How much should nannies know about dealing with a sick child?

[MGMidget]

Just wondered what's realistic to expect from a nanny who has a first aid certificate and childcare diploma when it comes to applying some common sense regarding illness?

My son developed a high temp yesterday (now we suspect swine flu) - he was out for the day at a 'playdate' with other nannies and toddlers. She called me when she got home towards the end of the day to report his high temp (nearly 40 degrees) and said she couldn't wake him. When I got home I found him somewhat overdressed (i.e. could have been stripped down to nappy but instead had a couple of layers of clothes on) temp still rising, no calpol given. Further questioning established he had 'felt hot' when at his playdate but she hadn't thought to test his temperature or be concerned. Possibly having too much fun chinwagging with the other nannies I wonder? She mentioned in passing he had started shaking badly in the middle of the day (when hot) (possibly febrile convulsions I wonder?) and also mentioned he had almost been sick and had runny diahorrea. Now I'm wondering why she didn't think to ask the host nanny for a thermometer to check his temp or why she kept him at the playdate with other toddlers when he had runny diahorrea. And wasn't the fact that he was shaking a bit concerning? Or indeed why she hadn't stripped him down to his nappy, and made other attempts to lower his very high temp when she discovered it.

So I wondered what do nannies learn on the childcare diplomas and first aid courses about toddler signs of illness and how to deal with them? Also what do they learn about isolating sick children from others to reduce risk of transmission of illness?

I'm concerned not only at my own nanny's ignorance (or disinterest) but also that of the other nannies at the playdate. I don't think a nursery would have let things carry on like that for several hours without batting an eyelid. And if I was a parent of one of the other children present I would have been concerned that an obviously sick child was allowed to mix with my children and not taken home when the symptoms started. Any nannies out there who can give me their thoughts? And any mums with nannies who have had similar or better experiences with their nannies?

Your nannies' behaviour was totally unacceptable.

In a similar circumstance my previous nanny, took my child's temperature every 30 minutes, gave calpol, called me, stripped child to nappy and sponged down and finally called an ambulance when the febrile convulsion started.

I personally would not be able to trust your nanny again. If she is looking after a child she needs to know about dealing with childhood illnesses and act appropriately. It sounds as if she put her own social life first.

how is your little boy today?

I am shocked at your nanny's behaviour.

Even my 5 yr old knows that if someone is ill, one of the first things you do is check their temperature.

very true athene - there is no such course

though a prod with a stick could be helpful

Quick update for those asking how my son is. Well Sat was a bad night. On Sunday we had to keep an all-night vigil as we were so worried about his breathing. However, we still don't know if its swine flu or just a bad cold. I nearly started him on the Tamiflu but hubby not keen and I did some research and found out it doesn't help with asthma symptoms. Temp has kept going up - was 41 at one point but on Sunday we had to take him to A&E because of breathing and high temp worries. Ironically I think half the children in there had the same sort of thing. However, they have given some antibiotics as they spotted bacterial infection on his tonsils so it may turn out that he just had a bad cold plus bacterial tonsilitis! Since he started on the antibiotics his temp is much better and now he seems to be returning to his mischievous self again. Still bad cold, cough and no appetite however. He has hardly eaten anything for a couple of days (and was vomiting before that). We did get a swab done so I will eventually find out if it was swine flu and can let you know.

Sounds terrible. But, glad he is on the mend.

Glad he is on the mend. And I would definitely have expected her to have kept him home checked his temperature and given Calpol or baby Nurofen if appropriate if she had noticed he was 'hot' shaking or had runny diarrhoea. I think dreadful though it is to do these things you will have to have a serious chat with her. Am also surprised none of the other nannies noticed he was unwell.

glad is on anti's and seems on the mend

if was a tonsil illness then poor things thraot must have been really sore