SAHMs: Do you worry about being....

**Tobily** · September 11th, 2007, 08:42 PM

I am butting in. I am not a SAHM, but I too worry sometime.

Not butting in at all Nadine

I think this must be a worry for anyone who spends any time at home alone with little children.

**BellyBelly** · September 11th, 2007, 08:47 PM

I actually showed Marisa how to call John ages ago, because I knew that in an emergency, she hghly likely wouldn't speak to a stranger. So she knows John's mobile off by heart and how to speed dial him on my mobile, through finding him in the contacts list.

**Astrid** · September 15th, 2007, 08:47 AM

Just come across an article about what we were talking about:

Sick mum owes her life to pint-sized happy hero
September 15, 2007 12:00am

WHEN a mystery illness struck down Sasha Serger only her four-year-old daughter stood between her and tragedy.

Brave Chelsea found her mother slumped unconscious by her bedroom door about 2pm on Wednesday and leapt into action.

She scrolled through her mother's mobile phone contact list and made the call that might have saved her life.

"I called my daddy," Chelsea told The Daily Telegraph yesterday.

John Sandys-Silakivai told Chelsea to put a wet cloth on her mum's forehead while he called an ambulance.

"It didn't work. She didn't wake up," said Chelsea, who greeted ambulance officers at the front door of her Peakhurst house with a nappy bag in hand for baby sister Charlotte.

Ms Serger was rushed to hospital suffering concussion from smashing her head on a door knob when she fell.

She was immediately put on a morphine drip as Chelsea comforted her baby sister during the traumatic ambulance dash.

Ms Serger said she was amazed how calm Chelsea had remained during the crisis.

"She has been reading since she was three so she could recognise John's name in the phone," she said.

"Chelsea is very bright, inquisitive child who wants to learn everything."

Ms Serger said she was terrified to think of what could have happened if Chelsea had not been there to help.

"All I remember is hanging out the washing, then I put Charlotte to bed but I can't remember anything after that," she said.

"I don't remember hitting my head and I don't know how long I was unconscious for."

Giggling and happy to have her mother home after 24 hours in hospital, Chelsea yesterday said she did not know how she did so well when she discovered her mother crumpled on the floor.

"I was scared but I am happy she is out of hospital now," she said.

Still weak, Ms Serger said she was thrilled her daughter was so capable at such a young age.

"You teach them all these skills but you never think this will happen to you. And then it did. She saved us. I am so proud," she said.

Mr Sandys-Silakivai said Chelsea's phone call had scared him.

"We are so lucky Chelsea was at home. If it was a school day ... I don't want to think about what could have happened," he said.

**HotMumma** · September 15th, 2007, 04:27 PM

Yes I have been thinking about this heaps lately as my DD is 16 months old and cant talk and cant reach a phone all the time nor would she know what buttons to press.

I am not to sure what to do about it either and my sister is in the same boat but her oldest in nearly 3.5 so he would be able to do more if my sister hurt herself or something.

I dont really know what to do about it but I should try and keep my mobile close or something in case something happened to me.

**Rouge** · September 15th, 2007, 04:33 PM

When we played pretend with toy phones, we'd pretend that someone was sick and couldn't move and she'd have to ring 000, not just that but also she'd have to say her name and her address. Whilst I think its great to call dad I'd prefer her to call an emergency service iykwim? Still good to know to call dad after maybe? But that suited us because Paris is confident talking on the phone otherwise daddy would be the best option iykwim?

**visitor1** · September 15th, 2007, 04:46 PM

Wow...ive not ever thought about this one til you mentioned it....hmmm now u have me thinking.

Considering my lil girl cant say much more then Mum, Dad, Bub and nan....let alone dial 000....i think id be up $hit creek to say the least.

**Mother Goose** · September 15th, 2007, 05:28 PM

Bath - do you have speed dialling on your phone? The simple ones where you don't have to press 20 different numbers to make the speed dial work!

You could program it into the phone and teach them to use that. But I like the suggestion someone made about putting a red dot on the 0 button.

When I have taught kids how to call 000, we have done lots and lots of role play including me pretending to be the phone operator and asking all the questions they ask. The first thing they ask is "Police, fire, or ambulance?" and then patch through to the appropriate service where they ask questions like name, address, what is wrong etc.

Don't fret if your little one is too shy to speak on the phone. If they are able to dial 000, 000 WILL trace the call and send police around (as someone else said). Even if your phone number is a "silent" number, it will show up on their system and they can track it back to your residence.

Are your neighbours home during the day? Do your kids know them? That is another really good alternative - knowing to go to the neighbours if something is wrong. You can teach them under what circumstances you want them to go to the neighbours (i.e. if Mummy/Daddy can't wake up, if Mummy/Daddy falls and can't get up, if Mummy/Daddy tells you etc). If they can go to your neighbour and alert them to your condition - your neighbour can call the ambulance for you.

HTH and try not to fret too much.

MG

**Rachel** · September 15th, 2007, 08:15 PM

I occasionally think about it, especially as my DH is a shift worker. My biggest worry is that something happens while my DD is in the bath - cause then she would drown and that is frightening as no-one would be home for at least another 12 hours. I don't think about it too much though, just pray that nothing happens - there's nothing I can do about it until my DD is older.

paradise lost · September 16th, 2007, 06:09 AM

Well i'm on my own. No DH/DP is ever coming home and DD is too small to learn about phoning for help.

DP has keys to my place but he's only here once or twice a week. XP comes over most days but if he's away/busy then no-one does. My neighbours are friendly enough but would never check on me - if i hammered for help or Smee screamed for hours they MIGHT come, but i wouldn't count on it. Also they work so aren't about in the day anyway.

I keep my mobile nearby but there's bugger all i can do about it really. It's in the lap of the gods. So no, i have to admit, i don't really think/worry about it.

Bx

**Kazbah** · October 17th, 2007, 03:42 PM

Just a helpful hint here, if your (older) kids call for help, make sure you have the info they need to give close at hand.

Write up something and put it next to the phone with:
Your Address
Your Street / suburb

And then also closest cross-streets. If you live on a highway, 1357 is a huge pain to find, but "near Brown Street" makes it easier for the emergency crews.

Also train the kids to (if possible) wait outside the house for the emergency crews, especially if you live in a back flat etc.

**PlonkeeMumma** · October 17th, 2007, 04:08 PM

didn't worry me until about 6 months ago and i ended up collapsing after taking 2 strong codeine tablets on an empty stomach after a morning of running round and forgetting to drink. We were having sandwiches when i knew i was going to go so lay on the floor before i fell. Fortunately the phone was only on the table so i can't remember if i manage to get it or Oscar got it - i rang DH and he got a taxi home but i was still on my own with the boys for 15 minutes and out of it. Even though Will must have been less than a year he knew something was wrong with mummy and he just came and sat with me not moving as did Oscar. When James go thome he called the 24 hour helpline as i wasn't unconcious, just not able to move or talk much and they called an ambulance so i was hauled off to RPH in a 'mummy truck as Oscar called ambulances for a few weeks after. The worse thing was going to hossy and knowing that DH couldn't come with me as we had no one to look after the kids and there was no way he could have really brought them with him. i ended up staying there for around 6 hours and having a drip in basically being treated for the effects of exhaustion, dehydration and codeine! i was pretty embarrassed about the whole affair as it was just me being stupid and not looking after myself that could have put my kids at risk but it has given me some confidence knowing that in an emergency they do seem to understand something is not right and behaved like little angels and didn't run riot trying to hurt each other.
I think if i had been unable to use the phone myself then Oscar could have rung 000 as he recongnises the letter O (due to his name) so if i could talk him through it he would at least be able to call.
anyway, enough rambling about my daft experience - hope it doesn't happen to anyone else

Julie x

**Bathsheba** · October 17th, 2007, 04:34 PM

Oh Julie, not a daft experience, it just goes to show you that your kids can really surprise you. It's good that you can turn a negative into a positive and see it as a learning experience for Oscar at least.

**New Dawn** · October 17th, 2007, 04:52 PM

I do worrie about this but have done nothing to help my kids know what to do if I need help. I think you can get 000 stickers from the fire department as they like you to have it near the phone so that the kid will alway know what numbers to press. I really should start to paractice this as DH is away for two weeks at a time and if DS was at school no one would even know something was wrong until I didnt come to get him. but DD4yrs does know her daddys mobil number so maybe she would just ring him.

**Bathsheba** · April 9th, 2009, 01:40 PM

Just to update this: I've had to call 000 for an ambulance twice in the past 3 weeks! Fist because my DS5yo put his arm through a window sustaining a bad laceration... and secondly for a teen boy (friend of DD) who badly broke his arm after falling from a tree... sheesh! Have enrolled into a Red Cross first aid course... and still hoping I won't be the victim unless my DD14 or DH is around!

**Marlene** · April 9th, 2009, 02:10 PM

I've never actually thought about it. I'm at home alone during the day with an 11 month old...he's not old enough to learn how to use the phone yet.

**Mother Goose** · April 9th, 2009, 03:39 PM

Bath, this has been on my mind a bit lately. Mostly because I've been a bit accident prone of late and am always worried about falling down our stairs. Whilst DD is very good at following instructions (when she wants to), and loves fetching my phone, she wouldn't know how to call 000 or open the gate to the stairs if I've locked it behind me to stop her following. I used to worry about her not being able to reach my phone but she's learnt how to use her stool to reach things I've put "out of reach"

Good on you for enrolling in a First Aid Course!

**Bathsheba** · April 9th, 2009, 03:50 PM

MG: I'm actually doing the course in Greensborough... through the Red Cross. Apparently as of May 1st St. John's Ambulance are no longer running first aid courses.

**Mother Goose** · April 9th, 2009, 03:57 PM

Really?! I wonder why... it's always been a good money earner for them... well, in SA anyway. Might have to ask a few people about that!

AND

ooooooooooooooo what time is your course?! And where in Greensborough?! We might just have to have a coffee! depending on what shift I'm on - just realised it's a Friday! Are you doing it over the weekend or 1 day a week for a few weeks?