Summer is just around the corner and that means summer camps and activities for kids in 2021. Most summer camps will require a physical before kids can attend. A camp physical screens for pre-existing medical conditions that might put your child at risk while taking part in typical camp activities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The American Camp Association (ACA) requires that at minimum campers be immunized against tetanus, mumps, measles, rubella, polio, pertussis (whooping cough), and diphtheria to prevent the spread of these diseases. Summer camp immunizations requirements vary by camp \u2014 check your child’s camp requirements before scheduling youth physicals. While most camps do not require kids to have received the COVID-19 vaccine<\/a> to attend, it is strongly encouraged now that children age 12+ can get vaccinated from COVID-19.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Summer camp and other summer activities can expose your child to allergens that can trigger asthma and other allergic reactions. A camp physical is a good time for your healthcare provider to review your child\u2019s general health, pinpoint potential hazards, and recommend any necessary precautions, treatments, or medications.<\/p>\n\n\n\n To ensure that you have enough time to update the required immunizations, or take care of any possible medical concerns that may be discovered, you should complete your child\u2019s summer camp physical long before the date he or she will be attending camp or organization.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There is a difference between sports and annual physicals. A sports physical focuses on determining whether a child is safe to participate in a particular sport or physical activity. A sports physical is important because it can assist in determining if a child has health problems that may interfere with their sports participation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Annual physicals, your child’s healthcare provider will check your child\u2019s overall health, often including things that are not related to sports. You can often schedule both types of exams during one appointment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Both an annual physical and sports physical can be completed during your child’s KAN Be Healthy Screening<\/a> or Child Wellness Exam. KAN Be Healthy (KBH) is a Medicaid program for children, teenagers, and young adults. Everyone who is 20 years of age or younger can take part in the KBH program. There are four KBH screenings:<\/p>\n\n\n\n KBH medical screenings are encouraged for birth, 1, 2, 4, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 24, and 30 months, then each year from ages 3 through 20. The KBH screen follows the early and periodic screening, diagnostic, and treatment guidelines and is considered an important tool in preventive health care and developmental screening.<\/p>\n\n\n\nAnnual Physicals vs Sports Physicals<\/h2>\n\n\n\n