To be very cross that school's incompetence may have made DS ill?

[user1498726699]

DS's year had a mini sports day on Tuesday. Parents were invited to spectate in the afternoon so DH and I went along. I noticed that drinks were not brought outside for DC (which has happened before so I had brought one with me) so tried to get DS to drink the bottle of water I brought but he was worried he would get told off so only took a few sips. This was a 2 hour event with no breaks. It wasn't hot but very overcast and sweaty. DS's hair was soaking. I went to the shop and left DH to wait for DS to come out afterwards.

On the way home with DH, DS said that noise/talking was annoying him as his brain hurt. DH put it down to lots of jumping around, gave him a drink/snack and told DS to lay down for a rest. He took himself off to bed and conked out very uncharacteristically! I woke him later as I was worried and he was very upset that his 'brain was hurting' and his body wouldn't work. He was clammy, and I realised that he was probably dehydrated. He then told us that he had not had a chance to drink his breaktime drink as some of the DC were chosen to practice for the afternoon event so he had spent most of the morning running around too. I asked if they were offered water and he said no. The only drink they were offered was after the afternoon event just before hometime when they were told to have a drink after they got changed. So DS did almost 4 hours of quite vigorous exercise with only his breakfast juice at home, a small cup of water at lunchtime, and a few gulps of water from the bottle I took with me.

DCs are only 6/7. Surely it is irresponsible of the school to not make sure small DC are hydrated during sports events in June?

I had to spend Tuesday night trying to get Dioralyte down DS (big battle as he hates it) and he had a high temp for most of yesterday with headache and lethargy so was off school. He is recovered today and has gone to school with a note that consideration should be given to this at future sports events.

AIBU to think this could have been preventable?

I think it is remiss of the school not to have allowed the children to being out water bottles or to schedule in a water break with jugs and cups provided by the school.
We had a similar sports day where children were in teams going from one activity to the next but two 'activities' were water breaks in the shade. We also had a water and fruit stop.

However, why did you not give him more water when you got him home? Why fanny about getting him to drink something he doesn't like?

WE DID NOT KNOW HE WAS DEHYDRATED THEN

So he was hot and sweaty on a hot humid day where he had been out in the sun all day. You were concerned that he hadn't had a drink. Of course he was dehydrated! That should be fucking obvious.

As for not bothering in sun screen or hats unless you are on the beach. What the actual fuck. You know the sun burns no matter where you are right?

I don't think the 70s and 80s is any example to hold up. Sunburn, headaches, dizziness absolutely the norm after things like sports day - maybe dehydration, I wouldn't have known how to recognise it as a child. Not healthy at all. I thought people knew better these days.

Not sure why PPs are so hostile to OP. Taking water bottles out when they do sports day is basic, standard and absolutely expected. Those carousel type sports days a lot of exercise gets done, of course they need a drink.

The kids are drilled on exactly where to be when for sports day. It simply would not occur to my DS (8) to interrupt what he's been told to do to go off for a drink, or even to interrupt the teacher to tell them he's thirsty. I'd lay heavy odds the kids were not told it was fine to wander off into school for a drink. Schools are not generally keen on unsupervised children wandering around without anyone knowing where they are.

DD (5) came out of sports day practice hot, red in the face and miserable because she'd forgotten to put her water bottle in the tray - at least that's partly her fault. One of her classmates was hospitalised with dehydration. They don't ask because they have been taught to do what they're told and wait for break time/home time for a drink. They don't realise that sports day should be an exception (apparently lots of adults on here don't either), or that it's okay to break the rules if you're desperate. It's the quiet, "good" kids who just carry on doing what they were told to do and then suffer for it.

In short, OP, YANBU.

But cat by the OPs admission her DS came over to her for a drink so he could have very easily drunk more if he had wanted to!

He wasn't stopped from accessing drinks.

I would be furious OP. To all those comparing it to their school days, the weather even in 90's never got to the temps we have seen recently. 24 max maybe. I'm not saying it was that hot on Tuesday I don't know where you were.

Rubbish!

I was 6 (same age as OP's DS) in the summer of 1976. It was hotter then for very much longer than it was last week, and there was a drought with water rationing and stand pipes to boot.

Apparently August 1991 very hot too 37.1 degrees in Cheltenham

School should've given water

But you and DH should've actually PARENTED and given water when he got home not to mention sunscreen. Skin cancer is far worse than being a bit dehydrated

sirzy, not all the children had parents to supply water. And as OP has said, her DS didn't drink more because he thought he wasn't supposed to be having a drink with his parent, having been told to be doing something else on sports day. The children are under the teacher's authority not the parent's at a school event and they know it. And most parents don't want to undermine that either, particularly not to insist their child gets something their classmates don't have. Though I expect OP would still have insisted if she'd been aware of what had happened in the rest of the day.

I'm guilty of the same if it's a crime - saw DS didn't have his hat on at sports day, I was furious with him, but he wasn't in my care and I didn't want to kick up a fuss and come across all PFB when most of the kids didn't have hats either.

Yes I've heard of vitamin d deficiency - easily resolved with a supplement. I've also heard of (and treated) many people with melanoma. I know which I'd sooner have. You need to protect your child's skin it's your duty as a responsible parent. Your priorities are screwed up. Worrying about possible dehydration and vitamin d deficiency (but not enough to give your child a supplement or drink of water) but ignoring the risk of skin cancer is just ludicrous.

You sat and watched your son run around for two hours without a drink while you held a bottle of water, and you want to blame the school?

The lack of responsibility is strong with this one.

Wow. You, op, are an idiot.

To become tan you first have to burn. That is all.

Why did you bother asking?

Well, water should really be available.

Where I am it's frequently in the 40s & we have water dispensers lugged out to the field for Sports' Day type events. It's also de rigeur that all students have a baseball cap & a water bottle.

Having said that, I think a simple email to school saying ds was hot, sweaty & tired after the event, so could they review procedures re water bottles in this hot weather, would be sufficient.

For context most of our students have been fasting, including no water, for Ramadan for the past month. This includes some of the junior school kids although school has discouraged their fasting.

I've been fasting alongside my (senior school) students - dry mouth all day when teaching is challenging. It's uncomfortable but no one has been ill. Water is still freely available for those who need or want it.

So I do think we fetishise water drinking a bit these days, & OP's kid was probably thirsty & tired rather than actually made ill.

Polite email to school should sort it, I'd think. I'm sure they aren't deliberately sending children home wrung out.

To be fair to the child, it is very difficult at the age or any school age for kids to ask their teacher. They are often told no because the teachers don't want to deal with a 'stampede' of children wanting the same. I have witnessed at my children's school. I have told my children not to worry about getting in trouble but to ask for water if needed. Even my 10 year old is frightened because he has been told off before.

You like him to get a tan???

Christ on a bike ...

My DS's sports day they bought out the kid's water bottles and reminded them to drink after every event. They also allowed parents "access" to the children so we could encourage our own children to drink. It was really hot but his school are good like that.

Can't remember ever having a drink other than bottle of milk when at primary school and nothing at all at secondary. Walked two miles each way, played at all breaks, lunch was an hour and a quarter then, food over in 30 mins and played the rest. Never feel over with dehydration, unknown concept, Rather suspect your son had a bug causing the feeling he experienced.

I think there were water fountains. OP I am sure once you talk to the school they will address it. The children do take their own water bottle in. Perhaps they just need to take it with them on sporting events.

Circumstances and symptoms sound very similar to DD's classmate. Except they called an ambulance when the child was unresponsive, and it was the ambulance staff who spent hours trying to get the child rehydrated. School having sent child home with "a bug" - it wasn't. So I'd hesitate to diagnose a bug over the internet.

I was 100% totally on your side, until.....the tan bit.

Are you on glue?

Sorry, someone had to🤗 💁🏼🤗

The children should have had access to water. But I wonder if he was just poorly? There is called hideous virus going through dD's school at the moment and symptoms are exhaustion, sleeping most of the time, headache, chills, fever. It wipes the kids out for a couple of days.

OP YANBU at all! I am a primary school teacher and wouldn't dream of denying my class water throughout the day. I don't believe you are deserving of the negative comments as you are only looking out for your son. I made a request during hot weather, especially sports day, that every child have their own water bottle, and for those parents who forgot I provided some for their children out of my own pocket. I would be cross at the school, your son is scared to ask for water and at 7 he is still young and clearly worried.

I would leave it some time to calm down and gather your thoughts before you speak to them.

OP YANBU at all! I am a primary school teacher and wouldn't dream of denying my class water throughout the day.

The boy wasn't denied water. His feckless parents let him have "a few sips" only and think, somehow, that was the school's fault.

Yes I've heard of vitamin d deficiency - easily resolved with a supplement.

I haven't read the whole thread, but I've yet to meet single person who's vitamin D deficiency has been resolved by a supplement. I've been Vit D deficient for 10 years, supplements don't make the slightest difference.