Camping and Asthma

Camping and asthma - There is nothing like pitching a tent on the side of the mountain and sleeping out under the stars. But if you have got asthma, embracing the outdoors also will increase your contact with outdoor pollen and mold, inhalation of wood smoke from campfires, and so on. That does not mean that you can not ever go camping. However, you may want to avoid hiking and camping during the high pollen season if you have got allergic asthma. And because campsites are usually in fairly remote areas, always bring along plenty of your medications, including rescue medications.

Camping, outdoor activities, getting away from home, work or school may be fun. But accompanying you are possible challenges posed by your asthma. While you may feel fine before leaving home, a different environment with potentially new asthma triggers could mean trouble. To avoid unwanted surprises, take time to plan ahead.

Camps-both day and sleep away- can have many wonderful things: swimming, hiking, boating and grilling food. But it can also have asthma triggers such as molds, dust mites, animal dander and pollens that are not so fun. Along with the bag of medications, the patient's camp staff should also be alerted of the patient's asthmatic condition, what special precautions should be taken, and what to do in case there is an asthma emergency.

Sometimes we think that checking off "asthma" on the camp medical release form may be enough. But an asthma action plan is needed here to help manage and control the child's asthma during the camp stay. This should be on file with the camp nurse and made available to camp counselors working with the patient.

Having an asthma action plan on file with the camp becomes particularly important for patients whose asthma occurs and worsens after exercise and vigorous activities. In this case, pre treatment with a quick-acting bronchodilator and warm-up exercises are important steps in preventing exercise-induced asthma symptoms.

In regard to inhalers, patients or patient's parents should check with the camp administrator on the camp's policy of permitting the patients to keep their quick-relief medication with them at all times. Also, check on the distance of the nearest emergency room or emergency services-just in case.

While many people with asthma do enjoy going to camps with old and new friends, some with more severe asthma might be more comfortable going to camps specially designed with them in mind.