school policy on nose bleeds

seamus23

Does anyone know primary school policy on nose bleeds? My 11 yr old daughter had a bad nose bleed from classroom to toilet and the teachers reaction? She gave her a couple of wipes and made her clean it up in front of her peers, from the classroom, down the hallway and into the toilets .... surely that can't be right. While in the hallway my daughter overheard the teacher say it was "gruesome" and getting a good laugh from the class. I've challenged them but of course the teacher has denied this and her and school principle have closed ranks. Any advice??????:(

Insect Overlord

Kids get nose-bleeds. They aren't a big deal. Getting a laugh out of the class probably stopped them from getting worried or freaked out themselves.

If it was a different kind of bleeding you might have a point, but I think you're over-reacting to this one.

byhookorbycrook

Most schools wouldn't have a policy for really specific areas like nose bleeds. What did you expect the teacher to do?

seamus23

I really felt the teacher should have cleaned it herself or got the janitor, if available but I didn't think you would make the girl who had the serious nose bleed do it. I don't know. Maybe I'm asking for too much. What if it was vomit, wee or faces. Would she be expected to clean that up as well????? Surely in this day and age there are policies and procedures for this kind of thing?????

Big Bag of Chips

Is there a fulltime "janitor" in the school who the teacher could have called? Your daughter is 11, capable of wiping up drops of her own blood off the floor. Had she been younger, in the junior classes for example the teacher probably would have done it.

If she had been sick or soiled herself, I'd imagine she would be sitting in the office waiting to be collected and someone else would clean it up.

A nose bleed, would be on the lower end of the "serious" scale. At 11 being given wipes to wipe the floor after a nose bleed is hardly reason to be going to the school... In my opinion, anyway.

ShamoBuc

I imagine at 11, wiping a bit of blood shouldn't be too hard - I really don't think a teacher should leave a class unattended while going down a corridor and into toilets cleaning.

Sick / soiling, is different. Normally I cover the area with tissue, open the windows, move whatever children are in it's area out of the way and ring the office for the caretaker. The child in question, depending on age, might get some of the 'spare clothing' from the office - if available. Obviously a phone call home as well.

spurious

The teacher, if expected to deal with it, would have been required to put on latex gloves. I think the best way was to let the child deal with it.

certifiedcrepe

I think that's unfair to be honest. Nose bleeds can be quite scary at any age (for me anyway) and at 11 they really give you a fright. School janitors have to clean up vomit and excretment so surely they can clean up some blood too. I get the teacher making light of a bad situation but but she could have made a joke with your daughter instead of at her. As in cheering up your daughter in a funny way that the rest of the class heard so they know it's nothing serious. Even at my age, if I was upset/worried at something happened me and I heard a friend joke about it with other people while I wasn't around it would bother me.

At least bring it up with the principal to check if the teacher did the right thing by their rules and then decide if you want to take it further.

byhookorbycrook

You are presuming the school has a full time taker, many primary schools don't .

PcAngel

seamus23 wrote: »

Does anyone know primary school policy on nose bleeds? My 11 yr old daughter had a bad nose bleed from classroom to toilet and the teachers reaction? She gave her a couple of wipes and made her clean it up in front of her peers, from the classroom, down the hallway and into the toilets .... surely that can't be right. While in the hallway my daughter overheard the teacher say it was "gruesome" and getting a good laugh from the class. I've challenged them but of course the teacher has denied this and her and school principle have closed ranks. Any advice??????:(

Did you really expect a teacher to abandon her class to wipe up blood and leave a class unattended?
Would you prefer to have her class cry?
You challenged the teacher and perhaps the principal.
Hope you haven't made your daughter fear & panic the next time she gets a bloodnose.

S.R.

Seamus, teacher was lucky that u r a father of girl. You are very calm.
Wasn't doctor called to see ur daughter?

I am reading posts here and wondering what planet some people came from.

S.R.

byhookorbycrook wrote: »

You are presuming the school has a full time taker, many primary schools don't .

Who is a full time taker? What does he/she do?

vitani

S.R. wrote: »

Seamus, teacher was lucky that u r a father of girl. You are very calm.
Wasn't doctor called to see ur daughter?

I am reading posts here and wondering what planet some people came from.

A doctor? For a nosebleed?

S.R.

vitani wrote: »

A doctor? For a nosebleed?

Yes, for a nosebleed. She is only 11 yo.

If not a doctor, then may be a nurse.

Are there nurses in Irish schools?

PcAngel

That comment made me laugh. There are hardly enough nurses in hospitals never mind to be employed in schools.

S.R.

PcAngel wrote: »

That comment made me laugh. There are hardly enough nurses in hospitals never mind to be employed in schools.

Where are they?

S.R.

What does happen when something is wrong with kid? Teachers call ambulance and just wait? Child stays without medical attention until ambulance arrive?

Midnight Sundance

S.R. wrote: »

Seamus, teacher was lucky that u r a father of girl. You are very calm.
Wasn't doctor called to see ur daughter?

I am reading posts here and wondering what planet some people came from.

Why would a doctor be called for a nosebleed??
If I called a doctor for every nosebleed or cut knee I've seen, we might as well have one set up full time in the school.

Speak to the principal of you do not approve or better still the teacher . Perhaps get their version before assuming they were making fun of your daughter. I honestly can't imagine a teacher doing that, but I also wouldn't be impressed of true.
In regards the blood, why can your daughter not clean it up if she was feeling ok again. The teacher would have to leave a class unsupervised in order to do so. In saying that I probably would have don't that myself but your daughter is 11 and capable of learning to clean up
After herself.

spurious

Most schools would have a teacher trained in First Aid, but anything more than a First Aid issue, they are not covered by insurance to deal with. Teachers in our (second level) school no longer accompany kids in ambulances. We call the parents in to go with them. Sometimes the parent is 'too busy' to come in. I could write a book, but people would think I was making things up.

S.R.

Midnight Sundance wrote: »

Why would a doctor be called for a nosebleed??
If I called a doctor for every nosebleed or cut knee I've seen, we might as well have one set up full time in the school.

Speak to the principal of you do not approve or better still the teacher . Perhaps get their version before assuming they were making fun of your daughter. I honestly can't imagine a teacher doing that, but I also wouldn't be impressed of true.
In regards the blood, why can your daughter not clean it up if she was feeling ok again. The teacher would have to leave a class unsupervised in order to do so. In saying that I probably would have don't that myself but your daughter is 11 and capable of learning to clean up
After herself.

I did not talk about nosebleed when I said to Seamus that he is calm. I was talking about teacher making laugh.
11 yo girl off course can clean after herself.

S.R.

spurious wrote: »

Most schools would have a teacher trained in First Aid, but anything more than a First Aid issue, they are not covered by insurance to deal with. Teachers in our (second level) school no longer accompany kids in ambulances. We call the parents in to go with them. Sometimes the parent is 'too busy' to come in. I could write a book, but people would think I was making things up.

Insurance for what, sorry? What does insurance cover?

Parents' working place might be too far. U can't wait for them in case something wrong happened.

No, I won't think u r making things up. Please tell ur stories.

ShamoBuc

This thread has all of a sudden gotten a comedy factor!

PcAngel

S.R.
I'd prefer to hear your story - I'd imagine it would be a lot more interesting.

S.R.

PcAngel wrote: »

S.R.
I'd prefer to hear your story - I'd imagine it would be a lot more interesting.

What story? I never mentioned story. What are u talking about?

S.R.

ShamoBuc wrote: »

This thread has all of a sudden gotten a comedy factor!

Really?! Ha-ha.

Can u answer questions instead of trying to be smart?

retro:electro

I think people are missing the point. It was highly unprofessional of the teacher to call the nose bleed "grotesque", and expect the child to clean it up. I can guarantee most of you that of it happened to your child you wouldn't be too impressed either.

It's usually the case that the child would be taken to the bathroom with a friend and then let sit in a sick bay for 10/15 mins til the bleed had stopped. There is absolutely no way I would then expect my child to clean up the blood. Yes she is more than capable to do that but that's not the point. Schools employ janitors and care takers for such reasons.

S.R.

No, Anna, they are not like that. If this happened to their kid they would had a laugh with teacher and class.

PcAngel

anna080 wrote: »

I think people are missing the point. It was highly unprofessional of the teacher to call the nose bleed "grotesque", and expect the child to clean it up. I can guarantee most of you that of it happened to your child you wouldn't be too impressed either.

It's usually the case that the child would be taken to the bathroom with a friend and then let sit in a sick bay for 10/15 mins til the bleed had stopped. There is absolutely no way I would then expect my child to clean up the blood. Yes she is more than capable to do that but that's not the point. Schools employ janitors and care takers for such reasons.

Many schools do not have janitors/caretakers full time in schools.

retro:electro

S.R. wrote: »

No, Anna, they are not like that. If this happened to their kid they would had a laugh with teacher and class.

Lol

retro:electro

PcAngel wrote: »

Many schools do not have janitors/caretakers full time in schools.

Many don't, but the majority do. Some schools have two or three. In any event it shouldn't be left up to the child (because that's what she is, a child) to clean up the blood after an upsetting situation.

S.R.

PcAngel wrote: »

Many schools do not have janitors/caretakers full time in schools.

Many means some do have. Another question: why some schools have, some don't?

S.R.

Is it up to state to decide which schools would have janitors, which wouldn't? What is criteria?

spurious

S.R. wrote: »

Is it up to state to decide which schools would have janitors, which wouldn't? What is criteria?

Money.

seavill

anna080 wrote: »

I think people are missing the point. It was highly unprofessional of the teacher to call the nose bleed "grotesque", and expect the child to clean it up. I can guarantee most of you that of it happened to your child you wouldn't be too impressed either.

It's usually the case that the child would be taken to the bathroom with a friend and then let sit in a sick bay for 10/15 mins til the bleed had stopped. There is absolutely no way I would then expect my child to clean up the blood. Yes she is more than capable to do that but that's not the point. Schools employ janitors and care takers for such reasons.

I think you are missing some of the points. The OP has not clarified if the school has a full time caretaker, the majority around me don't one does as it is a large school with 500 students. A lot particularly smaller ones in the country may have a clearner that comes in, in the evenings that would be it. Again smaller schools would have a teaching principal so all the teachers would be in class and would have to leave a class unsupervised to clean it up.

Also a nose bleed that lasts for 10-15 minutes you would have already called an ambulance.

Unless it is a massive nose bleed (which most likely not return to class after) there would most likely only be drops going down the corridor. Not like it would be massive pool of blood all the way down. Again if it was it is highly unlikely the child would be even walking there in the first place.

I know any time I am dealing with a medical issue, I would try to make light of the situation to try to put the child at ease whether it be in school or at a sports match (obviously not in a major incident). It generally takes their mind off things and allows them to calm down a bit. I have no idea what the teacher said and in what context it was said so apart from that I won't comment further on that.

To answer the other poster Irish schools do not have medical staff on site. Some teachers may have first aid training and would do their best until an ambulance arrived. A teacher leaving the school to go in an ambulance is not that easy. You would require 2 adults to go or the teacher and two other children (not enough room in an ambulance). The best option is that the parents are called if it is practical to do so, the majority of times I have experienced in Ireland parents get there before the ambulance arrives or while they are there. Obvioulsy if there is no option then someone goes. the other point to consider if the teacher leaves the school then someone has to replace them in class, this is far from ideal unless in a real emergency. There would not necessarily be extra staff (particularly in primary schools) on the premises to take over a class etc. Again before I get given out to this is where there is a possibility for the parents to arrrive in time.

ShamoBuc

anna080 wrote: »

I think people are missing the point. It was highly unprofessional of the teacher to call the nose bleed "grotesque", and expect the child to clean it up. I can guarantee most of you that of it happened to your child you wouldn't be too impressed either.

It's usually the case that the child would be taken to the bathroom with a friend and then let sit in a sick bay for 10/15 mins til the bleed had stopped. There is absolutely no way I would then expect my child to clean up the blood. Yes she is more than capable to do that but that's not the point. Schools employ janitors and care takers for such reasons.

I would have done that...If I had a sick bay;)

Are the 2 of you actually serious?


The child is capable of cleaning it - but it shouldn't be expected of her?
Why not? It was a bit of blood not the scene of an operating room after a 10 hour operation.

SR:eek:...you think an ambulance should have been called?:pac:

S.R.

spurious wrote: »

Money.

Money? Some schools get more money from government, than others?

S.R.

ShamoBuc wrote: »

Are the 2 of you actually serious?

Pay attention please. In one of my previous posts I said that 11yo can clean it.

ShamoBuc

S.R. wrote: »

Pay attention please. In one of my previous posts I said that 11yo can clean it.

I never said You did, you came up with the Ambulance, which is what I said you did....Pay Attention:pac:

ShamoBuc wrote: »

I would have done that...If I had a sick bay;)

Are the 2 of you actually serious?


The child is capable of cleaning it - but it shouldn't be expected of her?
Why not? It was a bit of blood not the scene of an operating room after a 10 hour operation.

SR:eek:...you think an ambulance should have been called?:pac:

longhalloween

S.R. wrote: »

Money? Some schools get more money from government, than others?

I don't think you live in this country, or know anything about Irish schools. Most don't have caretakers, barely any have nurses. An ambulance for a nosebleed? You'd be lucky to get an ambulance for a heart attack.

Nothing wrong with an 11 year old cleaning up a few drops of blood. I suffered from nosebleeds through primary and secondary and I always had to look after myself. t was never expected that a teacher would help.

Mountains out of molehills.

enda1

I used to get loads of nose bleeds all the way from about 7 to 15. I most certainly didn't get terrified by them. Get real people, kids need to clean up their own messes when capable.

ShamoBuc

enda1 wrote: »

I used to get loads of nose bleeds all the way from about 7 to 15. I most certainly didn't get terrified by them. Get real people, kids need to clean up their own messes when capable.

This is 100% correct.

Afroshack

[QUOTE=seamus23;89319996]I really felt the teacher should have cleaned it herself or got the janitor, if available but I didn't think you would make the girl who had the serious nose bleed do it. I don't know. Maybe I'm asking for too much. What if it was vomit, wee or faces. Would she be expected to clean that up as well????? Surely in this day and age there are policies and procedures for this kind of thing?????[/QUOTE]

I'd be curious to know why you think a teacher is responsible for cleaning up blood?!?

retro:electro

seavill wrote: »

I think you are missing some of the points. The OP has not clarified if the school has a full time caretaker, the majority around me don't one does as it is a large school with 500 students. A lot particularly smaller ones in the country may have a clearner that comes in, in the evenings that would be it. Again smaller schools would have a teaching principal so all the teachers would be in class and would have to leave a class unsupervised to clean it up.

Also a nose bleed that lasts for 10-15 minutes you would have already called an ambulance.

Unless it is a massive nose bleed (which most likely not return to class after) there would most likely only be drops going down the corridor. Not like it would be massive pool of blood all the way down. Again if it was it is highly unlikely the child would be even walking there in the first place.

I know any time I am dealing with a medical issue, I would try to make light of the situation to try to put the child at ease whether it be in school or at a sports match (obviously not in a major incident). It generally takes their mind off things and allows them to calm down a bit. I have no idea what the teacher said and in what context it was said so apart from that I won't comment further on that.

To answer the other poster Irish schools do not have medical staff on site. Some teachers may have first aid training and would do their best until an ambulance arrived. A teacher leaving the school to go in an ambulance is not that easy. You would require 2 adults to go or the teacher and two other children (not enough room in an ambulance). The best option is that the parents are called if it is practical to do so, the majority of times I have experienced in Ireland parents get there before the ambulance arrives or while they are there. Obvioulsy if there is no option then someone goes. the other point to consider if the teacher leaves the school then someone has to replace them in class, this is far from ideal unless in a real emergency. There would not necessarily be extra staff (particularly in primary schools) on the premises to take over a class etc. Again before I get given out to this is where there is a possibility for the parents to arrrive in time.

The ten minutes would include allowing the bleed to stop, cleaning up her clothes, getting a glass of water and makin her way back to class.
Tbh some of the responses so far make me glad that none of you are teachers.

seavill

anna080 wrote: »

The ten minutes would include allowing the bleed to stop, cleaning up her clothes, getting a glass of water and makin her way back to class.
Tbh some of the responses so far make me glad that none of you are teachers.

I am a teacher. what in particular have you an issue with in my response

S.R.

longhalloween wrote: »

I don't think you live in this country, or know anything about Irish schools. Most don't have caretakers, barely any have nurses. An ambulance for a nosebleed? You'd be lucky to get an ambulance for a heart attack.

Nothing wrong with an 11 year old cleaning up a few drops of blood. I suffered from nosebleeds through primary and secondary and I always had to look after myself. t was never expected that a teacher would help.

Mountains out of molehills.

U r right, I am not Irish. But I live here. Reading all these comments on schools and ambulance etc I think I have to move back home or go somewhere else. U honestly scare me. It looks like this country is in complete mess.

byhookorbycrook

anna080 wrote: »

Many don't, but the majority do. Some schools have two or three. In any event it shouldn't be left up to the child (because that's what she is, a child) to clean up the blood after an upsetting situation.

Two or three? How do you figure that? Our school is enormous by primary standards and we have ONE (and lucky to have them.)

No primary school has a nurse in Ireland, many are lucky to be able to afford to buy plasters.

retro:electro

seavill wrote: »

I am a teacher. what in particular have you an issue with in my response

Just your attitude about the whole thing. The teacher said it was grotesque, how can you defend/justify that?
I know if anyone in my class had a nose bleed 11 or under I would not ask them to clean it themselves, I just wouldn't.

retro:electro

byhookorbycrook wrote: »

Two or three? How do you figure that? Our school is enormous by primary standards and we have ONE (and lucky to have them.)

No primary school has a nurse in Ireland, many are lucky to be able to afford to buy plasters.

My school has two caretakers and a nurse.

S.R.

anna080 wrote: »

Just your attitude about the whole thing. The teacher said it was grotesque, how can you defend/justify that?
I know if anyone in my class had a nose bleed 11 or under I would not ask them to clean it themselves, I just wouldn't.

I swear I wouldn't too. When I was in school 11yo kids didn't clean blood though they were able to.

longhalloween

S.R. wrote: »

U r right, I am not Irish. But I live here. Reading all these comments on schools and ambulance etc I think I have to move back home or go somewhere else. U honestly scare me. It looks like this country is in complete mess.

Have you picked up a newspaper in the last 5 years?

anna080 wrote: »

My school has two caretakers and a nurse.

Is it a private school or just an extremely large one?

I went to a school with 1000+ students and there was 1 caretaker, no nurse.

seavill

anna080 wrote: »

Just your attitude about the whole thing. The teacher said it was grotesque, how can you defend/justify that?
I know if anyone in my class had a nose bleed 11 or under I would not ask them to clean it themselves, I just wouldn't.

My whole attitude? I think you need to go back and read carefully what I wrote.

I did not pass judgement on anyone or anything I simply set out a number of facts for posters that were questioning things.

If again you read properly I stated that I did not know what they teacher said or what was the context so I would not comment on that. What is your issue with me here? Where did I try to defend or justify anything?
I said in some situations I would try to make light of a situation to take the childs mind off things and calm them. This is what paramedics do every day.

Just out of interest why 11? Why not wait until they are 12 before they have to clean anything up? what makes 11 the number, why not when they are in secondary? should this be the cut off?

I would ask you to go back to my post and point out where you feel I had an attitude to anything. I simply stated a number of facts and realities, and i answered a few questions.