To keep DS off school tomorrow after classmate’s seizure?

I think it's the child with ill health who might need time off to recover, not the child who'd had some first aid training and called for help.

Probably best to just get back to normal. I think a day off would increase the anxiety.

Does he want to stay off?

YABU

He did really well, seizures can be horrible to witness but I would be sending him in tomorrow.

First of all your son did amazingly, I’m sure you’ve praised him for how he managed in that situation. Let him talk about it if he needs and see how he is, it’s normal to be shaken once the adrenaline dies down, as a nurse we have the same. Which is why we have debriefs so we can go over what happened and make sure the team is ok. Obviously a different scenario but speak to school and ask if someone can keep an eye tomorrow and just be there, he did an amazing thing and he should be proud of himself, hopefully the other lad is ok.

I don’t think you’re over reacting, just being a mum and looking out for your lad, teen boys are funny creatures mine go from not wanting to have much to do with me to lots of love and cuddles so often hard to know how to handle things, but hopefully he’ll let you in, have a cuddle and a chat. But id absolutely send him tomorrow

I think you know your child and if he could do with a day at home to chill then that's fine!

My dad had an unexpected seizure in front of me when I was about 12. It really scared me. I didn't know what it was and it was my dad so yes it was different but I think seeing a seizure can be quite distressing. Especially if felt responsible.

A lot of people on mumsnet would send their kid to school the day after they had a leg amputated so it's not the best place to ask.

That all being said, it might do him good to be around others that were there and sort of be part of the talk and processing if that makes sense.

He should be in school, reassured he did a good job.

Keeping him off blows this well out of proportion.

I think it’s a bit much to keep him off because a classmate had a seizure, the classmate who had the seizure may even be back in tomorrow, I’m a teacher in a special school where a lot of students have epilepsy and if a child has a seizure it’s not often they’d take the next day off due of it.

This, 💯

If he's a SJA volunteer, could he talk it through with one of the leaders/trainers (not.sure what they're called!)

I’d also like to point out, as someone who has had two seizures, there is nothing ‘more’ he could have done. Seizures aren’t like heart attacks or choking, they happen for as long as they happen and you have no memory of them. My second seizure I bit my tounge really badly because I wasn’t in any control. Just reassure him that he made sure he was safe and that was all he could do at that point. I think he should go in tomorrow, with lots of reassurance.

Edited to add: my husband has said that the lack of control you have in that situation is awful though, you want to help but there is nothing you can do.

Honestly, don't. He'd be better having his normal routine, chatting about the situation with mates and getting out of his own head. Having a whole day to just think about it will make him worse.

I agree, rumination is going to be much more likely if he stays off. I bet his friends will quietly pat him on the back.
My DS has epilepsy and he only stays off the day he has a seizure if it's stopped, not the next day.

He should be very proud of himself but no I don't agree he needs a day off.

I would think being with his mates carrying on as normal would be the best thing for him.

Good on him for helping but no I wouldn’t keep him off.

i would maybe email his form tutor or head of year and say he is a bit shaken by it and ask them to keep an eye on it. Being home will mean more time to overthink things!

Does your DS actually want a day off? Sounds more like that is your idea? Talk to him about it.

Better to send him in to keep him occupied and forget about it…maybe St John’s isn’t for him…

I witnessed a classmate having a seizure at primary school and it was awful and very upsetting. A day off probably isn't necessary but you know him best.

I wouldn’t keep him off - he’ll keep coming back to it to process it but I don’t think a day off is necessary. Best to carry on as normal and he’ll process it in his own time.

Ok so Google how to talk through this experience with him and do that. Also reassure and talk through what the next steps will be for this child (ambulance , what that's like, who he will see at hospital , what they will do, bloods, EEG CT/MRI follow up)He's not going to be with st Johns ambulance long if he can't cope with that! By keeping him off you are making it all about him. It's not.

He'll probably be fine tomorrow, and be regaling everyone with the story of how he looked after the poor lad that had the seizure. Everyone will think he's a hero for knowing what to do. Send him in, unless he specifically says he can't face it, without you putting the idea in his head.

I think send him in but mention to school he's a bit shaken - perhaps they can give an update on how the other child is now. Might also be useful for him to talk it over with his St John's ambulance teacher for some reassurance that he did enough and he did it right.

Well done to him - you should be very proud.

He did brilliantly well, but there’s absolutely no need to keep him at home. He’ll be better with school to distract him, rather than going over and over it in his head, which is what will likely happen if he’s at home alone stewing over it.

He sounds like he did fantastically well in a stressful situation. He doesn’t need a day off though!