What would you do (with high yuck factor).

Published

Specializes in Adult M/S.

Hi. This morning a 6 yr old 1st grader was on the play ground, picked up a plastic tampon applicator and, after her teacher repeatedly told her to throw it in the trash, instead stuck it in her mouth. She was sent to the office to wash her mouth out with mouthwash (which she refused to do) and was then sent back to class. The office called home. The girl's mother didn't think it was serious. The girl's aunt came to school and insisted on filling out a report. She asked about the school's insurance and insisted that the health clinic do a blood draw to check for Hep B HIV etc. all on the school dime. Would you recommend a blood draw for this? I talked with the office staff and said while there was a possibility of the girl getting something it was highly, highly unlikely.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I do school nursing,PRN and the county I work in have a policy for possible blood exposure. Usually the parents are notified and a letter is sent home. It is always recommended to follow up with PCP, and etc. I believe we follow up with the health department too. Yes, that is gross, though.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Medical Surgical Telemetry.

I would first research what blood borne diseases are still active after air exposure...from what I recall, dried blood that has been exposed to air I don't believe can contain an active virus. Now I'm off to research/google......

Up Vote Up Vote ×

What kind of first grader is this? I still can't get past the fact that she put it in her mouth. I don't care if she didn't know what it was or not. It came off the GROUND. *blank stare*

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Sounds like a mess. Our school offers accident insurance to every student that the parent can purchase. They all decline I remind the parents of this when they start in with complaints...If the child picked up a tampon applicator at home and did this do you think the parent would be rushing off to the doctor? Probably not

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in school nursing, ortho, trauma.

well, i can't give a whole lot of advice on this (this is a had to be there, and this walks the line of violating our TOS) but i will say this - if i were the teacher there would be no telling the student "several times" I'd tell the student once, if she didn't obey, then i'd go over and intervene. The aunt does not have the authority to make such a fuss if the parent has already been spoken to and is calm about the situation. If mom freaks out later and wants to come in later to have a report filled out, then that is a different thing, but the aunt, unless she has POA, just needed to sign the child out per moms request, presumably.

At the end of the day, the child had certainly come in to contact indirectly with worse than this. Do you know how many students on their menses will come to my office looking for supplies, use my bathroom and will need to be reminded to wash their hands? They don't have anyone reminding them in the regular communal bathroom. .

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in kids.

What authority does the aunt have?

Is she legal guardian?

If not then she cannot insist on anything and you should not even have a conversation with her (Confidentiality).

I would refer to PCP and let them deal with it.

Who is going to order said blood draw?

Who will interpret the findings?

and who will make any health related decisions based on results?

May be time to check on with facilities re trash pick up on school grounds as well.

I agree HUGE ick factor here!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment