From: Hollyanne Dustin (cattails@PSOUTH.NET)
Date: Tue Jun 27 2000 - 15:55:42 CDT
My son has ADHD and a form of autism called Aspergers Syndrome. He is on
Adderall, a similar drug to Ritalin or Dexedrine. I would never dream of
sending my child to camp or on a trip without his meds. He'll have enough
trouble handling camp *with* the meds.
It is very easy to get a second properly labeled bottle from the pharmacy
when you pick up your prescription. I do it for the school all the time. I
would insist the parent put just enough for the camp week or trip in the
second bottle (if its lost, you can't refill till the month is up, no way do
I want the kid losing his meds at camp and me having to suffer his behavior
when he gets back and has no meds for two weeks LOL!) You could get a
letter from the parent giving you permission to medicate him in accordance
with the terms of his prescription. I did that for my parents when I left
me son with them for a weekend. I sign a permission slip for the school. I
will do it for camp also. I will do it for anyone in who's care he is going
to be in long enough to require medication. Just as I sign a waiver giving
the adult in charge of him the right to authorize medical treatment in the
event I can't be contacted in an emergency.
I believe that this would be sufficient protection for a leader to be able
to handle most medication because you are in a sense acting "in loco
parentis" for the kids on your trip. But if you think it would be better
have the parent get you a letter from the doctor. Most would accommodate
that.
Especially for younger scouts expecting the boy to remember to take his own
meds is pretty unrealistic - if he could focus and remember he probably
wouldn't need the meds in the first place. I had that conversation with my
son's school too. :)
HollyAnne
mailto: Cattails@psouth.net
