Anyone mind if I educate about kids health?

Those of you that know me know that my main job is as an ER/A&E nurse here in the UK. Can I just take this opportunity to educate a little on how fragile our kids are and yet how strong they are? Yes? Thought so

OK, typical picture of a poorly adult.

As an adult (with a serious illness) you'll find that my blood pressure drops in accordance with how poorly I am. My pulse may also be affected, as may other vital signs. In short, you know I'm poorly because all my vitals show it.

Now imagine I'm a kiddie. As I get poorlier and poorlier my vitals stay the same, within normal limits. This goes on for a while, I'm now desperately ill yet my vitals stay the same. I'm so ill by now that any Doctor or Nurse that sees me needs to act quickly to save my life yet still my vitals remain within normal limits. Suddenly my vitals drop, my blood pressure is low, my pulse is high. Too late. By the time a kiddies blood pressure drops you're (we're) fighting a losing battle.

Your kids are precious! They also compensate really, I mean REALLY well. If your child has asthma and he is unwell with it then GET HIM SEEN! If your child is unwell at all then get him seen. As an A&E nurse I'd rather see a million well kids than see ONE where the parents have waited and waited to see what happens.

BY THE TIME YOUR CHILDS BLOOD PRESURE HAS DROPPED IT'S TOO LATE!!

I don't mean to be a scaremongerer or anything but as parents we all need to realise that our kids are gold-medallists at compensating and appearing well (or semi-well) when in fact they are desperately ill.

Don't take any chances, get em seen ASAP.

I have asthma and it's funny how many people / parents think of it how something unserious.

Thank you for that.. It was very nice to hear that encouragement, some people need it.

How is the nursing life over there in the UK? I am going to start my RN school in January!! (yay me!) I cant wait, i have been on the waiting list so long, and i am happy to finially start.

JaGWiRE wrote in post #2242812
I have asthma and it's funny how many people / parents think of it how something unserious.

I always thought it was no big deal really. Untill i started taking college classes on Anatomy and really learning things, i now understand how bad certian things are, and i feel for people that have certian ailments that usually go unnoticed by others.

Hope all stays well with you Jag.

JaGWiRE wrote in post #2242812
I have asthma and it's funny how many people / parents think of it how something unserious.

very true.. they think of it as allergies.. like having a runny nose... when it can be a serious struggle to breath..

saravrose wrote in post #2245111
very true.. they think of it as allergies.. like having a runny nose... when it can be a serious struggle to breath..

Yup, you can die from it.

I don't know, when you have a virus or cold I don't mind people giving you suggestions like (go drink some hot tea or whatever), but when you have asthma or a serious medical condition I hate it when people think they know best and that these things can just be waived off.

I honestly think a lot of people shouldn't be parents just because they have no education whatsoever about taking care of children medically and have no idea what to do when something happens.