Food allergy nightmare at Neverland Club

[gina2000]

It probably makes sense to have children's cups labelled with their names at that age especially with allergy sensitive children. I also agree that administering meds is probably not the thing WDW wants an untrained CM to do but by taking the Benedryl from the parent, there is an implied acceptance of that responsibility. Also, if life threatening allergies are not treated, this should be clearly stated in writing. An asthmatic child can have a life threatening attack at any time. A simple puff on an inhaler could save that child. It's easy and quick. If the CM cannot administer it, however, then the parent should be advised of that prior to leaving the child.

 

[Dina]

For what it's worth-- a previous poster said that the kids clubs should not deny their services to children with allergies-- as a mother of a son with a life threatening peanut allergy, I wouldn't feel it was wrong for the clubs to deny our child access to the club. I would rather them tell us that they cannot accomodate us, then to take our child. I don't plan on leaving my children there, but I think it would be fine for them to say they cannot take children who require epi-pens on them at all times. We have been denied dessert at a few restaurants because they aren't 100 percent sure there isn't cross contamination. Tony's wouldn't even give them a scoop of vanilla ice cream. They can't have the liability, so I'm surprised the kids clubs can't just deny children with these conditions. My kids can't go on the pirate cruise because they serve peanut butter. It's not that big of a deal. Just my 2 cents.

Even if they labeled cups, its not going to solve the problem. They take 4year olds. What 4yo is going to remember to check for their name before taking a sip (most can't even read their name).

 

[Cool-Beans]

They give allergy bracelets to the kids with allergies, dont they ? So obviously they dont expect the kids to be 100% reliable. Why bother asking if a child has allergies, or to give them bracelets, if they're not going to take care of them properly ? In Katie's case she was allergic to milk. If a child is allergic to nuts, for example, there are many many foods that contain them but it's not obvious just by looking at the food.What do you expect these kids to do, request to see the label on the box ? Don't forget there are kids from all over the world at WDW, who may not speak any English. The parents trust the CMS at the clubs to take care of their children. If you expect 6 year olds to be responsible for themselves, then why bother putting them under any supervision at all, you may as well just leave them alone in the hotel room.

The mom made some mistakes and admits it but she's not the only one responsible. Maybe there were too many kids for the CMs to keep track of, I dont know, but what I do know is that these people couldnt even remember the child's name, let alone what she was allergic to.

When you put your child in clubs like this, school, or daycare, the people accepting her there are responsible for her. They had the information. The child was wearing a bracelet, in case they forgot about it. They're supposed to be trained to look after children and they didnt do their job properly.

Bracelets are there for EMTs or doctors...so that they know what the person is allergic to in the event the person isn't able to tell them. They aren't there so day care workers will know to never take their eyes off that particular child.

I said it before, but I really think that if Disney doesn't have someone on hand who can recognize anaphylaxis and is able to administer treatment, the responsible thing to do is to decline to watch the kids in the day care centers. If there is any chance the child could die, they should follow Nancy Reagan's advice and just say "no."

Mistakes happen. Kids ingest things they shouldn't because those in charge don't know any better. It isn't so much a matter of prevention, because no prevention will guarantee that no kid will get sick in their care. The issue is whether they are trained to deal with it if the child starts dying...and they aren't. So, knowing that, they shouldn't accept the responsibility.

Children's lives shouldn't be left in the hands of people who can't save them.

 

[sha_lyn]

Bracelets are there for EMTs or doctors...so that they know what the person is allergic to in the event the person isn't able to tell them. They aren't there so day care workers will know to never take their eyes off that particular child.

So the allergy bracelett that the Neverland club workers put on the OP's child wasn't for their sake?

 

[Cool-Beans]

So the allergy bracelett that the Neverland club workers put on the OP's child wasn't for their sake?

I thought the kid had their own. I stand corrected.

But I don't change my mind. Children with life-threatening allergies shouldn't be left in the care of people who aren't trained to handle those situations. It is gambling with their very life...not worth the risk.

 

[marivaid]

Bracelets are there for EMTs or doctors...so that they know what the person is allergic to in the event the person isn't able to tell them

So what you're saying is that the bracelets are useless until the child is already having a reaction ? That creates a false sense of security for parents.

I'm shocked that people still insist that the CMs werent to blame when they :

1. Accepted the medecine from the mother when they knew they were not allowed to administer it.
2. Gave the child the wrong drink, not just something different than what she ordered but the ONE thing they were told not to give her.
3. When the child had a bad reaction, instead of calling the paramedics, called the mother.
4. Told the mom they would give her the medecine and did not do it.

It takes only about 1/2 second for a kid to take a sip from a sippy cup; whether it was her own or the kids next to her makes no difference - unless an adult was standing directly behind Katie the entire time, watching every single sip she took, there was simply no way to be 100% certain that she could not get a sip of milk. This is not the level of supervision offered at the Neverland Club, and I don't seem to recall ever hearing any claims to the contrary.

No one asked for that kind of supervision. Start by giving the child the right drink and there would be no need to "stand behind her the entire time". She did not take her friend's drink. She drank what was put in front of her by the person in charge. The only thing she did wrong was trust that person, who is supposed to be qualified.

There are a lot of teachers in my family. My mother is one, my father used to be one and is now a principal. The key when you are responsible for children is to know what you limits are.
If the CMs at the Disney clubs are not properly trained to care for children with special needs - not just allergies but diseases like diabetes,epilepsy, asthma... then the right thing to do is to tell the parents that they can not accomodate their children.

 

[WillCAD]

I'm shocked that people still insist that the CMs werent to blame when they :

1. Accepted the medecine from the mother when they knew they were not allowed to administer it.
2. Gave the child the wrong drink, not just something different than what she ordered but the ONE thing they were told not to give her.
3. When the child had a bad reaction, instead of calling the paramedics, called the mother.
4. Told the mom they would give her the medecine and did not do it.

1. That was a major screw-up - Disney CMs are never allowed to administer or even provide meds to any Guest (except when a Guest purchases over-the-counter stuff from a shop), and every CM ought to know that. The intake CMs at the kids clubs should have better training. I lay that mistake on the management, not the individual CMs, because it's management's responsibility to see that all CMs are properly trained for their specific job.

2. According to the story, Katie took a sip from someone elses cup. Others here have speculated that this was a lie told by CMs who were trying to elude responsibility, but that was pure speculation.

3. First response is always to call the parent. Even at that time, OP herself did not feel that Katie's reaction was serious enough to call the paramedics, or even serious enough to leave Patasserie without first signing her credit card slip.

4. Darn tootin, that was a bad mistake. Every CM should know the no-meds policy by heart and should never tell a parent that they can do something that they can't. To me, that indicates inadequate training; again, that's a management problem that the CM should not be held responsible for, unless the CM knew the policy and gave out wrong information anyway.

No one asked for that kind of supervision. Start by giving the child the right drink and there would be no need to "stand behind her the entire time". She did not take her friend's drink. She drank what was put in front of her by the person in charge. The only thing she did wrong was trust that person, who is supposed to be qualified.

Read the original post of this thread again - that is not what the CM said happened, and OP never even said she doubted that - and I'm sure she asked Katie later.

There are a lot of teachers in my family. My mother is one, my father used to be one and is now a principal. The key when you are responsible for children is to know what you limits are.
If the CMs at the Disney clubs are not properly trained to care for children with special needs - not just allergies but diseases like diabetes,epilepsy, asthma... then the right thing to do is to tell the parents that they can not accomodate their children.

I agree 100% that everyone should know their limits when it comes to child care, and that Disney should not accept kids with life-threatening illnesses at the kids clubs if they are not equipped to properly handle them. I think this incident shows that Neverland Club at least is not prepared to handle kids with life-threatening illnesses. But since we all know now that such is the case, let's spread the word to all parents of kids with life-threatening illnesses that the kids clubs at WDW are not equipped to handle your kids' conditions and that it's not safe to leave such kids there.

But the fact that the Neverland CMs made mistakes down the line did not originally cause the problem. They only exacerbated it; the original cause of the problem was that Katie was left in a social setting, without the extremely high level of supervision necessary for her condition, where food was available, before she was ready to supervise herself. This was an understandable mistake by Mom, and she has not only taken steps to prevent the same mistake in the future, but has also shared her experience here so that other parents can learn from it and possibly avoid making that mistake themselves.

OP has also shared the mistakes made by CMs with Disney management in an attempt to correct them. She's not after compensation (as so many complainers are), or revenge to assuage a guilty consience (as so many complainers are), but she is instead pointing out major deficiencies in the kids club system in an attempt to get them corrected and prevent future illness. She's focusing on the real issue - blame is irrelevant, punishment is irrelevant, anger and outrage in and of themselves are counterproductive, all that matters is the safety of the kids.

Maybe SHE should run the kids clubs at WDW instead of whomever is in charge now.

 

[marivaid]

2. According to the story, Katie took a sip from someone elses cup. Others here have speculated that this was a lie told by CMs who were trying to elude responsibility, but that was pure speculation.

Read the original post of this thread again - that is not what the CM said happened, and OP never even said she doubted that - and I'm sure she asked Katie later.

The CM said she drank chocolate milk out of someone else's cup but then when the mom got to the club she got another story.

They then said that when they had placed their orders for dinner that Katie had ordered lemonade. The drinks come out in the park cups, ad only 1/2 filled, so you can't see what is inside them. Katie knows better than to eat or drink anyone else's food. She is very careful, but thought her drink was lemonade.

Katie knew what was safe to order for her dinner, and expected to receive her order.

Katie does wear a medic alert bracelet, and she does a great job knowing hat she can and can't have. Had she been handed a clear glass of milk she never would have touched it. The real issue was that she couldn't see what was in the glass. She now know to peek under the lids of any cup she can't see through.

For the record, Katie ie 6 years old. She knows that sh cannot eat anythng with milk, casein, or whey. She never shares food with friends, and carries her own lunch.She was with me when I went over what was safe for her to order for dinner with the staff, and she ordered what was safe.

I completly agree with you that the management is to blame and not the individual CMs.

 

[Sweetpeasmum]

WillCad, Originally on the phone they said she must have had a drink form her friend's cup. When I got there, they admitted THEY gave her the milk instead of the lemonade they ordered. Katie has confirmed that story. Katie has know from the age of three NOT to share food of any kind.

You are right, I have learned not to leave her in the kids clubs. I was under ther belief that they would actually adhere to their policies of checking identities, and their own allergy bands before serving food. I also figured they wouldn't serve her food she did not order, and specifically the ONE THING theat they KNEW she was allegic to. I figured they were able to read the name tag THEY placed on her. I was not expecting them to provide 1:1 supervision. I didn't ask for it either.

When I left her, Katie had only had a eczema reaction to milk. With the severity of this exposure, the allergy has obviously increased. Had she ever had a severe reaction, I wouldn't have left her. Now I know better.


I have admitted that I made mistakes, but again, I shared this story so that other parents could make informed decision before eaving their children in the clubs.

 

[Cool-Beans]

WillCad, Originally on the phone they said she must have had a drink form her friend's cup. When I got there, they admitted THEY gave her the milk instead of the lemonade they ordered. Katie has confirmed that story. Katie has know from the age of three NOT to share food of any kind.

You are right, I have learned not to leave her in the kids clubs. I was under ther belief that they would actually adhere to their policies of checking identities, and their own allergy bands before serving food. I also figured they wouldn't serve her food she did not order, and specifically the ONE THING theat they KNEW she was allegic to. I figured they were able to read the name tag THEY placed on her. I was not expecting them to provide 1:1 supervision. I didn't ask for it either.

When I left her, Katie had only had a eczema reaction to milk. With the severity of this exposure, the allergy has obviously increased. Had she ever had a severe reaction, I wouldn't have left her. Now I know better.


I have admitted that I made mistakes, but again, I shared this story so that other parents could make informed decision before eaving their children in the clubs.

It isn't just day care centers. You have to be ready for the schools to screw up, too. My son's teacher gave him a muffin that she thought was safe. However, a paste had been mixed into the dough before it was baked. That paste contained "powdered filberts." The teacher read the ingredients, but didn't know that filberts were nuts. The kid went into anaphylaxis right there in the classroom.

Luckily, there was someone there to give him the shot and call the EMTs and me.

The thing is, mistakes WILL happen. You can't prevent them, hard as you might try. It is all good and well to try to prevent a reaction, but your emphasis really needs to be on how to handle an emergency. If you're always thinking, "What will happen if my kid starts dying?" then she'll be safe.

If you spend you time on "How can I prevent a problem?" without bothering to prepare for it, she could end up dead. Some kids do die because of this stuff.

You can't count on other people. They'll let you down. Count on YOU, because you're the one one who loves her and you are where the buck stops.

 

[Dina]

It isn't just day care centers. You have to be ready for the schools to screw up, too. My son's teacher gave him a muffin that she thought was safe. However, a paste had been mixed into the dough before it was baked. That paste contained "powdered filberts." The teacher read the ingredients, but didn't know that filberts were nuts. The kid went into anaphylaxis right there in the classroom.

Luckily, there was someone there to give him the shot and call the EMTs and me.

The thing is, mistakes WILL happen. You can't prevent them, hard as you might try. It is all good and well to try to prevent a reaction, but your emphasis really needs to be on how to handle an emergency. If you're always thinking, "What will happen if my kid starts dying?" then she'll be safe.

If you spend you time on "How can I prevent a problem?" without bothering to prepare for it, she could end up dead. Some kids do die because of this stuff.

You can't count on other people. They'll let you down. Count on YOU, because you're the one one who loves her and you are where the buck stops.

I agree with the above post 100%-- be prepared for a problem. Schools screw up, grandparents screw up, you're probably going to take your children to birthday parties some time, and it's hard to tell a parent that they can't have x,y or z at the party. My son's pre-k teacher gave him an m&m as a reward last year (knowing full well of his peanut allergy). When I picked him up from school, he had hives all up his arms and was really lethargic. First thing I said to him was "what did you eat?" he said an M&M. He said, it's ok it didn't have peanut butter. The teacher added- "mom it was a plain one not a peanut." If she would have read the bag, she would have known that even the plain contain peanuts. My son knew he couldn't have M&Ms. He said to the teacher, "I can't have that it has peanuts". She assured him it was fine-- it wasn't. Luckily I actually walk around with benedryl (along with epi and inhaler-- in my purse-- I'm like Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman. I gave him benedryl right there and he was ok. The teacher also had an epi pen in her classroom, but didn't realize there was a problem. You have to be prepared for the worst at all times. Also be prepared to fight for your child's rights. In August when we flew, USAir wasn't going to let us bring Benedryl on the flight only the epi pen. I had read 4oz of non prescription medicine was ok. That was exactly what I had, sealed. I fought, they said "no, it needed to be medicine for a life threatening problem", if he has the epi, that's all he needs. Then they said "maam, why would your son eat a peanut if he's allergic" I almost cried I was so frustrated with these people. I had to explain the peanut oil, and give them all different scenarios. I explained that if I have to administer the epi, they have to land the plane (that's the protocol), and that benedryl could possibly prevent it from getting to that point. Once they heard that, they handed me back my bottle right then and there, and let us on the plane. As moms with this type of allergy, we need to be proactive.

 

[TinkerbellMama]

It isn't just day care centers. You have to be ready for the schools to screw up, too. My son's teacher gave him a muffin that she thought was safe. However, a paste had been mixed into the dough before it was baked. That paste contained "powdered filberts." The teacher read the ingredients, but didn't know that filberts were nuts. The kid went into anaphylaxis right there in the classroom.

Luckily, there was someone there to give him the shot and call the EMTs and me.

The thing is, mistakes WILL happen. You can't prevent them, hard as you might try. It is all good and well to try to prevent a reaction, but your emphasis really needs to be on how to handle an emergency. If you're always thinking, "What will happen if my kid starts dying?" then she'll be safe.

If you spend you time on "How can I prevent a problem?" without bothering to prepare for it, she could end up dead. Some kids do die because of this stuff.

You can't count on other people. They'll let you down. Count on YOU, because you're the one one who loves her and you are where the buck stops.

My son does not have a life-threatening allergy but cannot have dairy. We will be homeschooling him (not for this reason), but I have often wondered how children with severe food allergies can ever be truly protected at school. I know a lot depends on the individual school's policies, the awareness/competence of the teacher, the age and judgment of the child, and the parents taking responsibility for providing accurate information regarding the special needs and what to do immediately if a reaction were to occur. Still, it's a scary thought, that a child could die or become very ill after ingesting an allergen at school! I realize that not everyone with a critically allergic child can or wants to homeschool, but since young children lack the capacity to FULLY understand their allergies and what to do in ALL cases of emergency (not to mention that they would be incapacitated at that point), it seems particularly risky. I truly feel for all parents and children in this difficult situation.

 

[TinkerbellMama]

I agree with the above post 100%-- be prepared for a problem. Schools screw up, grandparents screw up, you're probably going to take your children to birthday parties some time, and it's hard to tell a parent that they can't have x,y or z at the party.

You know, as a mom of a dairy-free child, I never realized how odd it is that I make my son's birthday cakes and then let the other parents know it is dairy, peanut, egg, and gluten-free. A mom at my son's recent birthday party asked me if I happened to know what was in an item I served, and I whipped out the box. She couldn't believe I had brought it with me (the box was emptied at home into a serving dish), but I guess it's just an allergy/sensitivity mom thing. I like to read labels and our friends know it, so they've started saving boxes and bags, as well. I wouldn't think anything of it if a mom or dad inquired about what we planned to serve at a party, and I'd be very happy to accommodate any special requests with advance notice. I guess when you live in Special Dietary Needs Land, you learn the language and the customs and come to view these procedures as normal!

 

[yeartolate]

I thought the kid had their own. I stand corrected.

But I don't change my mind. Children with life-threatening allergies shouldn't be left in the care of people who aren't trained to handle those situations. It is gambling with their very life...not worth the risk.

A parent knows their child best, but a drop in day care center 3000 miles away from home would not make me comfortable if my young child had life threatening allergies.

 

[NotUrsula]

I believe that the OP has made it clear that at the time she decided to leave her daughter at NLC, she was unaware that the allergy might possibly be life-threatening. If the only reaction she had had on previous occasions was hives, there was no strong reason for her mother to believe that a minor exposure might cause a respiratory reaction that would threaten her life.

Now, some people with long experience of such allergies, whether personal or professional, might say that was naive, and perhaps it was, but being naive and being recklessly negligent are two different things in my book. She learned from her mistake, and since she was brave enough to tell about it here, many other people have learned from it, too.

 

[TapCat]

A parent knows their child best, but a drop in day care center 3000 miles away from home would not make me comfortable if my young child had life threatening allergies.

To be honest, the idea of leaving a young child without life-threatening allergies at a drop-in day-care center 3000 miles from home makes me a little uncomfortable. Who are these people who will be caring for my kids? I have no idea, and that makes me uncomfortable.
I figure the point of a Disney vacation is the family time. We'll save the babysitters for when we're at home. But I do understand that everyone has their own level of comfort and their own vacation needs.

 

[WillCAD]

I figure the point of a Disney vacation is the family time. We'll save the babysitters for when we're at home. But I do understand that everyone has their own level of comfort and their own vacation needs.

I can't fault even the best parents for wanting a little break from the kids now and again.

Plus, there are certain activities at WDW that are adult-only, like spa treatments, or the Chef's Table at V&A, or even a romantic couples dinner at V&A or California Grill, where the parents just need a sitter for a short period of time.

And places like the Neverland Club, or the Pirates Cruise, are kid-only activities that many kids really want to try; they're not just there as child care services, but as genuine activities for the kids.

Despite the problems OP had, which I hope will be quickly fixed, Disney child care is still some of the best.

 

[hsmamato2]

A few tips from a nurse and a mom of a kid with a life-threatening allergy.

Benadryl will NOT prevent an anaphylactic reaction. It isn't strong enough. Anaphylaxis (which can kick in within seconds to minutes of ingesting the crap) will cause the child to die within minutes. The Epi-pen and inhaler ALWAYS need to be where the kid is, not with the mom. And even with the shot of epinephrine, the child will need to be taken to the hospital. Epi-pens just buy you time to get to the hospital, so the child doesn't die before you can get there.

When traveling, call 911 for emergencies (anaphylaxis totally qualifies! ) Don't bother trying to find the nearest hospital...you could get lost and then your child could die.

When leaving your child with people you don't know, always find out if there is someone there who is trained to use an Epi-pen and inhaler. Talk to them and make sure you're comfortable with their ability to use it. If there isn't such a person, don't leave your child there.

And never, EVER trust people in restaurants to tell you the truth. It is all good and well to tell them about the allergy and ask them to be careful...but DON'T COUNT ON IT!!!! They lie. They lie all the time. (But, they don't lie as much as they used to.) Always assume they might be lying and be prepared to deal with it if your child has a reaction.

Trusting others is kind and nice, but when it is your child's life you can't take the risk. Even if they aren't lying, mistakes can happen.

I'm guessing from the info you provided that, so far, your child hasn't had an anaphylactic reaction. But now that she's had the hives, it could be worse next time. Get a good allergy/asthma specialist to help you with what might come.

So, welcome to the club and good luck with being the mom of a life-threatening allergy kid! It isn't for the naive or for wusses, either.

Absolutely true! benadryl will work for milder reactions to stop the production of histamines fairly quickly- for allergies that require an epi-pen, the child should have one nearby just in case,and know how to use it- I didn't let my child go anywhere with anyone who wasn't aware of this. Till he was old enough to take care of things himself if he needed to. Lock my kid in a closet? you bet! just kidding, but I never left him with caretakers that i didn't know 100%, just a precaution I took knowing the wrong thing could kill him.
And,allergies are very scary- but one thing to note is every reaction can be different, depending on the state of the body at the time, if a person needs to be epi-penned, they have to go to a hospital, no questions asked.

 

[hsmamato2]

Ok, I have more cents to add.... I know EXACTLY how Katies mom feels...I've been in her shoes-my ds has had life threatening food allergies his whole life,and especially when he was younger, it was a real strain to be so careful. And then you feel relaxed..and then you slack a bit...and then something happens.... it happens! Parents aren't perfect eiether, but I don't see how anyone here has insulted OP at all. We all have our opinions,mine is i wouldn't leave my kid there if i had a concern such as this. What Op did wasn't wrong at all...just being human-
The CM's couldn't be expected to do a lot more either- a lot of them are conditioned to say"ok" to whatever request a guest is making.....if they could get her meds and give them to her, where is the line drawn for any meds? it could get pretty sticky, with all the kids,and all the possible meds,and untrained, basically babysitters watching over it all....
I don't think there is, or should be much finger pointing here,it's basically something that shouldn't have happened, but did, and Now Mom knows enough to not take that chance again,in that way!
And you can bet the CM's are being trained on how to handle allergies better, in many ways,Disney is so good for allergic people, they have a higher than ormal level of understanding on how to handle these issues.

 

[ReinerFam]

I have a daughter with severe tree nut allergies - I've been right where you were before and it stinks! I'm shocked that they didn't offer you anything!