Does anyone watch children with seizure?

This Tuesday that just pass I had a horrific situation to deal with. I have a 1 1/2 little guy who get febrile seizure, but he had a regular seizure. I have never seen one ever or handle it. He was foaming from the mouth, his body was jerking, eyes rolling back, the worst thing was he stop breathing. I had to perform CPR on the little guy. I was so scared I was going to lose the little guy! But thank God he was okay.

Would you guys as a daycare provider keep a liability like that? If you keep a child who has that condition what/how would you have yourself prepared for this.

Good for you for dealing with it! You should feel empowered that you handled the situation calmly and did all the right things!

I have not been in any sort of emergency situation (knock on wood) But I would think that maybe since you've gone through it once and you've handled it well you know what to do and what to look for next time.

I don't know if I'd keep that kind of liability. What else is mom supposed to do? Stay home from work because her child had a seizure? I guess I would want to make sure we know everything there is to know. What do the dr.'s say. What did you do right? What should you do if it happens again.

I used to take care of a little guy who had febrile seizures, though he never had one while he was in my care. I just made sure the mom explained to me exactly what I was to do if he had one, and read what it said in the CPR/First Aid book, so that I would be comfortable handling it.

Honestly this is a risk with ANY child in our care so we should have a plan in place for dealing with it either way ... aka have training in CPR and First aid, have emergency evacuation plan and drills where you practice scenarios and so forth so the kids 'know what to do' and so practicing allows you to perfect what works in a plan and what did not 'work' when put into practice.

That said I do not know if I could care with a child who had medical needs that put them at a higher a risk of needing emergency medical care increasing the odds that it could happen to its only a matter of time until it does happen ~ kwim? I guess I would have to weigh my current group and our ability to cope with meeting those needs.

We are working alone at that comes with risks just caring for 'normal healthy children' taking on a child with special medical conditions that could result in seizures or need of CPR and so forth it just increases the liability of said risk as you mentioned .... what if while dealing with this child's medical emergency another child gets into mischief and injuries themselves and so forth .... sometimes it is ok to say to a client 'upon reflection I am wondering if your childcare service needs might be better met with a nanny who can give undivided attention OR centre care where the front line educators have additional adult support in an emergency .... this is the great thing about the current childcare options across Canada ~ parents have CHOICE in the various models out there and how they meet varied needs ;)

Thank you for some of the quick replys. I do have an emergency plan and honestly I was never ready for that situation to happen. The little guy mother told me he has febrile seizures only, NOT a regular seizure, he has been in my care for 8 months and nothing ever happen. So honestly I was only prepared for febrile seizure. What makes it even more worst for me is that I'm 2 1/2 months pregnant. It was so hard to make the 911 phone call and try to preform CPR, count and watch all the other kids.

OMG! Pats on the back and hero of the day award and all good things for you and I certainly hope the parents appreciate you up to high heaven for going through such an ordeal. Has it happened before? Is it an ongoing condition that is being treated medically? I have a lot of questions before I could give you an answer.

My SIL has epilepsy and as long as he takes his medication he's great but he's in university and forgot to take the meds one day and sure enough he had a seizure. If I had a child who was being closely monitored and on meds I would not have a problem accepting them into care if I knew up front that the parents were being responsible. But then I don't have any problem accepting a child with a nut allergy or anything like that either.

Oops, we were typing at the same time. I think this is all of our worst nightmare, but I'm still wondering about meds and how this should be controlled. If you keep the child in care you should probably have more in depth training on how to handle the situation, although it sounds like you were wonderful.

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Originally Posted by Momof4

OMG! Pats on the back and hero of the day award and all good things for you and I certainly hope the parents appreciate you up to high heaven for going through such an ordeal. Has it happened before? Is it an ongoing condition that is being treated medically? I have a lot of questions before I could give you an answer.

My SIL has epilepsy and as long as he takes his medication he's great but he's in university and forgot to take the meds one day and sure enough he had a seizure. If I had a child who was being closely monitored and on meds I would not have a problem accepting them into care if I knew up front that the parents were being responsible. But then I don't have any problem accepting a child with a nut allergy or anything like that either.

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When they signed on the parents told me it was just febrile seizures and she told me everything to handle the situation and I felt comfortable enough to watch him. It was one time thing. When the situation that happen on tuesday she told me some more info that he has has a regular seizure without any warnings, and one more at my house. So in total he has had 2 regular seizure and 2 febrile seizure. So now they are trying to get an appointment at sick kids hospital in toronto.

Wow!!! So glad things turned out okay for him and you! YES, I would be concerned over liability. I only temp took care of a child who suffered from seizures, luckily she never had one in my care though. The mother provided an epipen to stick in her thigh and informed me to immediately call 911 IF she went into one. I was asked to take her full time and declined (she also had autism and didnt walk, got into everything) too much work.
A few years ago I had a little baby choke (on his own snot) at the time I didnt know what he had in his throat gagging and gasping for air, scariest situation ever, did infant back thrusts and called 911. in that moment so many thoughts went through my head, what if he dies? what will happen to me? my daycare? my life? doesnt take much to lose it all when we are in this job, the liability is extreamly high. There is so much at stake when you have someone elses child in your care. so glad everything turned out the way it did. The one thing I got out of the experience was...I could use my training and save a life.

I would not feel comfortable keeping a child with this condition in my care. First of all, there is just way too much risk involved. Second of all, why did the parents not tell you up front that he had had this type of "regular" seizure as well as teh "febrile" seizures (I put those in quotations because I don't really know the difference)? If a parent is hiding vital information like this, they would be gone immediately. I feel for parents who have to deal with this type of thing, but it is YOU who could end up being sued and your life ruined if the child dies in your care or if another child is hurt while you are busy dealing with a seizure.

agree with kangaroomama and reggio. you shouldnt put yourself in a "risk" situation like that, I'm sure you have way too much to lose. and reggio is right too, those parents shouldnt expect one person to take on a "special needs" child and a house of other kids as well, thats just not a safe choice from the parents stance. (i know it is "new" for them though) but maybe you could help edge them toward other care options, more of a one on one for this boy. It may just keep him alive rather than that "worst case scinario" of he has a seizure and then another child gets ingured.....ahhhh! I would go crazy out of worry for the moment it happens again. I always remind myself of the responsability we providers have of these parents "pride and joy" I'd like to think if something happened that what out of my control that I wouldnt be "blamed" by the parent, but when people are hurting they dont think rational, IF something happened to him, you could be blamed for not doing CPR correct or not calling 911 fast enough, and end up in prison! I know its a crazy thought but it could happen. In our world, there always has to be "someone to blame" dont be that person.

I do not accept children into care that have the potential for a life threatening emergency because it is just me here with the kids. In an emergency I can not devote myself entirely to the ill child without not watching the other children. What do you do continue to treat the choking child or put them down to grab the toddler that took the opportunity to stand up on a kitchen chair. Children with emergency potential are safer in group care where there are enough adults so that one can be assigned to deal with the child while another adult cares for the other children.

Having said that I have had children with epipens for bee stings and right now have a child with an egg and peanut sensitivity in that the reaction has only been rash around the mouth. But she had been in care for over a year before the reaction. Mom tests her monthly with eggs and the reaction is the same although baked goods are fine - just eggs alone. She still serves peanut butter to the brother and things have been ok. Had they been coming to me for an interview and shared this information I would have been suggesting group care to them since with food allergies it is better when there is a cook trained to deal with this and saves me from reading every package at the store since formulas change often such as for a milk or egg allergy.

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Originally Posted by kangaroomama

I would not feel comfortable keeping a child with this condition in my care. First of all, there is just way too much risk involved. Second of all, why did the parents not tell you up front that he had had this type of "regular" seizure as well as teh "febrile" seizures (I put those in quotations because I don't really know the difference)? If a parent is hiding vital information like this, they would be gone immediately. I feel for parents who have to deal with this type of thing, but it is YOU who could end up being sued and your life ruined if the child dies in your care or if another child is hurt while you are busy dealing with a seizure.

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Febrile seizure - Is caused by a child having a fever and it triggers a seizure to start. So you sorta get a prewarning.
Regular seizure - you do not get a warning, it can happen anytime of the day.

Well I am going to break the news to the parent on tuesday when he does come back, that I can no longer keep him. It's way too much of a liability for me, I am all by myself with 5 children. It's not worth the risk of getting myself into trouble or having another child hurt themselves while I am attending to him. I totally I agree she needs some place with. Two or more peoples on hand to care for the kids.

As a mom (also dayhome provider) my 3yr old has febrile seizures..... we have a medication that we insert in his bum like a suppository in the first minute it brings him out of it ...no harm no foul .....You do not get warnings with febrile siezures .......I'll tell you how ours came to light.

WE went for a vacation in Atlantic city , he was 14mths old .... healthy as a horse ! when his seizure started he ws NOT warm at all he was running and playing in our hotel room and then wanted his bottle started seizing in my husbands arms while drinking his bottle....he siezed for anywhere between 20 -45 minutes (by this time we were already at a hospital) by the time he was at the hospital he had a minor fever 100.3 and he finally stopped seizing after 3 doses of meds.. It turns out after much testing picking and prodding that he had a flu (afluenza a very common flu) in his system and thats what cause his very low grade fever and thats what contributed to his seizures it's been 15 months and many fevers but no seizures.

You will never know when it will hit ever . We take chances everyday taking children in to care , you will never know when a child will have one .

After all this thank goodness for travel insurance :) a $80,000 medical bill for 2.5 days in the hospital :ohmy:

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Originally Posted by Jtlt

Well I am going to break the news to the parent on tuesday when he does come back, that I can no longer keep him. It's way too much of a liability for me, I am all by myself with 5 children. It's not worth the risk of getting myself into trouble or having another child hurt themselves while I am attending to him. I totally I agree she needs some place with. Two or more peoples on hand to care for the kids.

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I think that is a very good plan. I certainly wouldn't be able to accept a child into care with a history of seizures. We travel every morning and I'm here to keep all 5 children safe at all times. We can't take care of the other 4 children if we have to save the life of 1. I don't even like to go to the splashpad unless I have a helper.

Jtlt I imagine your decision has already been made but I simply wanted to share my story. I care for my nephew who is now 3 and he was diagnosed with epileptic disorder when he was 2. He had his first and only seizure at the zoo, of course when he was alone with me and my son at the other end of the park. In order to ensure his safety and make me comfortable with ongoing care I drilled his parents with questions before and after every medical appointment in order to get as much information possible.
He also has a medication for his bum should he start a seizure and is taking oral meds twice a day. It does not prevent us from doing anything, I simply bring the emergency med and my cell phone with me at all times. Luckily in my case, as the aunt, i was able to attend the doctor meetings and the professionals clearly noted that he has to be treated like every other child and that he could not be held back in fear of a potential seizure. It was really hard for the first little bit, I watched him like a hawk... but (cross my fingers) nothing else has happened.
It would be a very different situation if the parents appeared to not have provided very important information about his seizures and if he is not being followed.
Good luck with your decision and meeting with the parents

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Originally Posted by Naftafia

Jtlt I imagine your decision has already been made but I simply wanted to share my story. I care for my nephew who is now 3 and he was diagnosed with epileptic disorder when he was 2. He had his first and only seizure at the zoo, of course when he was alone with me and my son at the other end of the park. In order to ensure his safety and make me comfortable with ongoing care I drilled his parents with questions before and after every medical appointment in order to get as much information possible.
He also has a medication for his bum should he start a seizure and is taking oral meds twice a day. It does not prevent us from doing anything, I simply bring the emergency med and my cell phone with me at all times. Luckily in my case, as the aunt, i was able to attend the doctor meetings and the professionals clearly noted that he has to be treated like every other child and that he could not be held back in fear of a potential seizure. It was really hard for the first little bit, I watched him like a hawk... but (cross my fingers) nothing else has happened.
It would be a very different situation if the parents appeared to not have provided very important information about his seizures and if he is not being followed.
Good luck with your decision and meeting with the parents

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Naftafia your a great aunt, to be able to go to the doctors appointment and be their for the little guy. I don't want to sound mean or selfish, if it was any of nieces or nephews i would do what you have done as well. It's not my responsiblity to push the parents to get their son help and find answers. But it is a hard decision to let him go, he is a great little guy. Plus i am 11 weeks pregnant and I cannot handle another febrile seizure during this pregnancy.

The parents disclosed vital information to me, and I feel that the trust is gone. If I wasn't prepared or knew what I was doing I could have lost the little guy. The parents are doing stuff now to get answers and going to sick kids hospital to figure out what is really wrong with him, the mother said that the doctors think he could have epilepsy.

I was a paramedic before having kids- so I am pretty calm about most medical things. Once a child is on a good med plan and being watched by doctors there is no reason that he should not be treated just like any other kid.

It is completely reasonable that you would request that he got to a center, nanny care, or a home center with an assistant.

my daughter has them when her temp goes up one degree higher. it is very scary and had no idea what happend with she first had one i was in shock. she had one around 13 months her first one and had mutiple ones that are longer and full blown Seziures. my adivce to you is make sure everyone is clam place them where they cant get hurt and put him on his side. if he has one for more them three mins call 911 or any signs of not being able to breath. likley my daughter has had hers when i didnt have the daycare kids. Its not something that i would want anyone to go through.