Keeping Your Kids with Food Allergies Safe at Camp

by Dr. Katie McCormick, Allergy & Immunology
Boulder Medical Center

About 1 in 13 children in the U.S. live with food allergies, making summer camp a time that requires extra preparation and awareness for many families. Whether your child is already attending camp or gearing up for a late summer session, it’s important to revisit how to help them stay safe and confident while away from home.

Understand the Camp’s Allergy Policies

Camp protocols for managing food allergies vary. Some allow children to carry their epinephrine auto-injectors in their backpacks, while others require that staff hold onto them. If you haven’t already, reach out to the camp to clarify:

• Where emergency medications are stored
• Who is trained to use them
• How meals, snacks, and special activities (like field trips) are managed
• How allergic reactions are communicated and handled

Understanding the camp’s procedures and educating the staff about your child’s needs can help ensure a safer experience.

Ensure an Emergency Action Plan Is in Place

Every child with food allergies should have an Anaphylaxis Emergency Care Plan on file at camp. Completed by your child’s physician, this plan outlines how to recognize allergic symptoms and what steps to take if a reaction occurs.

In addition, confirm that your child’s emergency medications are up to date and available at camp:

• Epinephrine auto-injector two-pack for severe reactions
• Oral antihistamine for mild symptoms—liquid cetirizine (generic Zyrtec) is recommended over Benadryl because it works faster, lasts longer, and causes less drowsiness

These medications should be kept in an accessible location and clearly labeled with your child’s name and dosing instructions.

Teach and Reinforce Allergy Awareness

Even once camp is underway, it’s helpful to keep reinforcing allergy awareness with your child. They should understand:

• Which foods are safe and which are not
• That they should only accept food from adults who know about their allergies
• They should tell an adult immediately if they start to feel sick

If your child is old enough to carry an epinephrine device, now is a good time to refresh them on how and when to use it. Encourage confidence and preparation without creating fear.

Keep Teens and Young Adults Alert

Older kids and young adults, especially those with asthma, are at a higher risk for severe or even life-threatening allergic reactions. Carrying an epinephrine auto-injector at all times is key.

“It’s smaller than your phone, and it can save your life,” says Dr. Katie McCormack, a board-certified allergist at Boulder Medical Center in Louisville, Colo., who specializes in children’s allergies. “Carrying an epinephrine device is one of the simplest and most important ways young people can stay safe and confident when managing food allergies.”

Also, talk to teens about how alcohol can affect food allergies. Drinking can lower the threshold for a reaction and impair judgment, which may lead to accidental exposure or a delay in seeking help. These conversations are critical as teens gain more independence.

Let Us Help

Our experienced Allergy Team in Boulder and Louisville, CO can provide comprehensive support for families managing food allergies in children and adults, from emergency action planning to food allergy testing and treatment. Schedule an appointment for your child today!