temperature is below 99 degrees for 24 hours without the use of medications, such as Tylenol or ibuprofen.

Head injury:  Any significant bump to the head, neck, or spine will be addressed by the onsite nurses and followed up immediately by a communication with the parent or guardian. Nurses are trained to recognize the signs and symptoms of head injuries, such as concussions, and will take appropriate steps for treatment and/or emergency care, if necessary.