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Original poster

Epilepsy - Should I teach my 3 year old to dial 999 in case? If so how?

15 replies

Mum1234 · 13/04/2011 20:56

I have epilepsy and have done since I was about 8 years old. It is controlled by medication and I have not have a seizure since I was pregnant over 3 years ago. However being realistic there is always the chance that it could happen again.

Watching a program on amazing children the other day there was a 2 year old that rang 999 when his mum was sick; and it occured to me that perhaps it is time to teach DS to do the same. Any advice?

OP posts:
HecateQueenOfTheNight · 13/04/2011 20:58

Write a story. A young child might absorb the information better in a story, with pictures (and a happy ending of course!)

I had a quick google but couldn't find anything. tbh, I'm surprised there isn't something.

Original poster
Mum1234 · 13/04/2011 21:03

I was suprised too. Story sounds a great idea though, thank you.

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smokinaces · 13/04/2011 21:03

Does your DC go to nursery? Only ask as when DS1 was 3 his nursery had a day where the emergency services came in. They taught about dialling 999, and other things, but in a very child format. Maybe see if your nursery plan anything similar? Or see if there's any community days you can get this information from?

DS1 is now nearly 5, and still remembers what to do - yet hasnt been tempted to do it yet!

Original poster
Mum1234 · 13/04/2011 21:08

Yes he does. They have done a couple of outings, these were to the dentist & opticians so this is something that could fit in too maybe. Thank you.

OP posts:
WorzselMummage · 13/04/2011 21:09

My Mum is a type 1 diabetic and it was pretty poorly controlled when I was a kid so there were a lot of hypos. I was just told to go to the neighbours and tell them they couldn't wake her I can remember doing it a lot and also trying to feed her suggary milk which we were also told to do.

I'm sure I could have dialed 999 but the neighbours was easier and meant we were not on our own.

Fwiw, if you are worried about it, we are fine, my mum is fine and it hasnt scarred my at all. It was just normality.

Original poster
Mum1234 · 13/04/2011 21:15

I am worried about it, but what you say does make me feel better! :o)

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DooinMeCleanin · 13/04/2011 21:22

Dd1 was taught from about that age how to dial 999 or to go and get Granny (we lived on the same street at the time) as DH has epilepsy. She picked it up pretty quick, but she is very tecchy. Dd2 is now 3 and I wouldn't expect her to dial 999 or go to a neighbours house, she is nowhere near advanced enough for it to sink in, so I guess it depends whether you think your DS would 'get it' or not.

Other things we did for dd1 (I went back to work on evenings when she was 3) inc.

writing down numbers of closest relatives and leaving them near the phone
adding numbers to speed dial
showing her how to unlock the front door
explaining about epilepsy, what it is and what she should do and not do inc. that it is nothing to be afraid of and if she gets too scared it is okay to go and wait upstairs in her room until whoever she has phoned comes. We also explained that after a little while Daddy will wake up and be okay again.

She is now 7 and I work just around the corner, so the new plan is phone me at work or if for any reason she cannot get to the phone go over the road to her friends house or come to my work for help.

smokinaces · 13/04/2011 21:27

The other option is to programme an emergency number (such as your mum) into the home phone?

My 3yo DS can now ring his dad from the home phone (as demonstrated at 6.30am!) as it is programmed in the handset and he recognises the Name.

Original poster
Mum1234 · 13/04/2011 21:52

I think he would get it to a degree, it's probably me being more worried about frightening him. I suppose I need to be a bit more matter of fact, making it all seem like something normal that every child learns.

I'll definitely programme the phone numbers in speed dial, as he seems to have got the knack of the home / mobile phones far too easily already - especially for a 3 year old!

OP posts:
Sirzy · 13/04/2011 22:19

Does he have any ambulance toys? I would probably use that to get the idea of "in an emergency we call 999" to him in a playful way and then build on it from there depending how he responds.

Original poster
Mum1234 · 13/04/2011 22:38

He's got police cars but not an ambulance, will invest in one though and give it a go.

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flowery · 13/04/2011 22:43

I'm in the same position so this has made me think I need to do the same with DS1 who is almost 4.

Does anyone know if you dial 999 on a landline handset which is locked, will it work? I don't want to test it to see...Grin

We keep our handsets locked because DS2 18mo likes playing with phones, but if it means DS1 wouldn't be able to ring for an ambulance we'll need to rethink.

Original poster
Mum1234 · 14/04/2011 10:27

I'd love to know that too, but like you don't want to try it just in case. Maybe just keep one of them unlocked and slightly out of reach to the 18mo (although thinking about it I'm sure that no-where is out of reach!) and say that that is the special one to use if Mummy is poorly or something similar?

I guess at 3 or 4 years old they do have an idea when something is right or wrong, so maybe using the 'story' idea above could re-inforce that. I'd need to get in there that teddy being ill does not constitute a phone call on that phone though!

Mmm all very tricky..

OP posts:
brighthair · 15/04/2011 00:30

I work for an ambulance service and we do take calls from children

Get them to use a landline - the address often comes up then, or the operator can tell us which address it is linked to
Make sure they can open the door, or post keys through letterbox for ambulance crew
There are other things we would ask an adult, and we try with children, but if we can't, not the end of the world

Original poster
Mum1234 · 16/04/2011 20:47

I'd not thought about anyone actually being able to get in if he did ring 999. Thank you! :0)

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