If we need to visit an emergency room while in WDW...?

[Magpie]

How smoothly is it likely to go?

My 10yo son has been having dizzy spells for the last two weeks and he passed out cold twice this morning (with a handful of other 'near-misses', and one round of barfing, poor kid). But the doctor at the emergency room here says we should be fine to travel to WDW this Saturday. They'll be doing further tests on his heart when we get back, and in the meantime they said "just keep him hydrated".

I'm... worried. I mean, I'm grateful we've got the green light to travel as the boy would be heartbroken if we had to miss our trip, but this is our second emergency room visit in two weeks (he had croup earlier, and had a breathing crisis). We'll be buying whatever travel health insurance we can get, but I'm wondering if there's anything else we should know.

If he faints while we're at the park, what is the usual procedure? What should we expect? Will they call paramedics for us? Are there any out of pocket expenses we should be aware of? We're Canadians. I'd appreciate any advice you can give me!

Thank you!

 

[PatMcDuck]

I went to the ER for myself a few years ago. (Severe bursitis attack in a shoulder). I went to the one in Celebration. Much better than the ERs here in NJ. In just a couple of hours I was out of there, the ER Dr gave me the injections. (Here in NJ, they give you an Advil, tell you to consult an orthopedic, good luck getting an appointment within a week)

I think that is the ER WDW sends guest to.

 

[ELoop]

The closest hospital to Disney is Florida Hospital Celebration. If there is an emergency inside the park, run to the closest cast member and they will radio for help. Every park has a first aid station and a nurse on duty I believe. It wouldn't hurt to pop in and take a rest if you need to. There have been emergencies at the parks and it has been handled well.

 

[Magpie]

I went to the ER for myself a few years ago. (Severe bursitis attack in a shoulder). I went to the one in Celebration. Much better than the ERs here in NJ. In just a couple of hours I was out of there, the ER Dr gave me the injections. (Here in NJ, they give you an Advil, tell you to consult an orthopedic, good luck getting an appointment within a week)

I think that is the ER WDW sends guest to.

Thanks, it's very reassuring to know that the ER in Celebration is good. Actually - I lived in NJ as a kid, and it was the stories my mom told me about the hospitals there that had me so worried about visiting *any* American ER.

The closest hospital to Disney is Florida Hospital Celebration. If there is an emergency inside the park, run to the closest cast member and they will radio for help. Every park has a first aid station and a nurse on duty I believe. It wouldn't hurt to pop in and take a rest if you need to. There have been emergencies at the parks and it has been handled well.

So, if he just needs a cool, quiet place to sit or lie down for awhile, we can actually stop in at the first aid station? Are they marked on the maps?

This would be very reassuring, even if we don't end up needing it!

 

[OneLittleSpark]

Each park, I believe, has an emergency medical team on standby. They have a cart to get to an emergency situation as quickly as possible. If there is an emergency, the CMs will be well trained to deal with it.

Does he have any fatigue issues with this? If so, it might be advisable to look into using a wheelchair or stroller (if he's small for his age) to help conserve his energy. Even if he's not fatiguey, it might help him to have somewhere to sit down if a dizzy spell hits.

As has been said before, all the first aid stations have beds that can be used by anyone at any time if he needs to lay down at all.

When getting your insurance, make sure you explain that your son has an existing medical condition. It may increase the price of it, but if you don't tell them, and they find out later that he's already had problems with this, they can refuse to pay any of your expenses. I'm afraid I don't know any insurers who deal with existing conditions in Canada (I'm a Brit), but if you do a web search, you should find something useful!

I hope he gets better soon and that you have a wonderful, magical holiday, regardless of his health issues.

 

[Disney1976]

So, if he just needs a cool, quiet place to sit or lie down for awhile, we can actually stop in at the first aid station? Are they marked on the maps?

This would be very reassuring, even if we don't end up needing it!

Yes, they are marked on the map, and you shouldn't hesitate to stop in if your son or someone else in your party needs to get out of the heat and rest, is feeling faint, or something of that nature. They are happy to assist guests.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

Hi and to disABILITIES!

I would suggest that you review the disABILITIES FAQ, which is the top item on the threads list for the forum, there is lots of good information.

Every park has a first aid location staffed by at least two RNs during all hours the park is open. It is a place where someone can also go to rest for short periods (under an hour).

In addition, Reedy Creek Emergency Services is a full Fire Department with Rescue Squad. They have a specially equipped squad, on a souped up golf cart with lights and siren, located in each of the four major parks during park hours.

As others have said, if there is an emergency in the parks have the nearest Cast Member call for assistance. If there is need to transport a person to the ER, RCES will take care of it.

If you are staying at a Disney Resort, they are the department on call when you call 911.

Also, if there is need for emergency transport to the hospital, usually Disney will provide return transportation either to your Resort or where your car is at no cost to you.

And, as others have said, make sure he drinks plenty of water.

 

[OneLittleSpark]

If you need air-con, but aren't near the First Aid station, you can always just go inside any building nearby. He probably won't be able to lie down, but a quiet sit down in a restaurant, show or attraction waiting area could be enough to get him back on his feet.

If he's having problems with the heat, there are various tips on this board on keeping cool. I'll see if I can dig out some of the old threads.

 

[Magpie]

Each park, I believe, has an emergency medical team on standby. They have a cart to get to an emergency situation as quickly as possible. If there is an emergency, the CMs will be well trained to deal with it.

Does he have any fatigue issues with this? If so, it might be advisable to look into using a wheelchair or stroller (if he's small for his age) to help conserve his energy. Even if he's not fatiguey, it might help him to have somewhere to sit down if a dizzy spell hits.

As has been said before, all the first aid stations have beds that can be used by anyone at any time if he needs to lay down at all.

When getting your insurance, make sure you explain that your son has an existing medical condition. It may increase the price of it, but if you don't tell them, and they find out later that he's already had problems with this, they can refuse to pay any of your expenses. I'm afraid I don't know any insurers who deal with existing conditions in Canada (I'm a Brit), but if you do a web search, you should find something useful!

I hope he gets better soon and that you have a wonderful, magical holiday, regardless of his health issues.

I asked my husband, but since there's a good chance this is some kind of follow on to an illness he had a few weeks ago, he feels it's not a "medical condition"? I'm not sure what that means... We really don't know what's wrong with him, just that he had croup and since then he hasn't been right, and he faints, and there's something possibly up with his heart, but we won't know for sure about that until the tests are all in. There might be nothing wrong. The doctor says it could be just a virus.

But until last month, he's been healthy! Are you obliged to let the insurance company know if you've got a virus at the time you purchase the insurance? I really don't know... I'm obviously going to have to read the fine print.

He's been a bit "off", but I wouldn't say he's got particular fatigue issues... He gets tired more quickly than he should, and he's not sleeping well, but he's not noticeably ill most of the time. I expect he'll have to sit down periodically to rest.

I'm reluctant to use a wheelchair if he doesn't need one. But I'll keep that in mind as an option, if he seems very tired. Does Disney charge for the use of the chairs? He's far too big for a stroller.

Knowing the boy, he'd get a real kick out of using a chair. He was tickled to bits when they had him using one at the hospital today. Thanks for the good wishes! We're all so relieved we get to go!

 

[Magpie]

Hi and to disABILITIES!

I would suggest that you review the disABILITIES FAQ, which is the top item on the threads list for the forum, there is lots of good information.

Every park has a first aid location staffed by at least two RNs during all hours the park is open. It is a place where someone can also go to rest for short periods (under an hour).

In addition, Reedy Creek Emergency Services is a full Fire Department with Rescue Squad. They have a specially equipped squad, on a souped up golf cart with lights and siren, located in each of the four major parks during park hours.

As others have said, if there is an emergency in the parks have the nearest Cast Member call for assistance. If there is need to transport a person to the ER, RCES will take care of it.

If you are staying at a Disney Resort, they are the department on call when you call 911.

Also, if there is need for emergency transport to the hospital, usually Disney will provide return transportation either to your Resort or where your car is at no cost to you.

And, as others have said, make sure he drinks plenty of water.

Thank you! This is exactly what I wanted to know. I'm going through the FAQs now.

And 'plenty of water' is exactly what the doctor told us when she sent us home this afternoon. I've been feeding the boy chicken soup and Gatorade. I kind of wish there was more they could do for him, but they really don't know yet what's up.

 

[OneLittleSpark]

Disney charges for their day-by-day rental in the park, but not for length-of-stay rental of chairs from their resorts (they take a card imprint as deposit, though). They have been known to run out, though and you can't reserve ahead of time. I think, because your son is smaller than an adult (I'm guessing), that he wouldn't be that comfortable in an adult wheelchair. You can rent kids size chairs for the length of your trip from some of the places listed in the FAQ.

Remember, just because you have a chair, doesn't mean you have to use it all the time. You can always use it to get between lands, or when he's feeling rough, and park it in a nearby stroller area the rest of the time. A lot of people here find it helpful to use the chair to get to a land, park it up, wander around, then get back in to go the the next land.

He does have a medical condition, though hopefully it's a temporary and fairly minor one. If he won't enjoy the holiday fully without the help of a First Aid room / wheelchair / afternoon breaks at the hotel / electric fan to keep him cool, then he needs that accommodation. You're not going to Disney just to get around it, you're going to have fun; so don't be ashamed to get him what he needs to play!

I'm sure you're doing a wonderful job for him; a lot of us here feel that Disney is the best medicine we could have! Go on holiday, have an amazing time, use whatever help you need and go play!

 

[Camster0307]

I believe there is a doctor that will make "house" calls to your resort. I remember reading about this a few weeks ago - another poster wrote of a doctor coming to his resort to check him out when he wasn't feeling well. Wondering if any other DISers out there have more details about that. I know this doesn't help you out in the parks; but, if you're at the resort & your son isn't feeling well - it could help avoid a trip to the ER.

I hope your son is feeling better and you won't need to utilize any of this info. Have a wonderful trip!

 

[Magpie]

He does have a medical condition, though hopefully it's a temporary and fairly minor one. If he won't enjoy the holiday fully without the help of a First Aid room / wheelchair / afternoon breaks at the hotel / electric fan to keep him cool, then he needs that accommodation. You're not going to Disney just to get around it, you're going to have fun; so don't be ashamed to get him what he needs to play!

I'm sure you're doing a wonderful job for him; a lot of us here feel that Disney is the best medicine we could have! Go on holiday, have an amazing time, use whatever help you need and go play!

Thank you - this is very encouraging! Knowing there's all these possible accommodations means I feel much more confident playing things by ear.

I hope your son is feeling better and you won't need to utilize any of this info. Have a wonderful trip!

He does seem better this morning - I actually sent him to school! I wrote a note for his teacher, and I'm going to try not to worry. Although, honestly, the boy's lucky I'm not following him everywhere he goes with my hand on his elbow.

But I'm feeling more secure now that I know what will happen if he does faint while we're at the parks. And also that there are things we can do if he gets tired or sick, that will allow him to still enjoy his vacation.

Thank you, everyone!

 

[Selket]

I think the wheelchair suggestion is a good option if you find he is getting too tired.

Although I sound like a broken record at times I HIGHLY recommend Tour Guide Mike for his touring plans and ideas and least crowded part advice. I noticed you posted on the Themepark board about taking it easy. Although you are leaving it soon I think it is well worth it to adjust your plans to take advantage of his least crowded park advice and touring advice. There are boards at the TGM site where folks would be happy to give you some emergency info if you explain your situation - to help you come up with touring plans fast. Mike's philosophy is to "zig" when everyone else "zags" so you end up avoiding the crowds.

My younger son has several medical issues and I often find myself adjusting plans to accommodate his needs for breaks, etc. I think the single biggest help is being able to hit the attractions he (and we) most want to see when it is the least crowded.

Have a great trip!

 

[OneLittleSpark]

May I suggest that, even if you decide to try without a wheelchair, you take the phone numbers of some of the rental companies that deal with kids chairs (in the FAQ)? That way you've got the information with you, just in case. I sincerely hope you don't need to use it, and that your trip goes without a hiccup!

Have a wonderful, magical trip!!

 

[Magpie]

I think the wheelchair suggestion is a good option if you find he is getting too tired.

Although I sound like a broken record at times I HIGHLY recommend Tour Guide Mike for his touring plans and ideas and least crowded part advice. I noticed you posted on the Themepark board about taking it easy. Although you are leaving it soon I think it is well worth it to adjust your plans to take advantage of his least crowded park advice and touring advice. There are boards at the TGM site where folks would be happy to give you some emergency info if you explain your situation - to help you come up with touring plans fast. Mike's philosophy is to "zig" when everyone else "zags" so you end up avoiding the crowds.

My younger son has several medical issues and I often find myself adjusting plans to accommodate his needs for breaks, etc. I think the single biggest help is being able to hit the attractions he (and we) most want to see when it is the least crowded.

Have a great trip!

I've got the Unofficial Guide and their list of best times of the day to see attractions, and best parks to visit. What I've been doing - based on the advice from the Themepark board - is getting the kids to list their "must sees" and then highlighting them on our UG touring plans. Anything that's not highlighted, we'll just skip over. I'm surprised by some of the things they're picking! Not the obvious "headliners", just the stuff they found most memorable from our last trip (like the Journey into Imagination with Figment). And they've been very clear about the shows they don't need to see again, like the Little Mermaid show in Disney Studios.

I considered trying TGM, but I'm uncertain I'd be able to get comfortable with the site before we leave this Saturday. The notice is too short, and we won't have our laptop while we're traveling.

Thank you, though! I do appreciate the advice and the good wishes.

 

[Magpie]

May I suggest that, even if you decide to try without a wheelchair, you take the phone numbers of some of the rental companies that deal with kids chairs (in the FAQ)? That way you've got the information with you, just in case. I sincerely hope you don't need to use it, and that your trip goes without a hiccup!

Have a wonderful, magical trip!!

Thanks for the advice! I'll do that.

 

[SandrainNC]

We got to visit the Celebration ER this past trip. They took very good care of my youngest. We went there by ambulance though. He had a febrile seizure (his first ever) in our room and scared us to death!

Sandra

 

[Magpie]

We got to visit the Celebration ER this past trip. They took very good care of my youngest. We went there by ambulance though. He had a febrile seizure (his first ever) in our room and scared us to death!

Sandra

Oh wow - I can just imagine how scary that must have been for you! I hope he's feeling better now.

 

[SueM in MN]

If he has a problem in the parks, as has already been mentioned, First Aid is available. There is one in each park and they are staffed with RNs. We make use of First Aid several times per trip and the staff are very nice. For more complex problems, they can contact EMS.

If he has a problem at your resort, the front desk has lists of contacts/phone numbers.