Your In-Depth Guide to Medication at Day Camp

Safety at Pine Cove is a big deal. Especially medical safety. We put a lot of time and energy into training our camp staff and medical staff to provide the highest level of care possible when it comes to storing, giving out, and overseeing medication. Meds, understandably, bring with them a number of questions. We’ve put together this guide to help you know what’s what when it comes to camper meds.

If you have additional questions or concerns about your camper’s medical care, email us at nursemanager@pinecove.com.

How do I tell you about my camper’s medical needs?

The most important place to communicate about your camper’s medical needs is the camper’s medical form. These forms become available to fill out a month before your camper’s camp session. You can access this form in your account.

If this is your first summer, you also filled out a short medical concerns form as part of your registration flow. This was for bigger picture concerns, like diabetes, and informed our medical staff at that time of your camper’s specific needs.

Should I send meds with my camper?

Nope! Please give your campers any medications they may need at home. If you have a prescription medicine they need to take at lunch, bring it with you on opening day and check it in with the nurse.  All meds are kept at the health centers, including staff meds, so there’s no possibility of a camper getting into a staffer’s belongings and accessing medication.

Exceptions are made for rescue inhalers, diabetic supplies, and epi-pens. Just be sure to mention your camper will need to carry these things with them on the medical form.

The next questions only apply to those who have a prescription medication that is required to be given out during the camp day.

How should I pack my camper’s meds?

Keep all prescription medication in its original container. State regulations require all medication to be in their original containers so we cannot make exceptions.

Speaking of state regulations, we also cannot administer prescription meds that are:

• Expired. All medication must be currently valid.
• Prescribed to other people. Medication must be prescribed to the camper only and not other family members. If dispensing instructions have changed, please ensure the label is updated by the pharmacy.
• Compounded or mixed at home. We can administer medicines that have been compounded or mixed by a pharmacy, but we cannot administer medicines that have been mixed or compounded together at home.
• Broken in half. We cannot administer medicines that are cut or broken into smaller doses than prescribed.

Regulations require us to follow the directions on all medicines unless we have a note from a physician authorizing something different. So if a bottle says it is for adult use only and it is checked in for a ten-year-old, we cannot administer it.  If you request a higher dosage than what is listed on the medication directions, you’ll need a doctor’s note for that.

What if my camper is diabetic?

We’re happy to welcome diabetic campers to Pine Cove City, but because of current medical regulations, the volunteer nurse at the church cannot administer insulin injections. If parents are able to come administer needed injections, we should be able to work out a plan for your diabetic camper to attend Pine Cove City. Please email Megan Moon, our City Nurse Coordinator, to make sure we have a good care plan in place for your camper.

How do I get my meds back?

On Friday you can pick up your meds from the meds pick up table. Please don’t forget! Bring your photo ID so we can verify we are giving the meds back to the right person.