Letting your child bring a friend: travel problems?

[DaughteroftheKing]

We've invited one of our DS's friends to come on the trip with us.

I know people do this all the time but it is new to us. Should I have this child's mom sign a paper/form/release/something?

 

[3happydancers]

We've invited one of our DS's friends to come on the trip with us.

I know people do this all the time but it is new to us. Should I have this child's mom sign a paper/form/release/something?

In the past, we have taken my nephew. We always had a copy of his medical insurance card and a letter from his parents authorizing medical treatment (don't know if you have to have this notarized but my sister always did.) We also made sure he had a photo id (obtained from the DMV).

 

[Aliceacc]

I would also include a list of cell phone numbers. Even if you know them by heart, or have them on your phone, get them written down.

And a list of any known allergies, along with the name/ phone number of his doctor.

 

[GrnMtnMan]

All of the above is nice to have, but not necessary, if a parent can be quickly reached with a cell phone. This type of list is a remnant of the days when not everybody had a smartphone or cell phone. Like even if you had a medical authorization from the parent, somebody would probably want to talk to the parent for anything serious. And nowadays most of us are instantly reachable 24/7. And most of us could text or email a picture of an insurance card.

Kids under 18 do not need any form of ID to fly on a plane. I think presenting one to TSA would actually raise more questions than just preceding as usual. tSA is not a law enforcement agency, and contrary to urban myth, there are no laws prohibiting people from crossing state lines with kids, unless you're planning to do something illegal or immoral with them.

Now if the parents will be going off-the-grid hiking in Nepal while you are in charge of the child, then some documents would be helpful (but not essential, as in the case of a life threatening emergency, medical providers have the right and obligation to do what is in their best judgement to treat a child).

I've done a bunch of trips to Disney and Universal with kids not my own (nieces and nephews)...the first time I brought along some letter my sister typed up. Then did some research and saw that it was overkill, and only useful in the case of *the parent* being unavailable.

 

[Aliceacc]

I've chaperoned at least my share of trips with high school kids.

As much as I would choose to have one anyway, I agree that in a crisis, the letter from mom and dad wouldn't be absolutely necessary in terms of saving a life-- ER staff will do whatever is necessary to save a life.

I think the difference is what goes beyond that-- what they're able to do in terms of pain management without written permission. They're not going to give so much as an aspirin unless they're confident that the patient doesn't have a known allergy.

Likewise, if the child is unconsicous, he isn't in a position to talk about his allergies. You may know that he's allergic to strawberries, but I would want it in writing that he's allergic to Avelox or Cefzil. I would assume that medical personnel would want it made very clear--in writing, and not take his word for what the allergy was.

And if the friend is a teen, and the boys are likely to spend some time without parents, then a photo ID is necessary.

And, as much as we sometime don't realize it, we're not all available 24/7. Sometimes we're in the shower, or swimming, or the phone is home recharging, or we're at a meeting (or, for me, in class) or at church, and the phone is turned off.

I've spent time in ERs in Pennsylvania and Chicago with other people's kids. And in2012 my husband landed in the ER while at WDW.

At the end of the day, you go with what you're comfortable with. As a teacher, I tend to lean towards "more is better"- the more info I can have in case of a problem, the better I'll sleep at night while chaperoning other people's kids.

 

[DaughteroftheKing]

Thank you all for the information. I think I will ask his mom to list any allergies and include a copy of his insurance card. She has a cell phone but I'm not sure it is one that can send pictures (so I wouldn't want to rely on her sending a pic if we needed it).

 

[Crl1817]

I would definitely would take a copy of the insurance card. Hospitals can and will refuse treatment without insurance unless the illness/injury is immediately life threatening. Same with parental consent, might as well have it to avoid waiting an hour for treatment of a sprained ankle because the parent can't be reached.

 

[SamSam]

We've always traveled with authorization papers whether traveling with our kids friends or now traveling with grandkids. Just makes me feel better and you never know when a cell phone may be out of commission. Here's a sample:


MEDICAL AUTHORIZATION FORM



______________, the undersigned, and parent of _____________, hereby authorizes _________________________, maternal grandparents of ___________, to authorize any and all medical treatment for ______________, they, in their discretion, see fit. This includes, but is not limited to, treatment to relieve pain.

A photocopy of this authorization shall be deemed effective as if it were an
original. This authorization shall remain in effect until ___________________.



MEDICAL INSURANCE COMPANY:

MEDICAL INSURANCE ID or GROUP #:

MEDICAL INSURANCE CO. PHONE #:

PEDIATRICIAN:

PEDIATRICIAN PHONE #:

Allergies:





___________________________________ ____
Signature DATE