Camps are a setting where social connection, confidence-building, and leadership development for youth take root. However, for those with food allergy, camps can come with risks to consider; food is served multiple times daily, medical help can be delayed, and staff turnover is often high.
Children with food allergy can experience a reaction while away from home, including at camps and recreational programs.
Without consistent allergen management requirements, safety depends on individual camp policies. While many camps have rigorous policies in place, other camps lack standardized protocols, foodservice guidance, or robust emergency plans to effectively manage food allergy and anaphylaxis.
For children with food allergy, gaps in safety can turn what should be a new and exciting experience into a stressful one. That’s why we are working to make camps safer and more inclusive. Our focus is on standardizing training, ensuring epinephrine is readily accessible, and having consistent protocols in allergen management.
We’re working to make camps and recreational programs safer and more inclusive by promoting standardized training, and consistent protocols for managing allergens and anaphylaxis.
Currently, there are inconsistent standards, creating barriers for children and staff with food allergy.
The underlying issue:
- There are no consistent standards for training or protocols to manage food allergy and anaphylaxis in camp settings.
- This creates uncertainty in the camp’s ability to prevent reactions and respond effectively if they occur.
