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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

to think shops and cafes should give free sugery drinks to diabetic people in emergency situations?

232 replies

ikeaismylocal · 19/07/2014 12:47

I saw a mum with 3 children having what looked like the beginnings of a fit at a shopping centrer today, everyone else was walking past ignoring her ( whole other thread) I stopped and tried to talk to her but she was very confused and kept trying to tell me her mobile number. I ran into a shop and asked them to call an ambulance ( I had no phone or money, dp had all my things in ds's pushchair and I was meeting him at the car, I'd stopped to go to the toilet)

Her children were about 6 months, 2 and 5, the poor 5 year old was terrified and wouldn't say anything but I chatted to her and told her everything would be ok and after a while she told me her mum was diabetic.

I ran to the nearest cafe and explained there was a diabetic woman who needed a sugary drink and could I have a coke and come back and pay after as I had no money, the lady gave me a coke and I ran back, the diabetic mum drank the coke but was still shaking and sluring her words, I ran back to the cafe and explained and asked for another coke, the lady said no she wouldn't give me anything as I hadn't paid, I'm 7 months pregnant so running isn't something I look at ease doing, I also don't think I look like a kid trying to get some free coke.

I went to a shop further away and they gave me 2 cans of coke. The diabetic lady recovered quite quickly once she had drunk the coke.

Aibu to think that shops and cafes should give free sugery drinks if they are needed?

OP posts:
SevenZarkSeven · 19/07/2014 21:56

Because it was a medical incident that happened in the shopping centre which required intervention which cost a small amount of money to one of the retailers.

Many retailers I would think would take it on the chin, but in a shopping centre there is an overall company looking after everything hence the security guards in the first place, part of whose job is to look after situations such as this.

Clobbered · 19/07/2014 21:59

Honey or jam rubbed on the gums or inside of the cheeks is another good first-aid measure for hypos. If someone is going into hyperglycaemic (high sugar) diabetic coma, the little bit of extra sugar won't make a serious difference to them, but it can stop a hypo and save a life.

Yellowfins · 19/07/2014 21:59

Maybe the security guards should have called first aiders?

SevenZarkSeven · 19/07/2014 22:03

Yellowfins OP handled the situation well.

Security guards weren't there initially. She acted quickly and averted what could have turned into a serious medical emergency.

"Some security guards came, the shopping center is huge so it took some time, they said they would sort out the cost of the coke with the cafe. I would have paid otherwise."

If she had dicked around waiting for someone else to come and deal with it, consequences could have been worse. I think she did the right thing and I'm glad there are people like her who are willing to step in and not walk away as so many others did, or insist on waiting for someone "in charge". Op knew what to do and she did it. Security guards aren't necessarily going to be au fait with diabetic symptoms, despite training.

Original poster
ikeaismylocal · 19/07/2014 22:03

A small bottle of coke costing more than a pound is just ridiculous, I'm talking about the cost price the money the shop would have actually lost by giving a can of coke to me.

I assumed that the security guards would know what to do as they work there everyday, I doubt they would knowingly allow me to effectively steal a can of coke from the cafe, I made sure they knew I was intending to pay for it. I'd helped in a situation which had I not helped in could have been lots worse, the woman could have lost consciousness or fitted and the security guards would have a even more serious medical emergency on their hands along with 3 very young terrified children that would need looking after. Sorting out an outstanding payment for a drink is not a massive thing.

I will pop into the cafe tomorrow and make sure that the cola was paid for and I'll ofcourse pay for it if there is still money outstanding.

OP posts:
SevenZarkSeven · 19/07/2014 22:05

I am really disliking the implications on this thread that the OP did anything wrong.

OP you didn't do anything wrong, you did a great job.

Yellowfins · 19/07/2014 22:07

A small bottle of coke costing more than a pound is just ridiculous, I'm talking about the cost price the money the shop would have actually lost by giving a can of coke to me

It may not be as simple as that - you might think it is 20 or 30p but could be more than that. Also staff may not have the authority to give out freebies

Security guards would be unlikely to be refused a bottle of coke for this situation like you were

TheWomanTheyCallJayne · 19/07/2014 22:10

Op you did brilliantly.
I can't believe the attitude of some.
I assume they're all perfect and have never dropped something they didn't mean to or forgotten something they meant to take.
She may have even had something in her but been unable to remember in her state.
Again well done op and I'm sure the security guards sorted out the payment otherwise they wouldn't have said it.

Original poster
ikeaismylocal · 19/07/2014 22:13

The security guards didn't even get there until after I'd run to the second place and cone back with more cola, if I'd sat and waited for them and then we'd all sat waiting for a first aider the situation could have escalated.

I'm not first aid trained but I lived with a diabetic person for 7 years, I often helped when my ex had hypos, I helped him whilst he was fitting, I think there is a possibility that I had more experience of hypoglycemia than the first aider.

OP posts:
SevenZarkSeven · 19/07/2014 22:15

Yellowfins the OP did nothing wrong.

If it was a plastic bag for a lung puncture or a stack of napkins to compress a wound would you be saying that.

Yellowfins · 19/07/2014 22:16

Yes but the security guards would not have to run from shop to shop getting refused cola

Why don't you speak to the shopping centre and campaign for diabetics to get free sugary drinks in case of emergencies?

Original poster
ikeaismylocal · 19/07/2014 22:16

What I imagine happened was that the security guards probably went to the cafe, explained and verified the situation, spoke to a manager and the situation was probably dropped. Possibly the cafe wanted payment and in that case I'd assume the security guards would have some sort of petty cash they could use for these sorts of situations.

I will make sure the bill is settled.

OP posts:
Yellowfins · 19/07/2014 22:17

Is there an echo in here? Hmm

Yellowfins · 19/07/2014 22:18

Security guards don't have petty cash, has to be reclaimed via expenses

LOLeater · 19/07/2014 22:18

You did pretty well OP. good for you.

SevenZarkSeven · 19/07/2014 22:20

yellowfins you are being an arse.

If OP had waited for security guards to arrive, then taken the time to explain the situation, then waited for them to decide what to do - possibly nothing (insurance) and call someone else or an ambulance, or go and hunt down something sugary (again in that situation it could be seen as administering medication which they might not be allowed to do), then the woman could have become severely ill, like dying type ill. With her 3 kids standing around and a woman who had known exactly what to do all that time not acting because she thinks like you.

FGS.

Original poster
ikeaismylocal · 19/07/2014 22:20

But the security guards were not there. It's a massive shopping center. I assume the woman in the first shop ( the one I asked to call the emergency services) alerted them, I don't think there would be any way for me to alert security guards other than running up to them and I couldn't see any.

OP posts:
Yellowfins · 19/07/2014 22:22

Echo is back Hmm

SevenZarkSeven · 19/07/2014 22:24

What are you giving eyebrows about?

I really don't understand what your problem is.

OK so you would have handled the situation differently. Big wows.

OP did a good thing today.

lotsofcheese · 19/07/2014 22:25

Yep, AIBU at it's worst Hmm

I can't understand why OP is having to justify her actions.

It would have been far worse to delay treating the hypo; the OP should be commended, running round shops at 7 months pregnant & acting as a first-aider. Not vilified for doing the responsible & correct thing, FFS.

Original poster
ikeaismylocal · 19/07/2014 22:27

Yellowfins maybe I sound callous but I'm not massively worried that a security guard possibly had to pay 2 pounds ( at the very most) for a can of coke. I'm glad that there is a mother sitting at home tonight unharmed with her children rather than possibly being in hospital, I'm glad that those children only saw their mum having the beginnings of a seizure rather than a full seizure, I'm glad those children were not left alone with strangers whilst their mum was taken away in an ambulance.

If the worst case scenario is that my actions have cost the security guard a pound or two then I'm not going to apologise for my actions.

OP posts:
Yellowfins · 19/07/2014 22:30

Nobody is saying you should apologise but if you serious about diabetics getting free sugary drinks then contact the shopping centre about getting a policy drawn up

beijaflor · 19/07/2014 22:32

If anyone is witnessing an emergency, and they can give or do something to help, they ought to do that (as the OP did). So, yes, a shop should give a can of Coke, or two or three. Bystanders should stop and ring an ambulance and reassure the DC. I would think all that is pretty obvious. You try to help out however you can when some person is experiencing a medical emergency.

SevenZarkSeven · 19/07/2014 22:32

there shouldn't need to be a policy for shopkeepers to give what is needed to help out when people rush in saying there is a medical emergency outside their door and can they have X.

pretty bloody depressing view of the world to think that is needed.

Yellowfins · 19/07/2014 22:34

Staff working in shops may not have the authority to give out free sugary drinks or the knowledge of medical emergencies so it cannot be assumed that it is obvious