Updated 4/3/2020
Coronavirus Response
The health and safety of the campers and staff of Camp Sweeney is our highest priority. With the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19) within the United States, we are actively reviewing and updating our health-related plans and procedures for the upcoming summer. While the coronavirus poses no immediate concern for summer 2020, we have a communicable disease plan in place that will be revised in cooperation with public health authorities as additional COVID-19 guidance is provided. Additionally, we will work closely with our local public health department to maintain effective protocols for the identification and appropriate treatment of any illnesses that may occur at camp, including COVID-19. As always, our mission is to provide a life-changing experience for children living with Type 1 diabetes. We will persevere through the challenges ahead and continue to provide support to the children and families who rely on us.
Thanks so much for your understanding. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact our office at 940-665-2011 or by email at info@campsweeney.org. #SweeneyStrong
Upcoming Camp Sweeney Events
PFC Life: Following guidance from the local health department and CDC, all in-person PFC Life events (including PFC Life Six Flags) have been cancelled until further notice. We will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates as additional information becomes available.
Open House: At this time, the Open House scheduled for Saturday, April 18th has been cancelled.
ePFC: Starting March 23rd, Camp Sweeney will be hosting online PFC events, or “ePFC events,” to keep campers and other children affected by diabetes connected throughout the spring. These events will give campers from all over the country the opportunity to reconnect with other campers and counselors, share their highs and lows, and most importantly, remind them that they are never alone.
Learn More About e-PFC
Preventing Illness at Camp
Because camp occurs in a close community, Camp Sweeney has always taken great care to develop and maintain updated medical practices to address a variety of communicable diseases, both common and rare. In addition to our normal check-in process for campers (which includes screening for fever and all communicable diseases), we will update our health and wellness screening policies and procedures to reflect the current best practices recommended by public health authorities.
Camp Sweeney staff members receive extensive training in both diabetes management and the identification of potential illnesses. Counselors are trained to refer campers to the Sweeney Medical Center at the first sign of potential illness. Each camper is evaluated by a team of medical professionals and given a specific care plan. Additionally, all campers and staff members adhere to health and wellness protocols which includes frequent hand washing and daily cabin sanitization.
Coronavirus and Type 1 diabetes
The CDC has determined that COVID-19 is a serious public health threat—and that people with serious chronic medical conditions, including diabetes, are at a higher risk of experiencing complications and getting very sick. The CDC recommends that all high risk individuals take actions to reduce the risk of getting sick with the disease:
- Stock up on supplies.
- Take everyday precautions to keep space between yourself and others.
- When you go out in public, keep away from others who are sick, limit close contact and wash your hands often.
- Avoid crowds as much as possible.
- Avoid cruise travel and non-essential air travel.
- During a COVID-19 outbreak in your community, stay home as much as possible to further reduce your risk of being exposed.
The American Diabetes Associates (ADA) recommends that individuals with diabetes make a plan that includes the following items:
- Phone numbers of your doctors and healthcare team
- List of medications and doses (including vitamins and supplements)
- Simple carbs to help keep your blood sugar up if you are at risk for lows and too ill to eat
- If a state of emergency is declared, get extra refills on your prescriptions so you do not have to leave the house
- If you can’t get to the pharmacy, find out about having your medications delivered
- Always have enough insulin for the week ahead, in case you get sick or cannot refill
- Extra supplies like rubbing alcohol and soap to wash your hands
- Glucagon and ketone strips, in case of lows and highs
- Have enough household items and groceries on hand so that you will be prepared to stay at home for a period of time
Talking to your child about COVID-19
There’s a lot of news coverage about the outbreak of COVID-19 and it can be overwhelming for parents and frightening to kids. The American Academy of Pediatrics encourages parents and others who work closely with children to filter information and talk about it in a way that their child can understand. These tips can help:
- Simple reassurance. Remind children that researchers and doctors are learning as much as they can, as quickly as they can, about the virus and are taking steps to keep everyone safe.
- Give them control. It’s also a great time to remind your children of what they can do to help – washing their hands often, coughing into a tissue or their sleeves, and getting enough sleep.
- Watch for signs of anxiety. Children may not have the words to express their worry, but you may see signs of it. They may get cranky, be more clingy, have trouble sleeping, or seem distracted. Keep the reassurance going and try to stick to your normal routines.
- Monitor their media. Keep young children away from frightening images they may see on TV, social media, computers, etc. For older children, talk together about what they are hearing on the news and correct any misinformation or rumors you may hear.
- Be a good role model. COVID-19 doesn’t discriminate and neither should we. Stigma and discrimination hurt everyone by creating fear or anger towards others. When you show empathy and support to those who are ill, your children will too.
Additional Resources
CDC - Coronavirus American Camp Association - Coronavirus, Information for Camps