First Aid Stations in the Parks

[luvmarypoppins]

I havent had the need to use these but DS is going himself on a class trip. He has some health issues. Some which could be asthma and needing to rest in the ac if things are getting bad and now he is going through stuff with his rare eye disease, ie contacts, dry eyes, etc. etc. Just wondering what if anything he could avail himself to there. I know he really has issues with his eyes, ie he wouldnt want to fix or check things in a public restroom etc. Would he be able to use the station and what help if any could the nurse etc. there offer him. TIA.

 

[SueM in MN]

Yes.
First Aid in any of the parks is open to anyone. I don't remember seeing how old he is, but if he is middle school or younger, they may want one of the chaparones to stay with him.
When you first come into First Aid, there is an air conditioned waiting room with a few chairs. If all he needs is a place to sit inside, that might be all he needs.
There is a check in desk, where everyone who is going to use First Aid needs to check in. They keep a general log of the names, dates, times and geneal reasons people come to First Aid. He would need to explain what he needs (just to lie down, a place to check/replace his contacts, etc.) and the First Aid CM would show him to a place where he can do that. They have individual cubicles with cots and privacy curtains, but they also have rooms with more of an 'exam room' setup that he could use.
The nurses are RNs or LPNs and would be able to help with the things it sounds like he would need.

The one problem I could see is that he may be far away from First Aid when he has a problem, so you might want to explore a little about how he could get there - like would one chaparone be assigned to him so he can leave the group whenever he needs to. You also might want to check if there is something he could do for his dry eyes that would be portable (like a small mirror and eye drops or something).

 

[Mary976]

I just got back from the world, traveling with DD (16), who uses a w/c and has asthma. The First Aid stations were great, and good places to adminster medication and the like (as opposed to crowded bathrooms where cleanliness may be so-so). The one thing I will say is that the nurses are not allowed to listen for a wheeze or anything like that with asthmatics. For that, they have to call the paramedics.

Mary

 

[sammyteach]

The seaworld first aid were really lovely. My daughter pulled a muscle and they were friendly and caring and fun. the rooms themselves were clean cool and relaxing.

 

[TheDisneyGirl02]

First Aid is great whether you just need a band aide or you have sun poisoning (that was me on my trip in August...I blistered so badly I looked like somebody throw acid on me), they are there to help. One time several years ago, my sister's knee was hurting (from previous dance injuries..I think she was having surgery when we got back) and my mom had bumped her nose on the handlebar in the Doombuggies in the HM, and we went to first aid. My mom got ice for her nose and my sister for her knee. We just sat inside for a while in the a/c and cooled off until everybody was better again.

 

[PrincessKell]

Love the first aid! We were the first ones in each day to get ear plugs for dd. She is HFA, and has a MAJOR sensory issue with her ears , touching and sound. The nurses in there loved her and were so nice and sweet.

I even took a picture of her getting her earplugs. haha

 

[mechurchlady]

An option would be the companion bathrooms where an adult could go inside with him. This would allow for a quiet place to do work on the eyes and running hot water (usually) for cleaning the adult's hands.

I do not remember seeing a bad thing about the First Aid Stations and I have used them at MGM, DL, DCA and I thinnk it was MK. The staff is trained for helping out with and have helped me with lots of things espcially the time I smashed my knee at DL. I got an ace bandage and they treated me real well.

You could get a little imitation leather case like diabetics carry to hold his medication as well as typed instructions on how to do the procedures and early warning signs.

 

[OneLittleSpark]

Make sure you're aware of, and prepared for, any rules the school has on medication and treatment. It may be, for instance, that an adult must have control of all medication, even if the child is used to administering it themselves. They could also have issues with one adult being alone with your son, for instance in the companion restroom (it's a sad state of affairs when you have to take such things into consideration, but they have to do it to protect themselves as much as anything else ).

 

[alizesmom]

We absolutely loved the first aid stations. We used them for feedings and resting for Alize but saw multiple other problems being addressed. Karen

 

[SueM in MN]

Make sure you're aware of, and prepared for, any rules the school has on medication and treatment. It may be, for instance, that an adult must have control of all medication, even if the child is used to administering it themselves. They could also have issues with one adult being alone with your son, for instance in the companion restroom (it's a sad state of affairs when you have to take such things into consideration, but they have to do it to protect themselves as much as anything else ).

Good points.
This was not at WDW, but someone called security on my DH when he went into a Companion Restroom with our DD.

 

[soarinfan]

You mentioned he may need air conditioning. In most sections of the parks there will be restaurants and he'll usually be able to find a seat and relax in the air conditioning for a while. In the better restaurants where you must be seated, there's usually a waiting area with chairs. In the self-serve restaurants he can just grab a table.