Only a few weeks remain in the school year and the end of classes signal the start of summer camp. According to the American Camping Association, more than 8 million kids a year attend summer camp. However, before a child can step foot in a cabin or take a lap in a lake, they must first get a clean bill of health. Physicals are mandatory for admission into nearly any summer camp in the state.
“Clearly, no summer camp wants the liability of accepting a camper who has an unstated medical condition,” said Dr. Michael Gutman, Medical Director of New England Urgent Care. “Camp physicals are required to ensure children are fit to attend summer camp and participate in various physical activities.”
“There are always those stories you hear on the news about a young person dying on an athletic field or in a camp-like setting due to an undetected condition,” said Dr. Gutman. “Via our physicals we’re able to put parents and camps at ease by accurately gauging the health risks of a child.”
For parents, the process of researching and choosing a camp is like a sneak peak of what they’ll have in store when the college search rolls around. To add to the stress, they must find time to take their child for a camp physical.
New England Urgent Care in West Hartford is striving to take the stress out of process by offering inexpensive, 20-minute head to toe physicals, with no appointment necessary. Parents should be aware that insurance does not cover these physicals. Additionally, the center is open nights, weekends and holidays to make the process all the more convenient.
“We want to make sure parents realize 20-minutes doesn’t mean incomplete,” said Dr. Gutman. “New England Urgent Care is staffed with highly trained emergency medical personnel who rapidly and efficiently examine a patient but not at the cost of thoroughness.”
During physicals New England Urgent Care clinicians check vitals, vaccination history and eyesight. They also screen for diseases that may cause debilitation or even death as a result of extreme exertion or heat exhaustion. Potential conditions include cardiac disease, sickle cell traits, and previous history of heat stroke.
Dr. Gutman also urges that parents list New England Urgent Care as the preferred provider for the camp to send the ill or injured child who does not have imminent life threat. “With our Emergency Medicine expertise, X-ray facilities, IV fluid capabilities and in house lab, we can provide sprain, strain, fracture care, laceration repair and treat dehydration not to mention a myriad of other medical problems that you don’t want to wait hours in the Emergency Department to be treated for.”
New England Urgent Care is located at 21 North Main Street, Suite B in West Hartford. The center is open nights, weekends and holidays. Most days, wait times are less than 5 minutes. To learn more visit: www.urgentcarenewengland.com.
