DD was sent to the hospital from school via ambulance without our knowledge

[C.Ann]

I would not be the least bit upset.. Better safe than sorry.. I feel the school acted appropriately..

 

[MELSMICE]

Since the girls are nearly adults twins I can't help but wonder if the non sick daughter told the nurse she would be calling you herself. Are you certain no calls were made to any phones? How many numbers do you have listed home/work/cell? I happen to have 5 on my emergency form and that's just for DH and myself, I don't think you can expect them to call all the numbers and leave messages. In my case I have a note to call home first and my cell second. Maybe they called your home number and left a message there which you just haven't gotten to hear yet. If you have caller ID you will be able to check on this even if someone erased the message. They could have even left a message at your work or your DH's work phone. I'd check ALL phones before getting upset.

I'm glad your DD is ok but you do need to go over this with the Nurse since this has happened before. Maybe you could ask for an appointment and go over the form with her for future reference, especially if there is a substitute on duty.

No, the nurse confirmed that they did not try to call us, as the DD that passed out told her we were out of town. We have our home # & also both mine & DH's cells. We both own our own businesses, so the work #'s are our cell #'s.

When I called the school & asked to be transferred to the nurse the front office was aware of the situation. Unfortunately, I was disconnected the first time, but spoke with the nurse when I called back.

It was very confusing when I did speak with the nurse - she was very flustered, actually. The way I first understood her was that the ambulance was on it's way to the school. I asked if DD was OK & where she was at that time. She said, "Oh, she's in the ambulance." I had to reconfirm with my own question whether DD was still at school or in the ambulance being transported. She was being transported.

Again, I am not disputing that the school did what they thought best. When I spoke with the teacher whose room she was in he said they were concerned about whether she hit her head or not. She is on Senior Class Board & was working on a project during a free period that her & the advisor both have - she was in the back of the room & could not be seen by the teacher when she fainted. I am glad she received immediate medical attention.

The only thing I will do is contact the nurse, make sure our information is correct & ask that after proper medical care is given (whether it be going to a hospital or just to the nurse's office) that we be contacted first.

I really am not looking to make this an issue with the school. DD is fine & everything worked out OK. I was not annoyed that they took her to the hospital.

 

[lovetoscrap]

This thread reminds me that every time I get a form that says

"In case of an emergency contact ________________________"

I really want to put in 911 !!! I swear I get that question on most school, camp and doctor forms.

 

[MELSMICE]

DD was sent to the hospital from school via ambulance without our knowledge (OP annoyed that an ambulance was called at all without their knowledge)

That's the thing about an internet message board - you can not hear the tone of someone's voice when making a statement.

My "tone" was not one of annoyance, just a statement.

You're right, I am glad that they erred on the side of caution.

 

[MELSMICE]

This thread reminds me that every time I get a form that says

"In case of an emergency contact ________________________"

I really want to put in 911 !!! I swear I get that question on most school, camp and doctor forms.

LOL - that's pretty good! I never thought of that.

 

[Wishing on a star]

DD was sent to the hospital from school via ambulance without our knowledge (OP annoyed that an ambulance was called at all without their knowledge)

and with her first post where she states that the Nurse should have called her before she called the ambulance, it is clear that the OP is not upset about not being called after the fact, but annoyed that the school didn't call her before calling an ambulance.

I agree.... and the OP continues to say

Call me 'first'.

The only thing I will do is contact the nurse, make sure our information is correct & ask that after proper medical care is given (whether it be going to a hospital or just to the nurse's office) that we be contacted first.

Yes, they should have attempted to reach you sooner, like ASAP.
However, that was never the issue mentioned in your original or subsequent posts.

OP, when a child passes out, and the parents are out of town, the school has NO obligation to call you first.

Even if you happen to be right up the street from the school.
There is no obligation to call you 'first'.

Please consider my previous post about how to handle the Emergency Contact forms (insuring that no old ones remain in the building.)

And, again, I would begin the process on a medical 504 immediately.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Again, I am not disputing that the school did what they thought best. When I spoke with the teacher whose room she was in he said they were concerned about whether she hit her head or not. She is on Senior Class Board & was working on a project during a free period that her & the advisor both have - she was in the back of the room & could not be seen by the teacher when she fainted. I am glad she received immediate medical attention.

Oh gosh--that happened to me. I passed out and hit a wall on the way down. I was strapped to a backboard b/c of this. All b/c my sorority sisters were focusing on the "banging head" versus the collapsing student. (collapse was due to pain meds on an empty stomach after oral surgery and me thinking it would be wise to walk down the hallway.).

 

[BLTtinkerbell]

First, I am glad your DD is ok. I did not read all the posts yet, but wanted to say that our school system will call an ambulance first & then call the parents to tell them. We have to fill out a form saying what numbers we want called & in what order they should be called. If your DD told the nurse you were out of town, I don't blame her for calling your sister. The nurse would want to contact the first person who could get to the hospital to be w/your DD.

 

[Mickey's Minion]

That's the thing about an internet message board - you can not hear the tone of someone's voice when making a statement.

My "tone" was not one of annoyance, just a statement.

You're right, I am glad that they erred on the side of caution.

You are so right. Things can be easily misinterpreted. My apologies if they were.

Hope you were able to have a great weekend in Disney!

 

[MELSMICE]

I agree.... and the OP continues to say

Call me 'first'.

First, as in before anyone else. After proper medical procedures are taken, shouldn't the parents be the first ones called?

First, I am glad your DD is ok. I did not read all the posts yet, but wanted to say that our school system will call an ambulance first & then call the parents to tell them. We have to fill out a form saying what numbers we want called & in what order they should be called. If your DD told the nurse you were out of town, I don't blame her for calling your sister. The nurse would want to contact the first person who could get to the hospital to be w/your DD.

I can understand your point as to why the call went to my sister first.

It's still confusing as to why they told my sister to pick up DD from school instead of meeting at the hospital.

Actually, what my sister said when she called me was, "Mel, I just want to let you know that I have to pick up Ashlyn from school. The nurse said she is fine, but they called me to pick her up because she passed out. I called my principal & am waiting for a sub to come to my classroom & then I'll go get her."

Because my sister said she was told DD was fine I told her to stay in class & I would try to contact my neighbor, who is actually my first emergency contact on this year's form. I told her if I would call her back if I needed her. I'm not sure if they tried to contact my neighbor, there was no message on her home phone, as she was not home.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Well I have to say that your post has made me seriously pointed me in the right direction for my oldest dd in college.

My dd has a repaired heart defect and the student health center said it would be a good idea to get info over to them about her medical history.

I have kind of let it slide however with all the illness going around and your post I am going to call tomorrow and get on the stick.

Thanks...oh and I am glad your dd is OK.

 

[N.Bailey]

First, as in before anyone else. After proper medical procedures are taken, shouldn't the parents be the first ones called?
I can understand your point as to why the call went to my sister first.

It's still confusing as to why they told my sister to pick up DD from school instead of meeting at the hospital.

Actually, what my sister said when she called me was, "Mel, I just want to let you know that I have to pick up Ashlyn from school. The nurse said she is fine, but they called me to pick her up because she passed out. I called my principal & am waiting for a sub to come to my classroom & then I'll go get her."

Because my sister said she was told DD was fine I told her to stay in class & I would try to contact my neighbor, who is actually my first emergency contact on this year's form. I told her if I would call her back if I needed her. I'm not sure if they tried to contact my neighbor, there was no message on her home phone, as she was not home.

As it was pointed out over and over again that you'd said you expected to be called first, I knew you meant ahead of other family members who were contacted and not that you expected them to notify you that they'd be calling for an ambulance.

I'm telling you, when my son was sent, the calls were coming in left and right that they were taking him to the hospital (school and son's friends). As I listened back to the voice mail messages, I could hear the elevated anxiety in the calls (I wouldn't say they were in a full blown panic, but they were anxious). I'm sure someone in the office was making the calls while others tended to my son. That nurse was not the only person in the school who could have phoned you. I do believe that every school has an office staff (or am I assuming something that's not true? - that was me being facetious and is purely rhetorical).

BTW: My son is a senior, but he IS 18 and not considered a minor any longer. That didn't stop the school from trying to notify me.

I "get" the argument that you were out of town, so they called whoever they thought would be an emergency contact (not sure how that happened without current information on their part), but IMO, the person to be notified on those cards should be people who should be contacted IF/WHEN they can't get a hold of the parent/guardian. As a matter of fact, I think the card I fill out each year says something to that effect. 1st emergency contact if parent/guardian cannot be reached, 2nd emergency contact if parent/guardian cannot be reached. I wouldn't put my life on the line stating it's worded something to that effect, but I really think it's on there (filled 26 of those cards out - 2 kids, both seniors).

 

[N.Bailey]

They did make contact. The almost adult daughter informed the school that her parents were out of town. The school called the sister, proper procedure.

The sister called the OP. Again, emergency contacts working as they should be working. That is why you have emergency contacts listed, so that they can be relied upon to contact you if the school cannot. Since the school was specifically told the parents were out of town, the school did what they were supposed to do and contacted the sister.

Per OP's first post, she called the school back within 30 - 40 minutes. Again, communication working properly.

During that half hour between the sister being called and the OP getting in touch with the school, something happened to make the school decide to call 911.

It is not unreasonable to believe that 30 minutes is just enough time to call the ambulance, wait for the ambulance, stay with the student until transported.

If the school hadn't called by the end of the day, then I could support the OP calling the nurse to first of all thank her for helping her daughter, but also to inform the nurse that they needed to make sure the updated forms were in her daughter's file.

Again though, with the title of the thread;

DD was sent to the hospital from school via ambulance without our knowledge (OP annoyed that an ambulance was called at all without their knowledge)

and with her first post where she states that the Nurse should have called her before she called the ambulance, it is clear that the OP is not upset about not being called after the fact, but annoyed that the school didn't call her before calling an ambulance.

It was only after a page of answers saying that the school did the right thing by calling 911, did the comments of being angered about not being called after the fact pop up.

OP, glad your daughter is ok. Be glad that the school erred on the side of caution and did call the ambulance. 20/20 hindsight is a wonderful thing and now you can look back and say "she was only out for 30 seconds." Be thankful that it was a mundane trip to the ER rather than a more serious emergency.

Wow, where to begin?

The school didn't follow the emergency contact form. The parent is the first to be notified and the nurse failed to notify that parents. 2ndly and with this case in particular, it's amazing that the aunt was contacted when the OP's mother (who moved to Florida) was the contact person on the card they were using to phone anyone.

The OP found out that her daughter was going to the hospital because her parents (who live in Florida) contacted her.

The school failed to do what they are suppose to do because they did not contact the parent.

Your whole point about the OP talking to the nurse some 30 to 40 minutes later is quite silly, IMO, because nothing suggests the school was going to attempt to fulfill their obligation by calling the parents. That call was to be initiated by the school, NOT the parent after the fact and there is NO excuse for that whatsoever.

I'm not sure what you think happened after the sister called that OP to notify her that something happened in school. I understand (and could be wrong) that the school decided PRIOR to contacting anyone that they were sending the child to the hospital.

You fail to recognize that this nurse was NOT the only person at the school who could make the calls to the contacts. It's logical to conclude that an office staff, principles, and even teachers could have made those calls. This would have not required the school to neglect the child. Maybe you live in an area where sending a child to the ER is an everyday occurrence, but it's certainly not in my area. When my son was rushed to the hospital, it seemed like the staff felt it priority #1 to get in touch with us ASAP.

Keep in mind when you say if the school hadn't contacted her prior to the end of the day, you would support ______ (fill in the blank yourself). The fact is, the school did NOT call her by the end of the day. They did NOT call her at all.

I can understand why the OP is upset that they ambulance was called without her knowledge. That's what the entire thread is based on, Hello?

She already answered herself about why she said she expected to be called first, but as I read it, I knew what she was saying. She expected to be called prior to calling anyone on any contact list.

 

[allison443]

Wow, where to begin?

The school didn't follow the emergency contact form. The parent is the first to be notified and the nurse failed to notify that parents. 2ndly and with this case in particular, it's amazing that the aunt was contacted when the OP's mother (who moved to Florida) was the contact person on the card they were using to phone anyone.

The OP found out that her daughter was going to the hospital because her parents (who live in Florida) contacted her.

No, that is not correct. The nurse never called the OP's parents in Florida. It sounds like the nurse was first going to call OP, and the dd said, oh my mom is away. So they called OP's sister, the injured girl's aunt who lives locally. It's not clear where the nurse got the aunt's number-did the dd tell them, or was she listed on the current contact card? The nurse also did pull out the old contact card with the grandparents' info, but OP stated the nurse never called them since dd advised the nurse that her grandparents reside in Florida now.

OP I'm glad your dd is okay. You must have been freaking out. I would have been. Was there any problem with your dd being treated at the ER without a parent? Did you leave some kind of permission form with your in-laws or are they allowed to treat in an emergency, or what?

 

[allison443]

This thread reminds me that every time I get a form that says

"In case of an emergency contact ________________________"

I really want to put in 911 !!! I swear I get that question on most school, camp and doctor forms.

When I was a girl scout leader we had to give out permission forms with this question. I actually had a mom that would put 911.

 

[N.Bailey]

No, that is not correct. The nurse never called the OP's parents in Florida. It sounds like the nurse was first going to call OP, and the dd said, oh my mom is away. So they called OP's sister, the injured girl's aunt who lives locally. It's not clear where the nurse got the aunt's number-did the dd tell them, or was she listed on the current contact card? The nurse also did pull out the old contact card with the grandparents' info, but OP stated the nurse never called them since dd advised the nurse that her grandparents reside in Florida now.

OP I'm glad your dd is okay. You must have been freaking out. I would have been. Was there any problem with your dd being treated at the ER without a parent? Did you leave some kind of permission form with your in-laws or are they allowed to treat in an emergency, or what?

I'll have to check later because I am on my way to bed, but I believe the OP said it was her parents in Florida who contacted here about everything. Someone called the parents in Florida, but it wasn't the school (maybe the sister).

 

[N.Bailey]

I just wish they would have contacted us. They did not, actually, I called the school to get the information after speaking with my sister. My other DD called my MIL & she called my DH about the event.

Also, my confusion comes in with the fact that the nurse contacted my sister asking her to pick up DD from school & then my MIL called DH to say that DD was on the way to the hospital.

This is what I was referring to. Off to bed, nite!

 

[Tinijocaro]

Thank god they had the sense to get help first, then try to track you down. What if it had been a very serious problem and they had waited? You would be mad about that.

Last Tuesday DH & I flew to WDW together. Our DD's, 20, 17 & 17 stayed home until Friday afternoon & then met us there for a few days. I spoke with the teacher that was with her when it happened & he said she was out for about 30 seconds - if that.

On Thursday I got a call from my sister saying she had to pick up one of my DD's from school as she had passed out. This has happened before & while I was concerned, I didn't want my sister to leave her school teacher job to pick her up. I told her I would contact my neighbor or FIL to get her.

In the process of trying to contact someone the nurse had an ambulance take our DD to the hospital. The nurse/school never tried to call DH or myself. They also did not let my other DD (her twin) go to the hospital with her. They did allow twin to leave school & she met her twin at the hospital with my FIL.

When I finally talked to the school nurse & asked why DH or I weren't contacted she said the girls told us we were out of town. They also didn't follow the emergency form that we fill out every year. They were going to contact my parents who are listed on their freshman form (they are seniors) until my DD's told them my parents reside in Florida now.

I'm glad my DD is OK (she had numerous tests done) but I did tell the nurse that we should have been contacted first & I don't understand why we weren't. She said she just thought it best to get her to the hospital.

I have not made a big deal out of this at all & with the exception of contacting her teacher have not contacted the school regarding it. Other than letting them know we want to be contacted in these situations, is there anything else I should be doing?

Honestly, I think the nurse completely panicked, but that's JMO. I guess better safe than sorry, but I still think she panicked.

 

[livie1205]

I would have wanted them to get her to a dr FIRST then call me.....my first thought would be for the childs safety.

 

[torinsmom]

As far as why your sister was told to come and then they called the ambulance---maybe they called your sister before the response team at school came to look at your DD. After they came, it was decided to err on the side of caution.

Maybe the nurse asked the teacher or another staff member to call you and she had no idea they hadn't. Or maybe she was told by a family member that they would inform you, since you were out of town? Who was her guardian while you were away, and did you let the school know you were out of town and who to contact in case of emergency?

On a side note, I would want to look into the passing out more if this is the third time. If the dr. says it is low blood sugar, has your DD had a glucose tolerance test? Are they guessing it is low blood sugar? I would just want to knoe FOR SURE what is going on. She could fall sometime and hit her head and if noone was around, it could be very serious.

Marsha