DD's school water contaminated (opinions please)

[tkd lisa]

Background: We live in Southern Maryland, and when Hurrican Isobel went through, our area was hit. The middle school was without power for about 4-5 days. It's a rural area, and pretty much everything is well and septic (no public water). The news media reminded people that if your well was possibly flooded to check it for contamination when the power came back on.

Our DD got sick last Sunday afternoon (28 Sept), and was throwing up and had diarrhea until Friday (3 Oct). I called the school for the first three days telling them she was sick with a stomach bug. Doctor ordered blood work Wed (results aren't back yet), and I talked to the teacher Thur and the counselor Fri explaining she was still sick.

Sunday, another parent called me and said the school was closed Monday (6 Oct) because the well is contaminated. A note was sent home with all students Thursday telling kids to bring water bottles, but no explanation was given. The board of ed web page just says school is closed because they have no water.

DH is convinced DD's illness was caused by the contamination. I plan to call the Dr today and explain the contamination. Hopefully, the blood work is back. I'm also calling the school to ask for more information.

Question on the table. Given that the school knew DD was sick with intestinal problems AND that the school knew they had contamination, should they have told us about it? What would you do?

Thanks! Lisa

 

[piratesmate]

I hope your daughter is feeling better this morning. I'm sorry she got so sick. That really stinks!

Should they have told you? Well, in an ideal world, yes. Surely she wasn't even the only one to get sick. You would think that they'd have told all the parents of sick kids - just in case they hadn't been to the doctor & to help diagnosis along. However, I would imagine that the were hesitant to contact parents of sick kids because of possible legal ramifications. (If the put it in writing, people might think to sue.)

What would I do? As long as DD is better without any lasting effects I'd probably let it drop . . . . although I might either stop in to the office when it wasn't likely to have other people around or just call & tell them I was disappointed that they hadn't let us know. (Assuming that the tests from the doctor come back telling you it WAS from the water.)

The one thing that confuses me, though, is that if you were all told to boil water until the wells were checked WHY didn't they test it immediately & tell the kids to bring water from the time school re-opened? Schools take the initiative when it comes to things like sex ed & dangerous strangers (assuming parents haven't talked to their kids & do it for them) so I'm not sure why they wouldn't assume parents weren't going to send bottled water etc.

 

[nativetxn]

I sure hope your DD is feeling better now.

 

[tkd lisa]

Little more information that we've gotten about this. I'd really like people's feedback about what they think. DH is about ready to call a lawyer, and I'm hesitant.

The school water wasn't tested after the hurricane. The public health department made a decision that any wells that were fed by the aquifer were fine? The test was a routine check and was done Monday, the 29th of September with a report issued immediately (dated same day) saying that the water was likely contaminated (no specific contaminants were identified). By Thursday of that week, they had chlorinated the well and provided bottled water to the students. I can't confirm this, but it seems that they didn't do anything between the test Monday and late Wednesday, meaning that for at least 2 school days, the kids were drinking known contaminated water. During this time, my DD wasn't at school, so I can't be sure of it, but that's what another kids there said.

The school board members hadn't been notified of any of those. I spoke to one of them this Monday night, and she'll looking into it for me. The main thing I asked her about was if they were going to notify the general public in case other kids are sick.

Meanwhile, DD's dr. has put her on a wide range antibiotic. The base day care preventative medicine said that she couldn't be in day care until being on the antibiotic for 24 hours. DD has had to endure about 8 days of vomiting and diarrhea, a blood test and two stool specimens to try to find out what was going on.

I do agree that she had some pain and suffering and I do think the board of education is in the wrong. What I'm not sure about is how far to go with it. My thought is that if they make a public announcement about it, and address the risk to the other kids, I'm not going to pursue it. DH is more upset and thinks that DD should be tutored by the school to make up for the lost work due to the contamination, etc.

Thoughts??

 

[Pin Wizard]

This happened at DS's school the last time we had a hurricane. They told the parents the water was contaminated and kids needed to bring their own water. No, school wasn't closed because of it. One of the teachers drank the water and was out a few days because of it. But she turned out okay. I hope your daughter is feeling better!

 

[Megan's Mom]

Personally I think that the health department is to blame moreso that than the school. They were the ones that first told the school the water was fine. But then after the water was tested and came back bad it became the schools problem. Schools should be the first thing tested so they can get back to work as soon as possible.
Sounds like your dD had a time of it and hopes she now feels better. Maybe since the school was closed part of the time she isn't too far behind.

 

[poohandwendy]

While I am sure they could have handled things a bit better, I really don't understand the need to call a 'lawyer'? What purpose would that serve?

If it were my child, I would contact all involved parties and insist that things be handled in a more timely fashion in the future so that this could be prevented.

I hope your dd feels better soon, poor thing.

 

[Cinders]

While I am sure they could have handled things a bit better, I really don't understand the need to call a 'lawyer'? What purpose would that serve?

IF the child became ill because of the water problem then the school's insurance should pay all the medical bills for her. Some schools also make it very difficult for students to pass a grade level after they have missed 10 days of school so again IF the school is at fault they should be ensuring that the student doesnt fall behind in class work.

DD has had to endure about 8 days of vomiting and diarrhea, a blood test and two stool specimens to try to find out what was going on.

I think most adults that had suffered that much and found their workplace to be at fault would sue.

Personally I think that the health department is to blame moreso that than the school. They were the ones that first told the school the water was fine.

True but the school should have insisted their water be tested. When it involves that large of a group of people they should have been a priority.

 

[tkd lisa]

The lawyer is largely related to trying to get the school system/county health to react. We have good health insurance, and really aren't out much (other than LOTS of time off work to stay home with a sick child). We are worried about the amount of work our daughter has to make up, but as of this morning, the school is willing to work with us on this issue.

I don't want to call a lawyer. That's one of the reasons I was trying to get other people's opinions on the subject. DH has a tendency to fly off the handle on things, and I just wanted to see what other's thought.

 

[Disney Doll]

I htink it's a shame that people call lawyers so much, when certain things are just part of life.

 

[SuprGro78]

How does your kid feel about it? If I found out that this illness was from water I drank that wasn't clean I'd be quite miffed. I am not advocating suing, but if a lawyer, PTA, a committe of parents or even some law could make sure this doesn't happen again I'd be all for it.

 

[poohandwendy]

I think most adults that had suffered that much and found their workplace to be at fault would sue.

Yeah, you are probably right...just another shining example of how screwed up society is, IMHO.

I just think bringing in lawyers before giving a situation the proper amount of time to be reconciled is, at best...jumping the gun.... at worst...using a bad situation to gain profit.

 

[tkd lisa]

Final update on this.

The school has now sent home a letter to all parents saying the well was contaminated with coliform bacteria. They are still fixing the problem (numerous pump related failures while chlorinating the system). The school board stated that they have changed their processes to speed up the awareness of a well failure. DD is getting better (the antibiotic seems to be working). School is working with us to limit the "busy" work and concentrating on catching up DD on the basic concepts she missed.

Overall, it wasn't a fun time, but the school system is going to improve their communication as a result of the problem.

Thanks for the inputs.

Lisa

 

[poohandwendy]

That is good news. I am glad to hear they are doing the right thing. Hope your dd bounces back quickly.