Scout Camp and 'Care' Issues

[fossyant]

There is a qualified paramedic on site and St Johns.

We are detailing a care plan for Scouts telling them what he needs to do and when.

well tonight was typical here.

I happened to be home as we had my daughter's sports day. He came in, I said there is a drink and chocs in the fridge, but do your blood test (I was tiling the bathroom). 5 mins later, "Do your test" . 10 mins later, "what was your reading". I get "5.7" back.

OK thats fine. Mum cooks some tea for the kids (we've eaten a big lunch). I am out getting supplies for Scout Camp. Get home, evening injection done, then ask, OK time to test. He kicks off can't find test kit, throws sisters packing (for scout camp) on floor. Stomps off upstairs. I look in School bag, kit at top of bag. Hang on, press the back button (it's just like a Garmin 200), last test was 3.15pm. So he has missed and lied about the last 3. I show him this and say the machine does not lie,

I can't go on camp to check and he is being stupid - he has been told. He is old enogh to manage this. I'll be explaining the device to the guys (one is a type two so will have one himself although he may only use it once a day).

Teenagers eh. This is why I wanted to be there.

 

[threebikesmcginty]

Yes, consent forms. I had one back and against food allergies was "no pasta as he doesn't like the texture". Needless to say we fed him spag bol and it went down with no problems...

Fine so long as you didn't use wholewheat pasta.

 

[fossyant]

The don't like food issue is biggest with the Beavers and Cubs - I will say they are totally spoiled with food, but some are really fussy.

At one camp I pre made 3 big trays of lasagne, all home cooked, no pretend stuff. It was difficult to re-heat due to the size so we resorted to microwaving the last minutes, but even the leaders said this was fantastic. There is some serious effort that goes into making the kids have the best time. I was dumped on by my group, as I was a parent helper, then the two 'trained teachers' stepped back and I was left with running 24 Beavers with no training. We did well, but my was it hard work. The final straw came when I asked for help whilst I was off for my shoulder op about 3 years ago, and not 1 of the 48 parents volunteered to help out the group. I packed in as I couldn't have a 6 year old swinging off my shoulder (as they used to do).

 

[fossyant]

[QUOTE 3091903, member: 76"]I have to say, and it may be controversial, I would be very nervous having him on my camp! If he is lying to you about doing his testing, and you know to nag him, what chance on earth does a scout leader have when they can't find him because he has gone to the archery stand again? Have you told th eleaders he lies about doing his testing? One leader may nag him, tell the others he has done so, everyone thinks everyone else has done it.....chaos. To be honest I think it is safer to have him go to Jamboree for the individual days. One qualified paramedic, and one St Johns first aider, they are not going to spend the whole weekend monitoring your unreliable son are they? If something else comes up then your son is stuck. As I said, on the sub camp I will be on we have at least 5 fully qualified health professionals, plus whatever leaders are on the other sub-camps.

I am really not trying to un-inclusional, but this is too much pressure to put on people who have nothing but some notes from you. Spare a thought how they would feel if something catastrophic happened? Do the other Scouts in his tent know the situation, would any of them know how to recognise a hypo from an arsey then suddenly sulky FossyJnr? If he is self medicating, where are the needles and insulin being kept, is there an appropriate fridge, are there suitable sharps bins?

Teenagers with this sort of condition may also not do the testing or take the medicine because they don't want to appear any different from all their mates, 'uugghhh, why are you doing that? are you a druggy?' come on we have all been teenagers you know what it is like.

I apologise if I am appearing too harsh, but I think it's really important you think this all through. If he does go, I hope he has great time![/QUOTE]

Exactly. We aren't far away, and it's likely his sister will be with him - she is bossy little sister and is organised, so if he doesn't do it, she will dob him in (and she does do it with efficiency). The other option is we pull him out, but my daughter would not go either as she is the only girl as most are away - half term, yup loads of girls in out scout group.

My lad wants to do the summer week away camp, but we've said no, and have at the minute given him this weekend to prove himself. He is actually one of the better scouts they have and does what they want and doesn't mes, but its the testing thats an issue.

Meds will be with eaders as it's only needed at meal. He is disciplined in the day with regards to sweets and crap.

 

[fossyant]

Found out he lied to us again, just checked the machine, didn't check from late the night before till mid morning today in School. He told me his level this morning, he didn't do it. We are apparently evil parents !!

Camp is on hold. We are horrible people. Got screming and crying now.....

PS We are letting him test as that's part of the 'deal'/ contract between us and the hospital and him as he thinks we are horrible for nagging - we ask for a test, then let him do it when he needs to. Unfortunately, the mahine does not lie.

We have a 'deal' for use of the laptop and stuff. Unfortunately this is where it has got us the last day or so.

Argh.

I'll keep you posted. He is not showing responsibility for his condition. I nearly pulled him from the Velodrome CC trip, but I made sure he tested. Bloody teenagers and raging hormones, and parents are idiots..

 

[Sara_H]

Found out he lied to us again, just checked the machine, didn't check from late the night before till mid morning today in School. He told me his level this morning, he didn't do it. We are apparently evil parents !!

Camp is on hold. We are horrible people. Got screming and crying now.....

PS We are letting him test as that's part of the 'deal'/ contract between us and the hospital and him as he thinks we are horrible for nagging - we ask for a test, then let him do it when he needs to. Unfortunately, the mahine does not lie.

We have a 'deal' for use of the laptop and stuff. Unfortunately this is where it has got us the last day or so.

Argh.

I'll keep you posted. He is not showing responsibility for his condition. I nearly pulled him from the Velodrome CC trip, but I made sure he tested. Bloody teenagers and raging hormones, and parents are idiots..

Ah dear, its a terrible age for a type 1 diagnosis. My nephew was pre teen, so he got off to a fairly good start, though he has had his ups and downs.

If he's really struggling to come to terms with it then it may be worth seeking some support. Is there a psychologist attached to the diabetes team looking after him?

 

[fossyant]

We have great support at our NHS Trust, psychologists and Play Teams (I.e. They are the ones that set up the contract). PS the GP is crap.. The Hospital awesome. Big thumbs up Stepping Hill Treetops Children's Unit.. And Diabetes Team...

Unfortunately, he is a young teen, and despite a month or two following the rules, is now kicking back as we have been told to not treat him like a baby. His downfall is the little machine does not lie... It's almost as good as a Garmin..

 

[fossyant]

[QUOTE 3092026, member: 76"]The issues around the Scout camp aside, this is a massive diagnosis for him and the change to his future that he has to face. There will be a lot of adjustment he has to make, if you think this is bad wait til all his mates start going out, getting pi55ed and then off for a curry!

Is there any counselling on offer for him via the diabetes care team? Maybe a paediatric diabetes support group or something?[/QUOTE]

I used to work with a lad that could out drink me and was Type 1. He probably didn't manage it. Drinking and type one usually means you need a pizza stop at the end of the night.

 

[classic33]

Can I speak as both a person who has had to take medication, lifelong, and as a former leader.
With regards the taking of the medication, people will always seek a way to find something different about you in order to have a go at you. In my case, at school it was the condition(epilepsy) and the medication taken for that. In order to get the medication whilst at school, it was always a case of having to report somewhere else in order to get it. Often with "jokes" made about it. Port wine birthmark on the left arm, across the back and down the upper third of the right arm left me open for all sorts of "fun" for others.
Is the same "fun" being carried out now? Which is why he's not taking it, or even doing the tests themselves.

As a leader I was the one that had to be watched. Old enough to carry & look after my own medication, but still had to let others know where it was and what should, and just as important, what shouldn't be done. The one time this advice was ignored, ended with me putting a qualified first aid trainer in a collar and a damaged wind pipe. They'd ignored common sense, their training and the instructions given on what not to do.
Taking medication myself has made me slightly more aware of what kids can, and will do, to other kid, and the stigma attached with not being "normal". We always insisted that all medication be handed over to the leaders. Three reasons, we'd be certain they were actually taking it, it couldn't be removed and withheld from them by someone else and it couldn't be mis-used.

As the Warden, I was the point of call should anything go wrong.