ok, in the pets section we are discussing people being informed before they get pets... and in the general we are discussing the death of a child...
about 18 years ago (I know cause my son was just a few weeks old) i was at my brothers house. He was moving a boiling pot of pasta from the stove to the sink and didn't see his blind child sitting in the middle of the floor, tripped over him and burnt the entire body of the poor 4 yr old. Kevin, not realizing the damage, was late for work and continued to bolt out the door. I was only 19 at the time and didn't really know what to do.
I thought putting the boy in cold water would help, not sure if that was the right thing.
I DID have my ex get his car and drive him to the local ER AS FAST AS HE COULD GO as I stayed back with all the other kids (we had a houseful).. the mother went with David and my ex.
I'm sorry to say that David suffered severe burns, could see some of his bones, had to endure several surgeries to make his face look normal.
What I'm getting at in this post, is perhaps a requirement for parents, should be first aide and parenting classes be MANDATORY before the birth of their child! I know this might be redundant for some... but perhaps information might help prevent well meaning (as in my case) people from making huge mistakes (like throwing david in the tub?)
OK< I just googled it, turns out I did right by putting him in a cold tub! To this day I cry thinking about it. I love and miss my nephew. AFter my brother died, his mother wanted nothing to do with me.
What a sad story! Unfortunately, even teaching people first aid does not mean they will know what to do or follow through with in the event of an injury. My kids have to take health (which includes first aid) as a mandatory class in high school in order to graduate. Doctors and nurses teach parents safety and first aid all the time, at office visits, in the hospital, in community programs. Some people either forget what they are told or panic during an event and can't remember what they were told. Some people just ignore what they are taught & do the opposite. An example: I'm a nurse on a Mother/Baby unit and we teach new parents about the dangers of SIDS. One thing we stress is never to sleep with your infant whether it's in a bed, on a couch or recliner. Just don't do it! In the past year, I know of several incidents in which a baby that was born on our unit has died while sleeping with a parent. We repeatedly tell parents, when we find them co-bedding, of the dangers, only to have them get irritated at us. I guess they either don't believe us, or think it will never happen to them.
There are many times that I worry about the well-being of babies going home with parents who have less than stellar parenting skills. All we can do is try to show them the best way to care for their children and send them on their way.
Not sure what parental training would have done in this situation, since somehow the parent did not notice his son's bones showing through his skin and you wouldn't have taken parental training since you were the aunt. Well, I guess you would have had classes before your son was born.
I can't believe he didn't stop to check him! Poor baby.
It wasn't your fault, you shouldn't feel guilty. Yes, you did what you should have, and the best you possibly could have done without specific burn stuff. My father-in-law caught fire when his dad was burning brush and had just put gas on the fire. He was about 5. His dad grabbed him and rolled him in the mud since that was the closest thing he could use to put him out. He has tons of scars, but is alive (you won't see him in short sleeves even if it is beastly hot outside). You do what you can even if it isn't what a doctor in a hospital would do. Sure, my father in law would probably have been better off if his father had a bath tub of water to dunk his son in...but then it would probably have been a horse trough or fish pond...so probably not.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Loriann7
OK< I just googled it, turns out I did right by putting him in a cold tub! To this day I cry thinking about it. I love and miss my nephew. AFter my brother died, his mother wanted nothing to do with me.
I can say this, everyone parent or not should find a place to take a first aid class, you will feel better about yourself wether you ever have to use it or notand you would be surprised how in an emergency those long along lessons came back to you
The American Red Cross offers courses in first aid, CPR, use of defibrillators, sports safety, and much more! These are available in many communities. Google it and you can find out more.
first aid ... being informed
