OT kinda question
janddplus5
My 6 yo daughter recently (last week) was on a walk with my dh and
his mom and she picked up a hypodermic needle off the street and in
the process poked herself. I never thought to tell my kids not to
touch needles. I have syringes with out needles in the house for
measuring liquid medications and so my kids have been around these
all their lives. She never even considered that it would hurt her
to touch it I am sure.
Many comments have been made by family and others (dr.s, nurses
etc.) since then like "I hope she learned her lesson". I am at a
loss as to what to say about this and these comments. I don't in
anyway feel at 6 years old that she is to blame for what happened
and if there is any blame to go around maybe it is mine for never
telling her not to touch.
My kids are very inquisitive and are always picking up something. I
don't want my kids to be hands off to everything, nor do I want to
scare them to death with all the things that could "possibly"
happen. How do ya'll handle it with the things you say to your
children about things that may harm them. I don't want to tell them
things that are untrue dangers either. I hope that this made
sense. Any advice is welcome. My kids are 11, 10, 8, 6, 5
Thanks, Dana
his mom and she picked up a hypodermic needle off the street and in
the process poked herself. I never thought to tell my kids not to
touch needles. I have syringes with out needles in the house for
measuring liquid medications and so my kids have been around these
all their lives. She never even considered that it would hurt her
to touch it I am sure.
Many comments have been made by family and others (dr.s, nurses
etc.) since then like "I hope she learned her lesson". I am at a
loss as to what to say about this and these comments. I don't in
anyway feel at 6 years old that she is to blame for what happened
and if there is any blame to go around maybe it is mine for never
telling her not to touch.
My kids are very inquisitive and are always picking up something. I
don't want my kids to be hands off to everything, nor do I want to
scare them to death with all the things that could "possibly"
happen. How do ya'll handle it with the things you say to your
children about things that may harm them. I don't want to tell them
things that are untrue dangers either. I hope that this made
sense. Any advice is welcome. My kids are 11, 10, 8, 6, 5
Thanks, Dana
Deb
That's a toughie because it's one of those in-a-moment things where
your DH and his mom would probably have stopped it if they had seen
it coming but it was over by the time a reaction could occur.
Our general rule o' thumb is 'pointy stuff' should be evaluated
before picking it up - whether it's glass, pins, needles, scissors,
knives, etc. In some cases, like scissors, he's able to handle them
by himself and has for a while. But, if we spot broken glass
someplace (your DD sounds like my DS - they want to clean up stuff
that has been littered around), he gets our attention to it first
and we check it out together and determine if we can pick it up and
take it to the trash without harm to ourselves. Away from the
situation, in general conversations, we've talked about germs and
cuts and things as situations come up (typically it's when he's
fallen and scuffed himself and we're patching things together). A
general 'be safe' concept and 'call us if you aren't sure' tied
together seems to work. This might be a time when you discuss the
idea of bio-hazards with the kids, maybe using something like colds -
you wash hands and don't use someone else's cup or re-use their
Kleenex if they're sick, that sort of thing. Then expand it to the
idea of 'you don't know where it's been and whether the person who
used it was sick' (and generalize sick rather than get into the
scary stuff which immediately jumps to a grownups mind).
--Deb
your DH and his mom would probably have stopped it if they had seen
it coming but it was over by the time a reaction could occur.
Our general rule o' thumb is 'pointy stuff' should be evaluated
before picking it up - whether it's glass, pins, needles, scissors,
knives, etc. In some cases, like scissors, he's able to handle them
by himself and has for a while. But, if we spot broken glass
someplace (your DD sounds like my DS - they want to clean up stuff
that has been littered around), he gets our attention to it first
and we check it out together and determine if we can pick it up and
take it to the trash without harm to ourselves. Away from the
situation, in general conversations, we've talked about germs and
cuts and things as situations come up (typically it's when he's
fallen and scuffed himself and we're patching things together). A
general 'be safe' concept and 'call us if you aren't sure' tied
together seems to work. This might be a time when you discuss the
idea of bio-hazards with the kids, maybe using something like colds -
you wash hands and don't use someone else's cup or re-use their
Kleenex if they're sick, that sort of thing. Then expand it to the
idea of 'you don't know where it's been and whether the person who
used it was sick' (and generalize sick rather than get into the
scary stuff which immediately jumps to a grownups mind).
--Deb
Have a Nice Day!
Just wanted to add that you should probably have your child evaluated by a doctor and tests run to make sure she wasn't exposed to Hepatitis B, C, or HIV.
Kristen
Kristen
----- Original Message -----
From: janddplus5
To: [email protected]
Sent: Monday, January 09, 2006 2:09 PM
Subject: [UnschoolingDiscussion] OT kinda question
My 6 yo daughter recently (last week) was on a walk with my dh and
his mom and she picked up a hypodermic needle off the street and in
the process poked herself. I never thought to tell my kids not to
touch needles. I have syringes with out needles in the house for
measuring liquid medications and so my kids have been around these
all their lives. She never even considered that it would hurt her
to touch it I am sure.
Many comments have been made by family and others (dr.s, nurses
etc.) since then like "I hope she learned her lesson". I am at a
loss as to what to say about this and these comments. I don't in
anyway feel at 6 years old that she is to blame for what happened
and if there is any blame to go around maybe it is mine for never
telling her not to touch.
My kids are very inquisitive and are always picking up something. I
don't want my kids to be hands off to everything, nor do I want to
scare them to death with all the things that could "possibly"
happen. How do ya'll handle it with the things you say to your
children about things that may harm them. I don't want to tell them
things that are untrue dangers either. I hope that this made
sense. Any advice is welcome. My kids are 11, 10, 8, 6, 5
Thanks, Dana
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janddplus5
--- In [email protected], "Have a Nice Day!"
<litlrooh@c...> wrote:
to Hepatitis B, C, or HIV.
I guess I should have included that. I already took her to the E.R.
for blood work and to be evaluated the day of the stick. She is on
meds for HIV and Hepatitis. She will have to be on it for 28 days
or until we can get the owner (which we know now who that is)
tested. The lady is not in much of a hurry to get tested and I am
none to happy about that, cause the longer she waits the longer my
daughter has to take these meds that have pretty severe side
effects.
Dana
<litlrooh@c...> wrote:
>evaluated by a doctor and tests run to make sure she wasn't exposed
> Just wanted to add that you should probably have your child
to Hepatitis B, C, or HIV.
>Hi Kristen,
> Kristen
I guess I should have included that. I already took her to the E.R.
for blood work and to be evaluated the day of the stick. She is on
meds for HIV and Hepatitis. She will have to be on it for 28 days
or until we can get the owner (which we know now who that is)
tested. The lady is not in much of a hurry to get tested and I am
none to happy about that, cause the longer she waits the longer my
daughter has to take these meds that have pretty severe side
effects.
Dana
vicki a. dennis
If you know who the needle belonged to you might consider local or state
statutes regarding safe disposal and her liability for failing to dispose
properly. Worry about liability might nudge her cooperation!
That said..my opinion would be that you encourage your children to look
carefully before handling whether it be needles or pieces of wood or broken
glass or rocks/logs that might be harboring biting/stinging beasties. Age
6 also probably not too young to address the issue of treating all blood
as potentially dangerous......the days of children becoming "blood brothers"
or helping each others boo-boos with spit or even proving their mettle by
picking off scabs need to become a thing of the past. No way for that to
happen without providing information.
Vicki...from wildfire country where I also think it useful to show children
safe ways to explore working with combustibles instead of just saying "don't
touch", "don't pick up", "don't, don't, don't".
-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected]
[mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of janddplus5
Sent: Monday, January 09, 2006 4:47 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: [UnschoolingDiscussion] Re: OT kinda question
meds for HIV and Hepatitis. She will have to be on it for 28 days
or until we can get the owner (which we know now who that is)
tested. The lady is not in much of a hurry to get tested and I am
none to happy about that, cause the longer she waits the longer my
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
statutes regarding safe disposal and her liability for failing to dispose
properly. Worry about liability might nudge her cooperation!
That said..my opinion would be that you encourage your children to look
carefully before handling whether it be needles or pieces of wood or broken
glass or rocks/logs that might be harboring biting/stinging beasties. Age
6 also probably not too young to address the issue of treating all blood
as potentially dangerous......the days of children becoming "blood brothers"
or helping each others boo-boos with spit or even proving their mettle by
picking off scabs need to become a thing of the past. No way for that to
happen without providing information.
Vicki...from wildfire country where I also think it useful to show children
safe ways to explore working with combustibles instead of just saying "don't
touch", "don't pick up", "don't, don't, don't".
-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected]
[mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of janddplus5
Sent: Monday, January 09, 2006 4:47 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: [UnschoolingDiscussion] Re: OT kinda question
meds for HIV and Hepatitis. She will have to be on it for 28 days
or until we can get the owner (which we know now who that is)
tested. The lady is not in much of a hurry to get tested and I am
none to happy about that, cause the longer she waits the longer my
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
nrskay
Vicky; your right about the disposal of sharps. Whenever a
pharmacists gives out needles for a diabetic or other needs, they must
give them a red sharps container. That container must be sealed with
duct tape once full.
She can be held accountable for not disposing of the needles
properly. As a home health RN it was my responsibility to make sure
the patients knew how to care for their sharps and the containers.
You can place some pressure on her that you could report her to the
department of health services. That might get her to act a little
more quickly about those tests.
Kay
pharmacists gives out needles for a diabetic or other needs, they must
give them a red sharps container. That container must be sealed with
duct tape once full.
She can be held accountable for not disposing of the needles
properly. As a home health RN it was my responsibility to make sure
the patients knew how to care for their sharps and the containers.
You can place some pressure on her that you could report her to the
department of health services. That might get her to act a little
more quickly about those tests.
Kay
janddplus5
--- In [email protected], "nrskay" <k_bird@c...>
wrote:
Well initially she was pretty nonchalant about the whole thing and
didn't even apologize. I did report her and the sheriff's office
sent an officer to her house to inquire about the tests. She said
she would have them done. I called her last night and she said she
did the tests on Fri and would call me today with the results.
However I am requesting the the results be sent to my daughters
doctor so that we know for sure. I am not willing to just take her
word for it.
I have already talked a little to my daughter, but I think the
advice I recieved is right. I am gonna explain to them the possible
dangers that germs and diseases pose. I am going to readdress the
not handling things that are dirty in that way and that if they are
unsure about then they need to ask me or their dad. They are still
young enough that I don't feel that this is unreasonable. When they
get older they will hopefully be better at making the judgment as to
whether something is safe to handle or not. In the mean time I need
to help them so that we can cut down on accidents that could have
been prevented.
Thank you all so much for your thoughts on this situation. Ya'll
are so great at putting things in a different perspective for me. I
am learning not to panic as often and to think things through a
little more logically and level headed.
Dana
wrote:
>must
> Vicky; your right about the disposal of sharps. Whenever a
> pharmacists gives out needles for a diabetic or other needs, they
> give them a red sharps container. That container must be sealedwith
> duct tape once full.sure
>
> She can be held accountable for not disposing of the needles
> properly. As a home health RN it was my responsibility to make
> the patients knew how to care for their sharps and the containers.the
>
> You can place some pressure on her that you could report her to
> department of health services. That might get her to act a little***
> more quickly about those tests.
>
> Kay
>
Well initially she was pretty nonchalant about the whole thing and
didn't even apologize. I did report her and the sheriff's office
sent an officer to her house to inquire about the tests. She said
she would have them done. I called her last night and she said she
did the tests on Fri and would call me today with the results.
However I am requesting the the results be sent to my daughters
doctor so that we know for sure. I am not willing to just take her
word for it.
I have already talked a little to my daughter, but I think the
advice I recieved is right. I am gonna explain to them the possible
dangers that germs and diseases pose. I am going to readdress the
not handling things that are dirty in that way and that if they are
unsure about then they need to ask me or their dad. They are still
young enough that I don't feel that this is unreasonable. When they
get older they will hopefully be better at making the judgment as to
whether something is safe to handle or not. In the mean time I need
to help them so that we can cut down on accidents that could have
been prevented.
Thank you all so much for your thoughts on this situation. Ya'll
are so great at putting things in a different perspective for me. I
am learning not to panic as often and to think things through a
little more logically and level headed.
Dana