Dear Camp Parent:
It is important for you to be aware of a new Maine State law that could affect your child while attending a Maine camp.
The State of Maine has passed a law that affects all campers who need to have readily available (carry or possess outside of the regular supervision of the camps health staff) and to self-administer emergency medication while at camp. The law establishes procedures to allow such access to emergency medication by those campers who have been diagnosed to be at risk for a potential medical crisis such as asthmatic attacks or allergic reactions. These medications include, but are not limited to, an asthma inhaler or an epinephrine (epi) pen.
To comply with State Law 2496, all Maine camps are required to have a written policy authorizing campers to have readily available and to self-administer such emergency
medications where the following conditions are met.
A. Any camper who self-administers emergency medication must have the prior written approval of the campers primary health care provider and the campers parent or guardian;
B. The campers parent or guardian must submit written verification to the camp from the campers primary health care provider confirming that the camper has the knowledge and the skills to safety self-administer the emergency medication in camp;
C. The camp health staff must evaluate the campers technique to ensure proper and effective use of the emergency medication in camp; and
D. The emergency medication must be readily available to the camper.
If your child needs to, and you want to permit your child to have readily available (carry or possess outside of the regular supervision of the camps health staff) and to self-administer an inhaler, an eip-pen or other emergency medication, you and your campers primary healthcare provider must complete and return to us the medical release and self-administer medication forms. These forms were developed in cooperation with the Maine Youth Camping Association.
When your camper arrives at camp our health staff are required to evaluate the campers selfadministration technique to ensure proper and effective use.
These forms are not necessary for those campers who do not need to have readily available and to self-administer emergency medications. As always our health staff will provide regular supervision of prescription medications for campers.
Thank you in advance for helping us comply with the new law.
click for medical release form
