Really angry, say something or over reacting?

[aawcmon]

My DD has just started high school and is loving it so far. She has asthma which is well managed, but she always carries her blue inhaler just in case of emergencies. Today, she had a really bad attack for the 1st time in years. I got a phone call from school office saying can you come and collect your daughter, she's feeling a bit breathless. I arrive at school within 20 mins and was shocked to see the state she was in. She was struggling for breath and was crying. She didn't have any adults sitting with her, only her friend from class. Reception staff couldn't have been less interested if they'd tried, I received no background info to what could have triggered the attack. DD had taken her blue inhaler multiple times, but it did not help.... DD was in such a state, I phoned doctor's office who advised me to take her to A&E straight away. We ended up being in hospital most of the day on nebulisers, steroids, x-rays, and she will need on going checks this week as her lung capacity is still not ideal. I am so angry with the school, it was obvious just by looking at her that she was in distress and to leave her by herself, she was panicking and exacerbating the issue. Should I bring this up with school or leave it (DD doesn't want me to do anything as she's scared teachers won't like her as much if I complain)

Those links are so terrible. My DS1 (now an adult) had asthma (thankfully seems to have grown out of it) and was under strict instructions from me to phone me if he was ever struggling at school, rather than wait for a teacher, with possibly no experience of asthma, to make that decision.

I wish you all the best with getting the school to improve their procedures, but it is worth reminding your daughter that if she is struggling and not being helped, rules go out the window and she should ring you (or even an ambulance).

The school have been massively negligent. The receptionist in particular.
I would definitely bring it up but demand to go straight to the headteacher. Ask for a meeting. Print out a couple of the articles linked by PP. Ask the question 'how would you feel if my child had been the next news article?'.
Former teacher here. We were always told to take asthma so seriously and to call for the (fully qualified, not 'just' a first aider) nurse in the event of any attack I think.
Your poor child, and also the child who was with them - how scary to be left in charge of someone having an attack at that age, in the company of a supposedly competent adult.

And on a separate asthma note - does your dd still use a spacer with her inhaler?

DH has had asthma for 50+ years - and has an annual asthma review at the doctors, for as many years as I can remember. Yet this year, for the first time, they said that he needs to use the brown inhaler on a regular basis as a preventative measure and only use his blue inhaler when he is having an acute attack. Previously he'd been told to use his blue inhaler regularly as a preventative measure, brown if he knew it was getting cold or to hay fever season and never even mentioned a spacer.

DH had only come across spacers as ds was given one - and told it was just for young children. But they are apparently now realising that everyone should be using them to get the medicine in more effectively. DH was really shocked by the way his treatment has effectively changed quite significantly - on something that has been the same for decades.

So, If your dd doesn't have a spacer, might be worth looking into - ignore if she is using one though!

Just cross posted about spacers with alibobsy!

Hell yes say something, go right to the top!
how dare they leave any child in distress let alone one having a asthma attack,
they need to be told in no uncertain terms that asthma can be life threatening and isnt in her head and isnt a joke or fun illness, even though she is recovering she will have such bad chest pain from her lungs being over inflated for so long! ( and more at risk fro another attack untill her lungs calm down again)
i dont know why a school would act so casual about a student not being able to breathe maybe the head can explain their reasoning for that??
also ask your doctors about symbicort turbohaler ( not sure its called that over where you are)
it is really amazing, i used to suck on my Ventolin daily ( all day even) and the docs gave me simbicort and i dont use my vent at all, ive told a lot of friends about it and they have switched too, it does both preventing and relieving! ( also in a pinch a really HOT STRONG coffee can also help if you are waiting for a ambo and the vent isnt helping it, both the heat and the caffeine, helps to relax the bronchial tubes ( my sons doctor confirmed this, BUT dont use as a treatment just while waiting for help to come it helps but also distracts you and your child from panic by giving you something to focus on and it does help))

Thanks to everyone for their responses. I'll be contacting the school first thing in the morning to obtain appointment with head. I'm currently lying here next to DD, checking her breathing and pulse whilst she's sleeping, she seems ok so far. She only takes 100 dose of preventer (clenil modulite) morning and afternoon, blue inhaler is as required. She has a spacer which she uses diligently, she's very good at taking illness seriously. She was in PE apparently when attack came on, but not outside in the cold. Exercise doesn't usually trigger an attack, as she's a black belt in martial arts and has never had an attack whilst training, but I suppose you can never tell what will cause an attack, which is why she's always prepared with her salbutamol. Looking at these links, it's just not taken seriously, is it?

You need to complain, you got there in 20 minutes but a lot of parents couldn't make it in that time, especially if they didn't make it clear it was serious on the phone, I've had children wait an hour for parents to pick them up which in this case could have been a disaster.

I am gobsmacked by the school. I used to work with voluntary youth organisations and asthma protocol was strict. Sadly, I remember one fatality when CPR failed even though the staff continued until the paramedics arrived and took over.

I myself have adult onset atypical asthma - I normally just keep coughing until I can't get my breath, though I had one attack on a very cold night outside when I ended up in a trance like state through lack of oxygen to the brain without obvious symptoms of lungs shutting down in the cold. It's not always the classic attack that people need to be aware of.

I would really be kicking up a stink as there are several failures here, any of which could have been fatal. Best of luck, Op, and I hope your daughter is feeling better.

You should definitely see the head. Keep calm but put your point across. If she was in PE then who saw to her at first? Did the teacher stop the lesson and administer First Aid or get a First Aider, if not why not? If she was seen by a First Aider why was she left in the care of another child? I would want to know if a First Aider saw her, when was their last certificate gained? If after administering her inhaler why was she left? Why when it was obvious that she was struggling that further First Aid wasn't considered either taking her to a GP, A&E or an ambulance called? This is what should have happened. I used to be a First Aider in school. I would write down all your questions before you go and take a pen to write answers. This should not be treated lightly. You might find the Asthma nurse would come and give some training to staff. If not St. John's Ambulance will often train others.
Tell your daughter it is for her own and other children's safety,

I work in a Primary School.

Whenever I see a story like this, I'm reminded of poor Sam Linton. The teacher in that scenario should have faced criminal charges, because of her extreme negligence. I'm only sorry that she didn't, and she never seemed to show much remorse either. Awful, callous response.

Yes go straight to the Head - glad you've got an appt to see them - this is a school-wide issue, as the reception staff also seem to have no clue how to behave in this scenario.

I'm so glad your DD is ok but they need to be made aware that she got lucky this time and if they do that to her again, things might not turn out so well. I'm appalled that this still needs to be hammered through school staff's heads - how do they not realise that asthma can kill? How can the be so blasé about it?

Outraged for you x

I am horrified.

The school is clearly completely ignorant about this disease, and they need to develop a well-informed protocol immediately. The teachers and staff should be aware of what an attack looks like, and should be able to see if the blue inhaler has been used a few times to no effect that an ambulance is needed.

Could you have your GP source some material for you to send to the school governors so that a protocol could be developed? Could he or she also write a strongly worded letter to back you up when you send your own strongly worded letter to them?

Your DD should be allowed to keep her phone on her at all times, even if there is a no phones rule in place. I agree with Tinkly - the rules go out the window, and even a friend could use DD's phone to call you if the asthma leads to confusion or such intense focus on breathing that DD can't think. But this should not be the job of DD or her friends. The staff dropped the ball in spectacular fashion here.

I lost a sister to this disease. All asthma deaths are preventable, but there is a fine line between the place where medical intervention will work and beyond which it won't. There is no way a student should be allowed to approach this line in a school, where there are supposed to be protocols in place.

I would send a letter to the HT ahead of your visit to the head of year, and CC the head of year. Pay the extra to request a signature on receipt from the HT, just to put the wind up her. CC the board of governors too, if there is one, and I would copy OFSTED too.

I would spell out A - what happened, and B - what should have happened. It would be handy to have a letter from the GP or hospital to back you up.

Best wishes to your DD. Hope she recovers and won't be too badly affected by this (a bad attack can leave you feeling stressed and worried about the next attack), and I hope her friend is ok too.

I'd be MURDEROUS OP! The head will probably plan all kinds of shite to say to you in that meeting....try to brush it under the carpet. So be prepared.

You want an action plan in place for any child with asthma who cannot get it under control and shoving them at reception isn't it!

Thanks. Still sitting up with DD, she's doing well thankfully. The more I think about what my daughter told me, there was nobody helping her, she administered her blue inhaler by herself, no-one took responsibility for her so no-one would be able to tell me how often she took it, etc. I'm going to ask for incident report, and also thanks to everyone for the questions I should be asking, my head is a bit all over the place so I'll write them down!

WTAF.

Not good at all.

Holding hands op, hope your DD is feeling better soon

DD sleeping peacefully just now, I unfortunately cannot get my brain to shut off, typical, but at least I can keep an eye on her. Really appreciate the hand holds and great advice. On a brighter note, I cannot praise the NHS staff enough, particularly the lovely nurse and doctor who spoke to DD in such a lovely manner, making her feel at ease and taking her mind off things. DD was seen within minutes of entering A&E and the care received was exemplary.

Really glad you are going to see head, this is a safeguarding issue and needs to be treated as such. For your dd and any other DC in the school with serious health issues. You really are not over reacting.

Having watched my beautiful little cousin's (she was 17) life support machine being switched off after an awful asthma attack, this absolutely angers me! How many children need to die before schools and the staff in them will take asthma seriously?!

I would make a huge fuss about this! Can you contact your daughter's asthma nurse and ask if she can come to school to talk to your dd's teachers?

I have asthma myself and do find that needing to take my blue inhaler (salbutamol) more frequently does cause my heartbeat to raise.
I would be keeping your dd off tomorrow and kicking up with the school. I would ask for the Head Teacher if your dd is in primary school, or at least Head of Year if she is in Secondary.

Might it be worth getting her a medical bracelet? It's printed or engraved with details of the condition and treatment. That way if she ended up somewhere with no-one trained they would at least know what was happening and what sort of help to seek. It might also give your daughter confidence to escalate the situation if she's not getting the necessary attention.

Gaudeamas, I hadn't actually ever thought of that, great idea, I'll look into it!

I too am shocked at their lack of care. Hope you get a result tomorrow OP.

Why didn't you go mad there and then? Once you'd decided where to take DD of course. Just a few very stern words as you're walking out? I would've been screaming at them and called an ambulance so the paramedics could stabilise her on the journey to hospital. Would've also made the school staff see how bad things were!

Protecting that is a very stupid question.

Who knows why?? Because she was more concerned about her DD probably! Just because YOU react like that doesn't mean it's the right way.

Yanbu. Tell them.