It would be nice to organize a list and we could make a Sticky (I will take care of that)
. Most common issues REALLY vary. A Girl Scout camp’s idiosyncrasies would be VERY different then a private camp in the Berkshire Mountain (which is what I did a few years ago). So, you the posters get to decide; and that IS the beauty of this Bulletin Board is the input of the posters involved.
Perhaps a good way to start out is with this thread info for supplies. I found this here:
http://allnurses.com/forums/f90/firs...st-155307.html
Howdy all! Today I was offered a position as camp nurse at a science camp here in Missouri.
I am so happy, excited, and yes, anxious!
I will be the only nurse there (80 kids), and in the few days before the campers arrive, I want to make sure the health lodge is well-stocked with everything I might need.
I know I'll need:
Band-Aids
Steri-strips
wound cleanser
4x4's
tape
TAO
ice packs
hot packs
Calamine Lotion
hydrocortisone cream
Aloe vera gel
lotion
Ace wraps
and OTC meds:
Benadryl
Tylenol
Pepto Bismol
I know I'm forgetting a ton of stuff!
What can you add to this list?
Posters added:
We used lots of ice (a cube or two at a time) wrapped in papertowel for bee stings.
Add Calamine lotion.
Make sure the kiddos have their meds coming in with the prescription bottle.
tweezers
safety pins
alcohol preps
Be sure you have MANY sizes of bandaids
tampons and pads
lice shampoo
extra insect repellent and sunscreen
rubbing alcohol (to dry up water in the ear)
ibuprofen
cough drops
decongestant (usually use this only for staff)
cotton balls (multiple uses)
triangular bandages
liquid versions of medications
peppermints to settle stomachs
epi-pens (regular and Jr doses)
baby wipes--used a lot in the first aid kits to clean scrapes before bandaging "in the field"--and occasionally in the health center for a hard-to-wash place
eye wash (love that insect repellent... and the dust)
I'll probably think of more later.
Ice is SO important! I freeze it in plastic med cups... very convenient for beestings and swollen mosquito bites, and to numb slivers a little.
lemon drops for sore throats
white vinegar. It takes the sting out of beestings and is easy to apply to multiple stings,instead of those little sting pads or applicators. Good luck. Sharon
One little tool that may reduce the emotional trauma of removing a spinter is an emeryboard (for fingernails). If you can use the board to pull the splinter out (applying slight pressure and pulling it in the direction directly opposite of the splilnter) you could remove it without having to remove it with a small gauge needle.
It is worth a try, I have used this technique and have achived good succsess.
Lokicat
Hi!
I have been a School Nurse and Camp Nurse for a few years. I would add to this great list some non-medical supplies. Safety pins, sewing supplies, eye glass repair kit, Contact solution. Also I have found that putting hydrogen peroxide in a small spray bottle is great for cleaning knee scrapes, etc, without having to "touch it". Other indispensible items include running shoes, a big heart, patience, and a sense of humor!
Happy Summer....
Good thinking on the repair kit! I've used ours many times. I sometimes use plain water in a spray bottle to clean wounds--no "ouch".
On this link:
http://allnurses.com/forums/f90/ You will find the entire listing of Camp Nurse Info here at AllNurses going back to April of 2001. Sometimes, it helps to look through those threads to see what info we have available. Again, this is a shared Bulletin Board. We can add what we want, within the guidelines of TOS (you can link to that in my signature line). Let’s organize what we want to organize and let me know how you want it done.
Please keep in mind, I am a volunteer here at AllNurses, and, just like most of you, I have a full time job and family etc… I rarely have time to spend a great volume of time on one project and, like most volunteers, I am challenged for time. I also moderate several Forums, so.. if anyone would like to get some of this going, it is GREATLY appreciated. Again, the list can vary greatly with the type of camp you are working at or have had experience in. My basic philosophy is, “there is never one correct answer” but ideas we can share and input we can ALL gain from. Please feel free to PM me if you have questions or concerns, anytime.
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One of the tips I would have for the Camp Nurse is to work out what you will do with all of YOUR free time. The books on tape, and books I brought saved me from lonliness. I also brought stamped envelopes, addresses for letter writing. The Counselors were polite but never invited me out to get off the grounds with htem. I had no vehicle and that was s challenging adjustment. I felt like I was marrooned on an Island with little of my regular life intact. Often, I was notallowed to the leave the Medical Building so I could remain "available" appropriate for meeting the needs of the campers and staff. Again, we have all had differnet situations.
I hope we get lots of feedback and input regarding this topic.
Would you like to comment?
