Julie and I talked about how to figure out when our special needs kids are sick enough to take to the doctor. We came up with some ideas that might help you explain to hospital staff who your kid is too. There are lots of tips and suggestions in this short 20 minute chat. Listen in, and I’m listing below some of the points we hit on while on the show!

How to tell when your kid is sick enough to go to the hospital

• Fevers – with or without other symptoms
• Physical evidence – swelling, redness, etc.
• Take your kid’s word for it!
• Trust your instincts. (though mine weren’t on alert for this most recent situation)
• Odd behaviors (odd for your kid, at least)

Do you have an Information packet or binder ready? If you do, is it only for you? Can you make something to hand out to your hospital staff? 

What that might look like:

• Brochures
• business card style
• index card or post card style of note.
• list your kid’s meds

What to include on your own home list – some of this might not fit on the smaller note card ideas. 

• med name
• dosage
• how often
• when its taken
• how its taken – pills, liquid, shots
• heart monitors
• blood glucose testing times

list your kid’s diagnosis (all of them)

• autism
• type 2 diabetes
• not completely toileted (wears pull ups at least part of the time)
• hates to be touched – or needs firm touch/light touch,
• wears glasses
• ticklish

Our new special needs and financial planner suggested that we really have to have a home binder with all this information. I agree and had started a home binder already.

That home binder has to include each kid’s info and any other family members information. 

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Julie shared how her son got a tattoo at 16 that uses the medical symbols and/or the words for “type 1 diabetes”. I love this idea, but not every kid will be able to deal with a tattoo. She said that Doctors notice the tattoo because of the medical symbols all the time. The idea for the tattoo came from her son’s visit to a camp for diabetics. www.campsticks.org

My own daughter can’t stand to wear jewelry of any sort, so using a medical alert bracelet or necklace is out of the question. Even the temporary tattoos bother her, so maybe someday, I’ll “knock her out” and have someone tattoo her arm with her medical information on it.

No, really, when she’s older, this might be a good idea for her!

While we went over a lot of stuff today, I know that there are parents out there who practically live in the hospital with their kids. We’d love to hear more about your experiences and what kinds of tools you used or have developed because of that experience.