Sick Child & Stopping on the Hard Shoulder

Sick Child & Stopping on the Hard Shoulder

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Discussion

Scotfox

Original Poster:

582 posts

185 months

Tuesday 2nd June 2009
quotequote all
Would be interested on the views of the BiB , and others, on stopping on the hard shoulder if a child is being ill in the car.

I was in the unforunate situation to be in this position this weekend.

Whilst I think going strictly by the book it would have been illegal to stop, how would you view it considering it was quite a serious distraction to myself, the driver ?

( I chose to drive on to the next services to deal )

SS2.

14,462 posts

238 months

Tuesday 2nd June 2009
quotequote all
Legalities aside, if I thought I could make it to the next services (or the nearest junction), then I would do so.

Stopping on the hard shoulder is just a bit too dangerous for my liking..

TPS

1,860 posts

213 months

Tuesday 2nd June 2009
quotequote all
I dont think you would ever get any hassle for stopping to be honest.If you did it is a £30 fine.
The dangers of stopping/being on the hard shoulder are the only real issue.

bigdods

7,172 posts

227 months

Tuesday 2nd June 2009
quotequote all
I have always tried to make it to the next junction but sometimes its just not possible. With an older child (say 8+) I would chuck them a bag to be sick in then proceed to the next junction. When it has happened with a younger child I have had to stop as they get distressed , arent likely to make a good job of using the bag and have a tendency to choke.

Stop on the hard shoulder , deal with it quickly , ensure no choking risk remains then move on to the next juntion to do the clean up.

Medic-one

3,105 posts

203 months

Tuesday 2nd June 2009
quotequote all
bigdods said:
Stop on the hard shoulder , deal with it quickly , ensure no choking risk remains then move on to the next juntion to do the clean up.
I agree with that, specially if it's a small child who needs help as aspirating (vomit, which is highly acidic, going back down the trachea) is very dangerous and can be life-treathning.

Scotfox

Original Poster:

582 posts

185 months

Tuesday 2nd June 2009
quotequote all
Thanks for the replies so far. A lot of good points being made. My son is 5, and your right the bag thing didn't work to well ! yuck

Blackpig2

626 posts

181 months

Tuesday 2nd June 2009
quotequote all
Hard shoulder,Southbound M11, Came up behind a black 7 series Beemer with blacked out windows recently, put the rear reds on etc, walked up to nearside window, bent down and looked at a lady in her thirties, arabic in appearance, with vomit all over her and the inside of the windscreen.
Child in the back had projectile puked his Big Mac+sweets over her and the front of the car, it was awful!. Got her out of the nearside door, she was totally distraught and didnt speak english, got her to sit on grass bank, got kiddie out who spoke perfect english aged about 9 and helped her use almost an entire can of wipes from the rear of my car.
Never even considered the legalities of stopping as far as she was concerned (and me...) it was totally justified.
Had a very nice Email from a financial company in London thanking me for helping their MDs partner..
Wonder how they got the smell from the car!

Jonleeper

664 posts

229 months

Tuesday 2nd June 2009
quotequote all
On a similar note, what is the collective PH thoughts on stopping to allow small kids to relieve themselves?

In my experience we have only stopped when potty training and then only to allow the child to do the deed. Where possible we stopped, usually at every services on route, to check with the kids but when they are that young it is a question of now or all over the seat!

Mr POD

5,153 posts

192 months

Tuesday 2nd June 2009
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Jonleeper said:
On a similar note, what is the collective PH thoughts on stopping to allow small kids to relieve themselves?

In my experience we have only stopped when potty training and then only to allow the child to do the deed. Where possible we stopped, usually at every services on route, to check with the kids but when they are that young it is a question of now or all over the seat!
Ignoring the legalities, I'm thinking of the safety. That is why I had seat covers in the back.

anonymous-user

54 months

Monday 8th June 2009
quotequote all
Jonleeper said:
On a similar note, what is the collective PH thoughts on stopping to allow small kids to relieve themselves?

In my experience we have only stopped when potty training and then only to allow the child to do the deed. Where possible we stopped, usually at every services on route, to check with the kids but when they are that young it is a question of now or all over the seat!
Everyone makes a judgement call, if it happens to me/us we either do a "Blackpig2" out with the wipes etc and look away/try to help while using the TOV for a bit of protection, if/when the Rumble strip runner has a go at least he/she may hit a TOV first rather than a car full of unrestrained Kids etc .

I still don't see why people stop to eat donuts (Not the BIB this time smile) , set the sat nav between junctions (as though they can do a u turn) answer/make the "important" phone, check which terminal (has it changed since you joined the m/way) have a sleep on a junction bullnose (because their tired,bless), but that's just a selection of Mops we deal with everyday, as an extreme i suppose it's cheaper to buy a new car seat than pay the insurance excess funeral costs and inconvenience when someone "swipes" your car, (and it happens regualarly frown).