Camping
There are two essential components for a safe and enriching campin experience for a child or adult with epilepsy: - an informed camp staff, and
- an excellent communication network involving the staff, the child's parents, the physician and other campers.
Someone whose seizures are well controlled can usually benefit from regular camping activities, without special limitations. However, there are some guidelines to keep in mind: - Swimming should be carefully supervised. A person with epilepsy should never swim alone.
- Life vests should be worn when the child is participating in sailing, canoeing or other water sports.
- If rappelling is a camp activity, the child should be securely tied on the safety rope and wear head protection.
- If the child participates in horseback riding programs, the temperament of the horse and its typical response to the unexpected should be taken into account. The child should wear protective head gear.
- If a child's seizures are triggered by a reaction to flashing light, polarised sunglasses should be worn when there is substantial reflection of sunlight (e.g. on water, through trees when hiking or riding, etc.).
- Camp counsellors should be provided with the following information:
- type of seizures child experiences
- length of seizures
- amount rest required after seizure
- first aid requirements
- conditions or events that trigger seizures
- medication taken
- side effects of medication (emotional and or behavioural)
- how often medication's taken
- who administers medication while child's at camp
- whether there is an aura or any other physical conditions
- does child have an understanding of epilepsy and its treatment
When additional supervision of the child with epilepsy is necessary, it is important that it be as unobtrusive as possible. In an overprotective environment, the child may feel 'singled out' or different from other campers.
A successful camping experience offers a child with seizure disorder a chance for new independence and social development without compromising a safe environment.
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