Swine flu at summer camps. Where are parents?

[teacups]

I'm watching news and I see a whole camp of kids wearing medical face masks because of an outbreak of swine flu cases at the camp. I'm just curious as to why the parents dont take thier kids home under these conditions? I'm pretty sure I'd be there picking my kids up and taking them home.

 

[murcor]

I'm watching news and I see a whole camp of kids wearing medical face masks because of an outbreak of swine flu cases at the camp. I'm just curious as to why the parents dont take thier kids home under these conditions? I'm pretty sure I'd be there picking my kids up and taking them home.

Ive often thought that myself

 

[luvmy3]

My kids would be staying home. Maybe some parnts have to work so they need their kids to be there. Also, there are people who feel that they are not going to live in a bubble, or that its just like any other flu and figure if they or their child are going to get then so be it.

 

[golfgal]

If my kids were not sick they would stay too. I am sure if you asked the KIDS they would WANT to stay as well.

 

[jillyb]

If my kids were not sick they would stay too. I am sure if you asked the KIDS they would WANT to stay as well.

This. Plus, they've already been exposed to the swine flu what's bringing them home going to do?

 

[MichelleinMaine]

Alot of kids are pretty far from home coming to the summer long camps here. If a parent were to have to fly to the camp, I could see that might be a tough expense for some. (And what could they do once there? I imagine can't fly them home sick. No "home" to recover at, maybe they are better off being at camp?

(I don't agree, but I can see it. My kids aren't going to camp anywhere I can't drive to if need be!)

 

[Robmom]

Maybe they are better off there than at home, where they could infect more people.

 

[luv2sew]

My DD works at a Girl Scout summer day camp. One day they were told one of the girls had swine flu....next morning they all had to be in at 6 am to sanitize the entire camp.......Turns out the girl just had a cold.

 

[Mskanga]

This. Plus, they've already been exposed to the swine flu what's bringing them home going to do?

If they do not show any symptoms it's all fine but if they get sick trust me they want to be home.....that flu really beats you down !

 

[ma2jr]

Geez...

 

[binny]

I really worried about Cam at camp last week. He was a counselor in training and they count on each of them to be there. He had a cold, I was sure it was just a cold. He was on his 3rd week there so he was pretty beat.

I told him if he really didnt feel well to call and I would come and get him. I felt bac for sending him but they needed him there. He was fine and while he has a lingering cold he feels fine.

 

[JessicaR]

Around the country over 50 camps have cancelled their programs.

Precautions Taken, Campers Get Quarantined
http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Weekend/story?id=8173558&page=1

 

[jillyb]

If they do not show any symptoms it's all fine but if they get sick trust me they want to be home.....that flu really beats you down !

Oh I completely understand wanting be home when you're sick!

I was just looking at it from the standpoint of parents rushing to pick their kids up from summer camp because a child has been diagnosed with swine flu. At that point they've already been exposed so it's not going to make much difference if they're at camp or at home.

 

[JoiseyMom]

DD bff was away for 3 weeks at an educational program. The flu broke out and the shut down the program a week early, they had to go and get her. She then got sick, but it wasn't the flu.

 

[minniebeth]

JessicaR, my DNephew's camp, a camp for children with Muscular Dystrophy, was one of the ones mentioned that was cancelled. It is really sad, because he looks so forward to this camp all year long. It is one of the few weeks he can be with other MD kids, where he can do a lot of fun things and give his family a week of respite from intense care.
But I completely understand why some of these camps have been cancelled. The kids attending are very compromised with their health to begin with.

As far as other kids at camps, I'm on the fence. If there were an outbreak of Swine Flu at my kids' camp, I'd have to consider bringing them home. Two of them have compromised immune systems, so I'm not so sure I'd be comfortable having camp staff moniter/judge their health if they were to come down with something with Swine Flu out there. I guess it's a personal decision that comes down to each child.

 

[Mskanga]

I was just looking at it from the standpoint of parents rushing to pick their kids up from summer camp because a child has been diagnosed with swine flu. At that point they've already been exposed so it's not going to make much difference if they're at camp or at home.

Some people have other household members to think about , I have a cancer recovering child at home. You may be exposed once and not get it but if you are exposed several times , your chances increase greatly and that is something some people cannot afford to do.

 

[C.Ann]

You may be exposed once and not get it but if you are exposed several times , your chances increase greatly and that is something some people cannot afford to do.

Reminds me of when my kids had chicken pox.. My oldest had a mild case, my middle child had a worse case, and by the time my youngest got them she ended up being hospitalized.. Her case was so severe she had them up her nose and inside of her throat.. When I asked the doctor why her case was so severe he said it was the over exposure - from being in such close contact with my other two children.. I would have thought it would be the opposite - with her having the mildest case and my oldest having the worst case - but that's not how it worked out..

So if my child were at that camp - yes - I would bring that child home..