Health Lodge

 

Camp Mattatuck's Health Lodge is covered 24 hr's a day by a registered nurse. If a scout has to take medication during camp, the Camp Nurse must dispense it. All medication for scouts and adults is to be checked in during the medical recheck on Sunday. The Nurse will dispense any medication in camp.

After meals is the normal time for routine medical problems, giving out medication or changing a bandage. If a scout is seriously injured, send two messengers to the health lodge and aid will be sent to you. Do not attempt to move a seriously injured person. If during the evening a person should need to go the health lodge, remember the buddy system. The escort should at least be an older scout, preferably an adult or two. Just in case the scout can't make it, someone is with him.

A word on medication in camp. . .

The Connecticut Department of Public Health is very stringent with what campers may and may not have in their possession while at camp. All prescription medications must be in original pharmacy containers labeled with name of patient, date prescription was filled, pharmacy phone number, name of medication, dosage and schedule for taking, prescribing doctor and expiration date of medicine.

This is especially important for controlled drugs like Ritalin and mood-changing drugs like Prozac. Medication in zip-lock bags or little jars or envelopes with the scouts name, and "take yellow pill once a day, brown pill twice a day" is NOT ACCEPTABLE. This is for prescription and over-the-counter drugs alike. Scoutmasters should also have a dosage schedule for each scout so that they can remind the scout to take his medicine and make the life of the camp nurse a little easier.

Pharmacists are very good about making a labeled pill bottle for parents who prefer to send only what is needed for the camp period - both over-the-counter and prescription drugs.

So . . . Campers are not allowed to have the following in their possession and must turn it into the nurse:

  • Prescription pills, cough medication, or topicals
  • Eye drops of any kind or eye ointments
  • Ear drops of any kind
  • Nose drops / sprays of any kind
  • Tylenol, Advil, Ibuprofen - generic or store brand equivalents
  • Vitamins, minerals or special food supplements
  • Stuff for poison ivy or itching
  • Stuff for infection, bacitracin, and first aid cream
  • Anti diarrhea meds, liquid / pills
  • Laxatives
  • Antacids
  • Cough / cold stuff - syrups, pills, liquid gels
  • Insulin
  • Anti-diabetes pills

Campers may have:

  • Asthma Inhalers after checked by nurse
  • Epipens for severe allergic reaction after checked by nurse
  • Sunblock / Sunscreen
  • Bug repellents such as "OFF" preferable non-aerosol

Scoutmasters may have first-aid kits at the campsites but the nurse, no exceptions, MUST see all injuries. Scoutmasters may not give any medication to a camper unless so directed by the nurse.

Also, dont forget to visit our forms page for the necessary forms, including the New Medical Form and the required Medication Authorization Form.