As families prepare to send their children to summer camp, the American Medical Association is urging parents to follow six key safety recommendations to ensure a healthy and enjoyable experience. The guidance, which originated from Kentucky Health News, emphasizes that with proper preparation, chi ldren can have fun while staying protected from preventable health risks. Sun protection ranks among the top priorities. Experts recommend applying broad-spectrum sunscreen with at least SPF 30 before camp each day and sending a bottle along so children can reapply every two to three hours. Additional UV-protective clothing and hats provide extra defense against damaging rays. Vaccination status deserves immediate attention. The MMR vaccine protects against measles, mumps and rubella—diseases that spread rapidly in group settings. According to medical professionals, there is no treatment for these infections, making vaccination essential. Nearly everyone unvaccinated will become ill if exposed to these diseases. Insect protection is critical during summer months. Parents should have children wear loose-fitting, lightweight long sleeves and pants when possible, avoiding bright colors and floral prints that attract bugs. EPA-registered insect repellents offer effective protection against mosquito and tick bites, particularly during early morning and evening hours. Children with allergies require advance planning. Parents should pack EpiPens or other allergy medications and ensure camp supervisors understand how to respond quickly to any allergic reactions, whether food or environmental. Nutrition and hydration cannot be overlooked. When packing lunches and snacks, parents should include fruits, vegetables, lean proteins and whole grains, with plant-based foods making up at least two-thirds of meals. Hydration becomes especially important since children engaged in physical activity face increased risk for heat-related illnesses in summer sun. Finally, parents should arrange medication administration plans well in advance. Those whose children require prescription medications should meet with camp organizers and counselors before camp begins to establish safe storage and administration procedures. AMA President Bobby Mukkamala emphasized that thoughtful preparation allows children to enjoy camp while staying safe. For additional health tips and resources, parents can visit ama-assn.org. This article was generated by AI (claude-haiku-4-5-20251001) based on source material from Kentucky Health News, enriched with 2 web searches. The original source is available at https://kyhealthnews.net/2026/05/18/6-tips-from-doctors-to-keep-your-kids-safe-at-summer-camp/. The post Medical experts offer parents tips for keeping kids safe at summer camp appeared first on The Lexington Times. ...read more read less