5-Year-Old With Life-Threatening Allergy Denied Safe Summer Camp Placement in Azor

A 5-year-old girl with severe allergies to peanuts, sesame, and eggs was scheduled to attend a summer camp at the Azor community center starting August 2. Her mother registered her in June for the camp, which was to run until August 20 at a cost of 1,950 shekels. The mother informed the center of her daughter's life-threatening allergies at registration and noted the child had previously attended the center's after-school and summer programs without issue.

Days before the camp began, the mother was told she must either provide a personal aide for her daughter at her own expense or remove her from the camp. After further discussion, it was agreed that parents would be notified to prohibit bringing food into the camp. However, on the first day, the mother found the camp environment unsanitary, including ants in the refrigerator, and discovered that staff did not know the location of the emergency button. One aide even asked if the emergency medical number was 101, indicating a lack of preparedness.

The mother demonstrated the use of epinephrine injectors and explained emergency procedures, but three days into the camp, the center had not provided a solution to allow her daughter to return safely. Consequently, the child was left without a camp framework. The Azor community center responded that the child's participation was never conditional on hiring a private aide and that she was not asked to leave. They expressed regret that the mother chose to discontinue her daughter's attendance and emphasized their commitment to safe and respectful inclusion for all children.

The case highlights concerns about the readiness of summer camp staff to handle children with severe allergies and the challenges parents face securing safe care for vulnerable children in communal settings.