Would you call an ambulance?

Published

  1. Would you call an ambulance?

    • 2
      Yes
    • 68
      No

70 members have participated

Scenario:

First grader lower function ASD student found during snack time by his one on one with two over the counter pain meds in his snack bag. No acute distress. Would you call an ambulance immediately?

yes or no

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Specializes in Home Health,Dialysis, MDS, School Nurse.

No. I see no reason to call an ambulance. No evidence that he took any meds. No distress. I'd call home and ask about the meds in the sack.

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Specializes in School Nurse, past Med Surge.

No, but I would call home. Did you call an ambulance?

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No - I would contact the parent. I have had parents put OTC meds in with their kids lunch with instructions to take the med after they eat.

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Specializes in kids.

Not without any signs or symptoms of an overdosee, possibly poison control? Definitely administration and the parent/guardian.

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Specializes in School nursing.
Not without any signs or symptoms of an overdosee, possibly poison control? Definitely administration and the parent/guardian.

Yep. No proof student ingested them. I'd call home for more information first.

Aside: I have parents send students in with OTC meds in a baggie all. the. time. Ugh. I stock them - parents know this, know they can sign off on our health emergency form for administration of ibuprofen or acetaminophen by me after I evaluate their child. So call/email me that student is feeling "meh" and I'll check in. But the parents that send those baggies haven't send me that home form...

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While giving One parent a chance to get in touch with the other (less than 5 minutes), principal was made aware of situation by the students one on one, Principal is questioning my medical judgement on why one was not called immediately. Ultimately after speaking with poison control and not being able to conclude if additional meds were ingested if any, 911 was called. I wanted to give parents a chance, but the principal wanted an ambulance.

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No, but I would call home. Did you call an ambulance?

see comment above

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Specializes in Home Health,Dialysis, MDS, School Nurse.

I really think that is excessive. An ambulance for a child in NO distress, who *may* have taken an OTC pain med (I'm assuming tylenol/motrin)? I think it would have been parents decision to figure out the situation, come get child for medical evaluation, or to let you know they wanted an ambulance.

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Specializes in Pediatrics Retired.

That's pretty amazing. Did EMS actually transport the poor little dude?

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Is the principal going to pick up the tab for the ambulance??

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Specializes in Telemetry, Gastroenterology, School Nrs.

What would be the reasoning for calling an ambulance? No distress and no signs that he took the medication. I get that you have no idea how many pills may have been in the bag, but if no distress, I would call home first, to inquire. I'm wondering why medications and snacks were in the same bag?

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