Packing Medications
Having a healthy and safe week at camp starts at home! Woodlands wants to partner with you to ensure your camper has an unforgettable time at camp for all the right reasons!
Medications At Camp
What medications should I bring for my camper?
Please only bring prescription medications your camper needs for that week. If it is NOT NEEDED, please keep it at home. See our packing instructions below.
Our clinic stocks basic over-the-counter medications (Ibuprofen, Tylenol, Benadryl, Tums, Robitussin, and Zyrtec). These are given as needed if permission is given on your campers health form. Please leave all over the counter medications at home.
What about prescription medication?
All camper medication must in compliance with our medication packaging policy as explained below. These are turned in to our health team upon arrival at check-in on opening day.
When is medication given at camp?
Medications are given at the beginning of breakfast, lunch, dinner and before bed by our medically trained health team. If your camper needs their medication given at a time not listed, please let our health team know at check in and we will do our best to accommodate their needs.
Medication lines at camp can be lengthy. While we do our best to get them through quickly and in a safe manner, if the medication is NOT needed for their week of camp, please keep it at home.
Where is my campers medication kept?
All medication is kept in the Woodlands clinic with the exception of the following: rescue inhalers, epi-pens and any other medication considered an “emergency medication.” Please do not pack medication for your camper in their luggage to keep in the cabin.
What else do I need to know about my campers medication?
All medication must be prescribed for the correct camper with correct dose, correct time and a valid prescription. State law prevents us from sharing prescription medications between campers or giving different doses than prescribed.
Essential oils and vitamins are not given at camp unless prescribed by a physican with dosing instructions and packed according to the medication packing policy.
CBD oil, homeopathic tinctures and herbal medications are not given at camp unless prescribed by a physician.
If you have questions not answered here, please reach out to our Health Care Manager at mmatthews@woodlandscamp.org.
It is important that you fill out the health form online through the parent portal before your camper arrives to camp so that we have your permission when your camper has a medication need. Laws and medical protocols require parent/guardian permission in order to give even the most basic over-the-counter medication. Thank you in advance for your compliance!
Medication Packaging Policy
The Woodlands Health Team administers THOUSANDS of medications each year. Woodlands requires that ALL scheduled or daily pill and chewable medications be packaged by a licensed pharmacist in blister packs prior to your arrival at camp. Regulations do not allow us to give medication that is in baggies, home med planners or containers not processed by a pharmacist or manufacturer. These cannot be accepted by our health team.
Scheduled or Daily Medications
Blister packs must include all prescription AND over-the-counter (otc) pill and chewable medications that your camper takes on a scheduled or daily basis. If your camper takes multiple medications at the same time daily, some pharmacists will package them together in one blister pack, and some pharmacists will make a separate blister pack for each medication. Either way will be accepted at camp! Some OTC medications already come in a blister pack (see picture below for reference), and do not need to be repackaged in a new blister pack.
Any liquids, drops, creams, powders, inhaled, or injected medications cannot be blister-packed and should be turned in to the health team in their original packaging at check-in. Please write your camper’s first and last name on these items with a permanent marker.
*We cannot accept homemade pill planners, calendars, or baggies with medication in them as we are not allowed to dispense these under medical state guidelines/laws.
As-Needed (PRN) Medications
If your camper has a medication that they take occasionally (“as needed”, or “PRN”), you can turn in the medication in its original packaging to the health team at check-in. PRN medications do not need to be included in a blister pack since your camper does not take these every day at a scheduled time. Please write your camper’s first and last name on these items with a permanent marker.
FAQs
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A blister pack is a card that packages your camper’s medication into small, clear plastic bubbles (or “blisters”). Each bubble is backed with foil that secures pills inside until it’s time to be dispensed by our health team at breakfast, lunch, dinner, and/or bedtime.
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Blister packs are the industry standard and help ensure compliance with state medication administration laws and medical protocols. Blister packs help streamline our medication administration process and most importantly, minimize potential medication errors. Additionally, your camper will spend less time waiting in line at the clinic, and our nurses will have more time to devote to your camper’s other healthcare needs.
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Any scheduled pill/chewable form medication (including gummies) your camper needs to take daily while at camp must be blister packed by a licensed pharmacist. This includes daily prescriptions, supplements, vitamins, and any homeopathic medication.
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Liquids, drops, creams, powders, inhaled, or injected medications cannot be blister packed and should be turned in to the health team in their original packaging.
“As-needed” medications of any form do not need to be blister packed but should be brought in their original packaging, clearly labeled with your camper’s first and last name, and not expired.
Some over-the-counter (OTC) medications can be purchased in a blister pack and do not need to be repackaged by a Pharmacist (see picture below for reference).
Please remember that Woodlands stocks the following in the clinic and do NOT need to be sent to camp for your camper’s use:
• Ibuprofen (Advil/Motrin)
• Acetaminophen (Tylenol)
• Cough suppressant (Robitussin DM)
• Diphenhydramine (Benadryl)
• Antacid (Tums)
• Cetirizine (Zyrtec)
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Simply put - No. Medications must be packaged by a licensed pharmacist. Pharmacists ensure that your camper’s medication is labeled correctly so that our health team can administer the right dose at the right time to the right camper!
*We cannot accept homemade pill planners, calendars, or baggies with medication in them as we are not allowed to dispense these under medical state guidelines/laws.
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Does your camper have an Epi-pen, rescue inhaler, lactaid, or other emergency medications? These fall under the PRN or “as needed” category.
You can either turn them in to the health team at check-in in their original packaging with your camper’s name written on them OR your camper can carry their emergency medications with them throughout the week of camp - still make sure to let the health team know so we can keep track of who has emergency medications in our database!
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Scroll down on this page to find in-depth instructions, tips, & tricks on how to get your camper’s medication blister packed for camp!
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>What if my child starts a new medication right before camp starts? Call your pharmacist as soon as you receive your prescription to see if they can accommodate the blister packs. If not, please bring the medication in its original bottle/packaging. If you run into issues, please email the camp nurse at julie@woodlandscamp.org for next steps.
>What about birth control or ADHD medication that is already in a pill pack? These medications can be turned in to the health team in their original packaging. Some medications come packaged in a blister pack already — you do not need to re-blister pack these medications.
>Can I bring my camper’s ADHD medication in a bottle? No. If your camper doesn’t break from their ADHD medication during the summer, please have your camper’s ADHD medication blister packed. You can bring your camper’s ADHD medication in its original bottle to a pharmacy of your choice, or to the drive-through at Cleveland Drug, and they will be happy to blister pack it for you.
>What if my child takes scheduled/daily over-the-counter medications, supplements, or homeopathic medications not provided by my pharmacy? If your camper needs these while they are at camp, please discuss options with your pharmacist/pediatrician as these must be included in the blister packs. Legally, we cannot administer medications that have not been prescribed by a doctor, are not FDA approved, and/or have not been packaged by a pharmacist.
Legally, we cannot administer CBD oil or any CBD derivative. If your camper can go without it for their time at camp, leave these medications at home.
>My pharmacist said he/she can give me an empty blister pack and I can make my own. Is that OK? No. In order to be in compliance with our health and safety protocols and Georgia laws, all administered medication must be packaged by a licensed pharmacist.
>Do “blister packs” have another name? Yes. Bubble Pack, Pill Card, Blister Card, or Medication Bingo Card. These different terms refer to the same thing.
>What if my camper takes a different dosage of medication than the prescription or dosage on the bottle/blister pack? At camp, our health team can only legally administer what is prescribed to your camper from the doctor’s prescription. Checking the correct dosage before administering any medication is a standard safety practice.
>How is medical care handled during Freestyle? Freestyle campers should leave medications at home. Woodlands’ staff does not distribute any medications to Freestyle campers. We encourage each Freestyle Synergy site to provide their own nurse or medical staff for the week to oversee any specific medical needs of the campers. Woodlands does not provide medical staff or medical care at Freestyle Synergy sites. In the event of an emergency, emergency services will be notified immediately.
If you have any further questions, please contact our camp nurse, Julie, by email or phone:
office: 706-865-0853
How to blister pack medications for camp:
Most local, privately owned pharmacies will be able to blister pack your camper’s medications. If you cannot find one that does, we have partnered with several pharmacies in our area that will be happy to serve you. Instructions for blister packing medications, as well as pharmacy options are listed below:
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1. Contact your camper’s doctor/pediatrician and ask that they call in one week’s supply of your campers’ prescribed pill/chewable medications to your local pharmacy. Many local independent pharmacies offer this service. If you cannot find a pharmacy that offers this service, please proceed to option 2.
2. If your camper uses OTC (over-the-counter) medications or supplements daily that your pharmacy does not have in stock, you will need to take these medications to the pharmacy for inclusion in the blister pack for your camper.
3. Please allow at least one week to have this completed as many pharmacies have a 2-3 day turnaround time for this service.
4. The health team will collect your camper’s medications from you at the health table at check-in.
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Woodlands Camp has partnered with Woody’s Pharmacy in Dahlonega, GA to provide this blister-packing service for your convenience. If you can’t get a blister pack at your local pharmacy, we’ve got you covered! Follow the steps below AT LEAST 2-3 WEEKS PRIOR TO YOUR CAMPER’S SESSION:
1. Call Woody’s Pharmacy (706-867-DRUG) and set up an account for your camper. They will get all pertinent information over the phone, as well as insurance and billing information.
2. Any scheduled/daily supplemental or OTC medication will be supplied at a low cost according to their inventory. Please specify these medications when you call to set up your account.
3. Call your camper’s doctor and ask that they call in one week’s supply of all prescribed pill/chewable medications to:
Woody’s Pharmacy
706-867-3784
406 East Main Street
Dahlonega, GA4. That’s all! Medications will be picked up by Woodlands’ staff prior to your camper’s arrival at camp. All other PRN, liquids, creams, etc. should be dropped off to the health team at check-in in their original packaging.
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If you have exhausted the first two options for blister packs, Cleveland Drug in Cleveland, GA can make a blister pack for your camper’s medication(s). Just swing by the drive-thru on your way to camp, and they will make a blister pack for your camper. Make sure to bring your camper’s medications in their original packaging to the pharmacy. If possible, please bring a medication sticker label from your camper’s pediatrician for Cleveland Drug to label the blister pack.
*Note: This is a last-minute option that should only be used if your camper gets a last minute spot at camp or if other options are exhausted. Cleveland Drug has been helpful to accommodate last minute camper registrations for us, but we want to be careful not to overwhelm their staff on the first day of the camp week. Also note that Cleveland Drug is typically closed on the Monday of Memorial Day each year, and July 4th if it lands on a Monday.
184 W Kytle St. Cleveland, GA 30528
clevelanddrugco@gmail.com
Phone: (706) 219-2626
Open Mondays 9am-7pm, Holiday hours may differ
Blister Pack Examples for Over-the-Counter Medications
For any health, safety, or medical questions, please contact our nurse, Julie, at julie@woodlandscamp.org.