To find this mum's behaviour very strange

[Galaxy88]

Yesterday, myself, dh and 2dd were out walking in the woods when we heard a really loud cry, we ran over and a boy about the age of 8, had gone over his handle bars and landed face first on the concrete. He had made a good mess of his face and was naturally hysterical.

While DH attended to his wounds (he's first aid trained) I attempted to get some info from him as he was all alone in the woods. I asked for his name, which he gave. His address and if he had a mobile with him.

He didn't have a phone, didn't know the street name or number but knew he lived in the next village- which is a 15 minute bike ride away. Based on this, we had to call an ambulance. While waiting, we started to ask where his mum was, is she close by? He replied no, and that his mum was at work all day and had left him aged 8 and his older sister aged 9 alone in the house and he'd gone out.

Eventually, a woman walked by who recognised the boy (her dd attend the same school) and was able to call the mother's place of work and let her know.

While on the phone, the mother became highly irritated and started shouting when we said we'd called an ambulance. Saying we were wrong to do that and we should cancel asap as it was a huge over reaction. I explained it wasn't, he'd banged his head, was confused and didn't know where he lived or any contact info, let alone the mess to his head, nose and teeth.

(If the mother had been around, or if the child had a phone we probably wouldn't have called one, we couldn't leave him there screaming with blood pouring and a bump to the head)

While waiting, we cold compressed his head and applied pressure. A friend of the mother turned up first picked up the bike put it her car, grabbed the boy and made a comment about him not needing an ambulance. Moments later the mum shows up, but didn't get out of the car, the boy was placed in her car by the friend and they both drove off.

I'm sat here afterwards really confused, we weren't asking for gratitude, it wasn't necessary. But she didn't even come and ask what had happened, his injuries, what we'd done so far, based on his injuries I imagine she'd require a trip to a&e and would probably need all this info to pass over.

Am I being U to think this is just poor parenting? Not only to leave two young children, but to scold the people trying to help your ds.. dh thinks we should pass on her details to SS, as the woman from before mentioned where they lived in passing after she had gone, shall we just let this go?

If this injured person had been an adult I'm wondering if anyone would doubt the necessity of calling an ambulance? OP did the right thing and yes, the mum's behaviour was strange.

NSPCC pass the info on to the LA for you, BTW. Usual process is that the LA then contact the school to see if they have any concerns.

@Galaxy88 You're getting a hard time on here it FWIF I think you and your DH did the right thing.

If this injured person had been an adult I'm wondering if anyone would doubt the necessity of calling an ambulance?

Makes no odds whatever head injury needs proper medical intervention in a hospital, its that simple!.

Regardless of age.

Justaboy that is exactly the point I was trying to make.

Some of the responses on here are ridiculous.
A child falls off his bike, is alone, has a head injury, is bleeding and people doubt that an ambulance is necessary? We get loads of calls for similar incidents every day and they get an emergency ie blue light response. I would be highly unlikely not to take a child in that state to A&E for the wound to be cleaned properly and glued/stitched.
I would also want to assess c-spine and level of consciousness as he’d face planted the concrete. An ambulance was exactly the correct response.

Blobbyweeble; Presume your a emergency call handler but you can see here on this forum the number of times a contributiur does post asking for help with;

i'm hurt/don't feel well /some otherr maladayl what do you think i should do?

It does seem that the public at large are never that well clued up as to what they ought do!.

Not an emergency call handler, I’m a paramedic. I normally think that posters overreact but this one seemed to be the opposite based on the OP’s opening post.

I think you should contact SS. I had an experience when I was concerned about an adult with addiction issues and phoned an organisation to try and get her help. The man I spoke to kept talking about safeguarding issues for her child. I felt confused as I didn't want to add to her problems. As it happened,the nursery stepped in and the family got support. Social services are there to support families and safeguard children but they need us to support their work and this child should not be left unsupervised for long stretches of time.

I think it ridiculous that anyone would think you did not do the right thing by calling an ambulance.

MN the place that vilifies mothers for leaving a child under 11 for a minute yet it's ok that a 9, 8 yr old are left home alone whilst their mother goes to work and has took himself to the next village but OP is wrong to call an ambulance??
If the dog walker hadn't passed by the boy would be in hospital with the police trying to find his mother.
OP is NOT in the wrong, his negligent mother is.

Of course you did the right thing. Sometimes posters are way over the top re reporting, other times such as this they seem more concerned with the mother than a hurt child.

OP, you did 100% the right thing. And it would be 100% the right thing to report to SS. Very, very odd that the mother was unconcerned about her bleeding son but really bothered about an ambulance being called. I too would guess she's already known to SS or worried she'd be referred.
To those of you saying the mother might have had 'no other choice' but to leave an 8 year old and 9 year old home alone. WTAF?! Only on MN would that ever be OK.

Sorry OP but you did absolutely nothing wrong and I would definitely call SS to report. They shouldn't be alone at that age. A bike bump today, tomorrow a house fire.

OP
Personally I'd report it.
Two young children home alone and obviously able to get out and about. Wasn't he very lucky to have met you and your family.
Is he in a school local to you?

In response to a PP's Doubting Thomas question...

It is possible to make a cold compress using water (such as you might be carrying in a bottle or drinking flask) and cloth (scarf/handkerchief, spare t-shirt) or a bundle of tissue or a sanitary towel. A Tena lady, Pepsi and small polythene bag does a good job too. If you have the means, and the common sense, a cold compress is perfectly achievable.

I think the OP has received a drubbing from some Ps on here. Subjected to a forensic interrogation like we require an evidence trail or it didn't happen. Bloody Norah...