Before any child is admitted to a Girl Scout camp she should have been
thoroughly examined by a competent physician. These examinations should
be arranged for by the Local Councils. With very slight effort it is
possible to enlist the interest of physicians, particularly women
physicians, in making these examinations.
The accompanying certificate (p. 52) is particularly recommended as
preferable to an informal statement. This certificate, properly filled
out, should be of great assistance to the Camp Director in safeguarding
the health of the Scouts in camp. It must be remembered that young girls
are ambitious to do all that their fellows do, and very seldom are
willing to admit any physical disability. The responsibility should not
be on their shoulders. Camp life subjects each person to quite unusual
physical exertion which in some cases may amount to a strain. The things
to be especially guarded against are heart disturbances, either
functional or organic; painful or too profuse menstruation; flat foot,
weak backs and prolapsed intestine. Under-nutrition and anemia will
usually be automatically corrected by life in the open and the
consequent increased appetite. No child who is markedly undernourished,
however, should be allowed to take extraordinary exercise until she has
begun to gain.
Before the Scouts start for camp they should be assembled and inspected
in a group by a nurse, or some other person competent to detect body and
head lice. No Scout should be allowed to come to camp infested with
vermin, and yet this happens repeatedly unless definite precautions are
taken. As a rule this cannot be left to the examining physician. If this
examination is made as early as a week ahead of the time to start for
camp the children's heads can be cleansed.
To cleanse the head from lice, rub the scalp and saturate the hair with
kerosene. Tie the head up in a thick, clean cloth held in place with
safety pins. Leave the bandage on over night. After removing the bandage
it should be plunged at once into hot soap suds, and thoroughly washed.
Wash the scalp and hair with castile or ivory soap, rinsing thoroughly.
Dry with clean towels. Combs and brushes should be thoroughly cleansed
before using. It may be necessary to repeat this process once.
The ideal should be held before each Scout of having her health record
while in camp a perfect one. Should any unforeseen trouble arise,
however, she must report at once to the nurse or Director.
Whenever possible, sleep with tent sides and flaps up; never with the
tent closed except in case of a severe storm.
Indigestion, constipation, diarrhea, headaches, bruises, blisters,
strains and sprains, insect bites, sunburn and ivy poisoning are some of
the common camp ailments that have to be dealt with.
Observing the Scout Health requirements as discussed in the Handbook,
"Scouting for Girls," helps very much in establishing a healthy Scout
camp and keeping out of it conditions which are often due to
carelessness.
[Illustration: THE FIRST AID HOUSE]