Child inhaled bath water - 111?

[LibrariesGiveUsPower]

Posting for traffic because I’ve read horror stories that I think aren’t true.

DC (7) was in bath, mucking about splashing on their tummy, singing, and inhaled a lot of water. I was right there, pulled her out immediately, she was bright red coughed a lot, really struggled to breathe for about 5 mins then threw up a lot, coughed a bit for about 10 mins after. Shaken but fine now (been 40mins). Keeping her up for a bit to keep an eye.

Would you do anything more? Should I call 111? According to webmd secondary drowning is a myth, but there is small risk of infection (signs are cough/fever), I can’t find any nhs info and I don’t want to be sent to the hospital unnecessarily by 111. I’m still shaken

Still think you (and 111) were correct to go to A&E based on your description of what happened. Out of interest, what did A&E doctor do to ensure there was no water in the airways?

Too late now but no way is this a 111 thing. Sorry you were badly advised and wasted an evening.

@Moonlaserbearwolf

Still think you (and 111) were correct to go to A&E based on your description of what happened. Out of interest, what did A&E doctor do to ensure there was no water in the airways?

Probably looked at a very well child, ascertained their lungs were clear and they weren’t hypoxic, and despaired of 111 as per usual. We’re you thinking they’d do an MRI scan?!!

My daughter slipped under the bath water for a split second when she was a baby. She was absolutely fine within seconds but being a new mum I panicked and googled. 111 sent us straight to a&e and the doctors there were very nice and didn’t make me feel stupid for taking her in. She was fine, but secondary drowning IS a thing and they told me what to look for. I think you did the right thing and I’m sorry the doctors made you think you hadn’t.

There is a slight chance however that she could get pneumonia later on depending on if any dirty water got into her lungs. It sounds like she coughed everything up and out.

But as she was in a bath and not a dirty steam she should be fine really.

@JustLikea
Yes bathwater’s not dangerous, not like swimming pool water. It’s the chlorine that drowns you, you know? Or the salt if you fall in the sea.
Fuck’s sake.
Well done OP for getting him checked out. A&E dr will just have been tired and overworked. Which has no bearing on the fact that your son nearly drowned and you needed to get him seen.

Nurse checked oxygen and pulse, watched her chest. Dr later looked at her and rapidly listened to her chest. Nothing else. I wouldn’t have expected an X-ray tbh, just happy oxygen/chest listened to, obviously not something I can do. I’ll still be keeping close eye on her.

I don’t have much fair in 111 sadly. They told us in the past not to go to A&E when child consumed something very dangerous. Spoke to a family friend GP who said get seen, A&E were very glad we ignored 111 that time.

111 would have sent you to cover themselves due to the thing that almost never happens, secondary drowning. Frightened parents google it, discover secondary drowning, overplay it to 111 so they’re taken seriously, who then have to act and advice turning up at A&E. A&E doctors look at a healthy child with clear lungs and a panicky parent who feel vindicated in their anxiety because 111 sent them to A&E, and roll their eyes.

My friends have taken their PFB to A&E no less than four times for ‘secondary drowning’. Each time after the kid’s swimming lesson. So four in four weeks. Absolutely madness.

That's the whole problem with the system. 111 cannot possibly tell you not to go to a&e. There's nothing in it for them. And everything in it for them if they tell you not to go, and the worst happens. Unfortunately, this renders the whole system pointless.

They will always tell you to go.

@arethereanyleftatall

That's the whole problem with the system. 111 cannot possibly tell you not to go to a&e. There's nothing in it for them. And everything in it for them if they tell you not to go, and the worst happens. Unfortunately, this renders the whole system pointless.

They will always tell you to go.

The whole point of 111 is to divert patients away from a&e, and ambulances

Certainly not every patient is advised to attend a&e.

@arethereanyleftatall

That's the whole problem with the system. 111 cannot possibly tell you not to go to a&e. There's nothing in it for them. And everything in it for them if they tell you not to go, and the worst happens. Unfortunately, this renders the whole system pointless.

They will always tell you to go.

I agree. 111 isn’t fit for purpose, and it’s one of the main problems facing A&E.

Well no @whataballbag
Not the ones who call 111 because they have a paper cut.
But a call about a child inhaling water, with a parent over-egging it (no criticism cos I'd do the same!), is gonna get sent every time.

its not true that they always tell you to go to A&E. DH had an accident and they were really difficult, insisting that he talk to them himself (?) and he just couldn't. In the end i just called am ambulance for him.

They were useless. Hopefully OP will reassured and home soon.

@LibrariesGiveUsPower

Nurse checked oxygen and pulse, watched her chest. Dr later looked at her and rapidly listened to her chest. Nothing else. I wouldn’t have expected an X-ray tbh, just happy oxygen/chest listened to, obviously not something I can do. I’ll still be keeping close eye on her.

I don’t have much fair in 111 sadly. They told us in the past not to go to A&E when child consumed something very dangerous. Spoke to a family friend GP who said get seen, A&E were very glad we ignored 111 that time.

pleased you had her looked at by a dr without having to wait all night and you feel reassured now. If this were my son he'd be sleeping with me tongiht.

@arethereanyleftatall

Well no *@whataballbag* Not the ones who call 111 because they have a paper cut. But a call about a child inhaling water, with a parent over-egging it (no criticism cos I'd do the same!), is gonna get sent every time.

Absolutely, they can only go off what the caller is telling them.

Especially when it comes to children.

I find that 111 always send you to A and E for everything.

Glad she’s absolutely fine though, that’s the main thing.

@inheritancetrack

Observe her for an hour or so. Infection won't be an issue today, and unlikely to occur anyway. If she is breathing normally, not coughing, has no chest pain and is a normal colour I wouldn't worry about it.

Based on what?

Secondary drowning is not easy to spot.

@Frazzled2207

its not true that they always tell you to go to A&E. DH had an accident and they were really difficult, insisting that he talk to them himself (?) and he just couldn't. In the end i just called am ambulance for him.

They were useless. Hopefully OP will reassured and home soon.

Sorry you had that experience

If your DH was too poorly, or in too much pain to speak to the call handler they absolutely should have just spoken to you instead, providing you were with him at the time.

@JustLikea

They always tell people to go to A&E to cover their backs

I can't believe you wasted their time with bath water

Surely this is not a real thread

Yeah far better the child died from secondary drowning than bother A&E & DrFullOfHimself

FFS

I think you did the right thing. Someone from my sailing club sadly died from secondary drowning so it is a real thing. Always best to be safe than sorry when it comes to DC. If child just spluttered after I wouldn't be too concerned but with the vomiting too I'd of taken my child.

@JustLikea

They always tell people to go to A&E to cover their backs

I can't believe you wasted their time with bath water

Surely this is not a real thread

Well you know what, I’m not medically trained in any way beyond very basic first aid. Secondary drowning is a real thing apparently, why would I take the risk with my child?

I’ve called 111 several times and they don’t always send you to A&E. it’s a flawed system but it’s the best we’ve got for us plebs who aren’t secret paramedics.

Totally disagree that 111 sends patients to A&E for no reason. Drs at A&E are overworked and stressed, especially on the weekend. You did the right thing OP.

I have 4 kids and have rang them alot only have been sent 2 the main a&e twice by ambulance but have been sent to the little one loads. As the doctors have said many a time they would rather see a child than not as they can go from being ok to really poorly very fast so 111 is a good system in my eyes ..

111 often send to a and e 🤷‍♀️. You did well getting out that soon though!