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Original poster

What happens if you are taken ill when out with a child?

31 replies

PotatoCity · 20/05/2019 13:19

I was out in town this morning with my DS(4) and I came over feeling really hot, dizzy and faint (I’m 6 months pregnant).

I managed to get to the cafe and have a cold sugary drink which helped me feel better enough to get home, but now I can’t help wondering: what happens to your child if you are taken ill whilst out and about whilst in sole charge of said child? If I had actually collapsed and an ambulance was called, would they just bring DS with me? And look after him at the hospital until someone else could come and get him? Or would some sort of child services person be called to take him temporarily?!
I really have no idea! Has this happened to anyone?

OP posts:
PatricksRum · 20/05/2019 13:26

Following

Haworthia · 20/05/2019 13:27

I remember a pregnant woman with a toddler fainted at the counter when I served her at my supermarket Saturday job. An ambulance was called and they took her and the child (and buggy, etc)

outsho · 20/05/2019 13:29

They take your child with you and contact your next of kin to collect them. I’m imagining that’s what would happen anyway.

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SimonJT · 20/05/2019 13:33

They take the child with you, I had a ruptured appendix and was blue lighted to hospital as I have type 1 diabetes and my sugars wouldn’t come up and I wasn’t conscious.

He was looked after in a playroom on the childrens ward until I was conscious and able to give the numbers of people who could look after him. If there was no one he would have been placed in emergency foster care until I was home (there isn’t a second parent).

Hoppinggreen · 20/05/2019 13:34

I had a car crash while 5 months pg
The ambulance staff put 3 year old dd in the ambulance with me ( while also telling the police officer who was telling me I couldn’t just leave the car there to bugger off). They looked after us both on the way there and then handed us over to a fab nurse who took us into a side room and brought books and toys for dd and waited with me until my Mum arrived
I was conscious and able to communicate though so not sure what would happen if I hadn’t been or dd had been hysterical

Original poster
PotatoCity · 20/05/2019 13:37

Ok that is definitely reassuring!! I might stick a card in my wallet listing my “in case of emergency” contact numbers, as listing DS’s allergies (which are very severe) just in case! Thanks Smile

OP posts:
SpongeBobJudgeyPants · 20/05/2019 13:41

If you were incapable of communicating, they could get no's from your phone. Have you got an ICE contact in your phone? (In Case Emergency) which is apparently the first one they look for?

SpongeBobJudgeyPants · 20/05/2019 13:42

Also, could you get one of those medical alert bracelets for DS?

negomi90 · 20/05/2019 13:43

Initially kid goes to hospital with you (if you are scary sick it might not be same ambulance - but police or paramedics would bring the child to hospital). Then every effort is made to find family/next of kin/friend to take the child - they'd look in your phone/talk to you etc.
If they can't find anyone at all then they may need to contact social services for an emergency placement. But until they've really really looked for other people the child will be in hospital being looked after by staff.

The thing they would not do would be leave the child with strangers (ie the people who you got sick in front of) or at home alone (if you got sick at home). Child would be looked after and kept safe.

UpToonGirl · 20/05/2019 13:46

Yes, to the list of allergies if your child isn't old enough to explain. I put a note in DS1's bag along with contact numbers until he was about 4.

I always worry if I'm walking with DS3 (almost 2), I use a backpack with a strap but I do wonder if I keeled over if he would just scarper...

LuluBellaBlue · 20/05/2019 13:47

My son and I were both involved in a serious road accident and they made sure we were both taken in the same ambulance and kept together until his dad arrived.

FoxSquadKitten · 20/05/2019 13:52

Also, could you get one of those medical alert bracelets for DS?

I'd definitely do this, with a list of his allergies 👍

Processedpea · 20/05/2019 13:52

You can probably buy a little bracelet that contains your info like they do on the beach

Justanothernamechange2 · 20/05/2019 14:12

Where I live (midlands) they take the child with you and try to get a family member to collect them asap - if a family member isnt available or if youre not well enough to communicate to concent to collection, a playworker at the hospital usually takes care of them until the situation can be ressolved. Ive done a lot of work with the emergency services, but i appreciate it can vary by location

Original poster
PotatoCity · 20/05/2019 14:48

I think DS would be able to tell someone about his allergies reliably, but just in case I have added an ICE number to my phone and included his allergy details in the notes! Great ideas, thank you.

OP posts:
namechangedforthis1980 · 20/05/2019 14:49

I often used to think this when my children were little. Did anyone see Ambulance last week? They had a lady who'd had a seizure and she had a disabled daughter (adult) who'd scarpered when her mum collapsed. The paramedics found the daughter, rang for someone to come and collect her ( as she didn't want to go in the ambulance) and waited for that person to arrive.

Mrsjayy · 20/05/2019 14:53

You really need to keep an Sos on your phone peoples phones are so locked up these days that it is just common sense to have an emergency contact. I was a playworker after i left school on a childrens ward as part of my college placement occasionally we went to A&E or maternity if a mum was taken to hospital untill somebody came to collect them.

Mrsjayy · 20/05/2019 14:55

I meant the general you not just you Op Smile

Nat6999 · 20/05/2019 15:06

I was rushed in hospital late at night, a paramedic response car came first & the ambulance came after. The paramedic responder dropped DS who was 10 off at his Nan's for me, DS thought it was great getting a ride in a paramedic vehicle.

TheStakeIsNotThePower · 20/05/2019 15:10

My mum had to be taken by ambulance when she had my kids with her and both me and dh were separately a couple of hours away. The lovely staff of the national trust place they were at looked after the children until we could sort something.

olderthanyouthink · 20/05/2019 15:31

Definitely get an alert bracelet for your DC. My autistic brother has one and he is prone to bolting and it has both parents phone numbers on it.

Would be good incase she got lost and someone tried to give her something to eat to calm her down - I found a child a few weeks ago and it crossed my mind that I didn't know if he had any medical issues and he was so upset and young he was almost incoherent.

stucknoue · 20/05/2019 15:38

It always worried me, I always carried next of kin information in my changing bag until dd's were able to seek help (around 5). I taught them how to use a phone to get help too - thankfully never was needed

Crunchymum · 20/05/2019 15:40

@TheStakeIsNotThePower

They left your kids at a NT place and took your mother in an ambulance?

Someone up thread said this is something that wouldn't happen?

YouJustDoYou · 20/05/2019 15:45

I keep an emergency numbers list in my purse just in case as often it's just me and the kids for days at a time, nearest family member is an hour and a half.away but drinks early so....Don't know. Think I'd be a bit screwed :(

JellySlice · 20/05/2019 15:47

I have my ICE contact number on my phone's lockscreen.

If it is just in your Contacts, how can Emergency Service access it if your phone is locked and you are unconscious?