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Scout Meds


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I have worked in a health lodge as anyone who reads these posts would kno by now. We have scouts come to camp on meds and they don't list them on the forms. I know that they are on meds because they have them and let it slide. When asked they say there parents are embarrased about their child haveing a problem. usually ADHD or ADD. Sometimes physical or mental challenges. Anyone have ideas on how to get parents to realize we need to kno since the adults are responsible and if they ever get hurt they could die because of a medicine complication. Ultimaetly it is a betrayal when parents lie to those taking care of their child. I'm gonna stop ranting now, just can't help it just got back from a campout where 3 scouts did this.

 

-Jeff

SPL

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scoutldr,

 

I don't know, I was about ready to kill an ADD kid at Camporee....so maybe it is life threatening! :) Our Webelos den was invited to go to Camporee with one of the local troops. I went with our den leader and half of our boys with one of the patrols to the different stations. The den leader's son is ADD and she admitted after about half a day that she probably should of had him take his meds. That was the understatement of the year. His behavior and actions were so bad it was embaressing and I was ready to wring his neck. One of the boy scouts in the patrol became dehydrated, so I volunteered to escort him back to camp and get liquids in him. It was kind of like a coyote chewing his own leg off to get out of a trap! I would have don anything to get away from that situation. LOL It was a memorable campout to say the least.

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We tell all the parents at registration when they fill out the Class 1 why we need the med info, and then again with class 2s and 3s. I think they get it, because we've never had any "surprises". We're in a bit of a unique situation here, though, because all family members have to be medically "cleared" by the military before they can come over here in the first place. Out of 27 registered Scouts, we don't have any on behavior meds, and our only other Scouts with meds are two lads with athsma (I carry an extra inhaler in case one forgets his).

 

KS

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If a Scout is on meds of any kind, we as leaders need to know. We are responsible for them while they are with us. There could be issues if a Scout get sick at camp & he is given medication (cough medicine, aspirin) that doesn't mix with the medication he is on. This could be life threatening!

 

Ed Mori

Scoutmaster

Troop 1

1 Peter 4:10

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KS, I hope that the "spare inhalers" you carry are ones prescribed for those individual kids. Ergo, if you have two asthmatics, you will need two "spares"...one for each kid. UNless you are an MD, it is illegal to give them medication that was prescribed for someone else, even if you "think" it is the same drug and same dosage, etc.

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I had always been given to believe, that all meds had to be handed over to the Leader in Charge, and then given to the youth. Following the instructions.

But have seen that this is not the case.

In fact it would be the wrong thing to do.

I can see that medications that need to be kept under refrigeration, might need to be kept some place where that equipment is located.

I can see why all meds ought to be lsted on the Health Form.

But what is the right way to deal with meds at camp ?

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Bob,

The point I am trying to make is if we as leaders are not aware that our Scouts are on medication then there is a chance they are at risk. We as leaders MUST know what medications our Scouts are on.

 

Ed Mori

Scoutmaster

Troop 1

1 Peter 4:10

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No ed, you don't need to know. There is nothing you can do with that information.

 

A physician treating the child needs to know what he is taking, and he's not going to give the child any meds until he talks to the parent first.

 

Medical information is confidential. I have had parents who have sent medical info in sealed envelopes, to be opened by phycians only.

 

Fine with me. There is nothing in there I need until the scout requires treatment, and then it's the physician who needs it not me.

 

Good leaders are in control but not "In Charge"

Bob White

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Especially under the new HIPAA law, there is NO medical information that you as a leader have a "right" to know, should the parent choose not to share it with you. I know from first-hand experience that there are HIV positive kids (no, NOT my own!) in our schools...and there is NO legal requirement for that information to be disclosed to ANYONE...that means they are in our scout troops as well. That's why Blood Borne Pathogen training should be an integral part of all first aid training and scrupulously followed, no matter how well you think you know your kids and fellow Scouters. My wife's motto (an elementary school nurse): "If it's wet and it's not yours, DON'T TOUCH IT!"

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