Posted on 10/05/2005 1:15:39 PM PDT by linkinpunk
Teacher Mistakes Boy's Insulin Pump For Phone, Rips It Out
Boy Is Diabetic
POSTED: 11:16 am EDT October 5, 2005
CLERMONT, Fla. -- School officials in Lake County, Fla., said a substitute teacher pulled out a student's insulin pump after mistaking it for a cell phone.
Cliffton Hassam told East Ridge High School officials that his insulin pump began beeping in class Friday. But before he could turn it off, Hassam said substitute teacher Richard Maline ripped it from his leg.
Hassam is diabetic. The insulin pump regulates his blood sugar level.
Lake County School District officials said Maline pulled the pump because he thought the beeping came from a cell phone. They said Maline realized his mistake after he grabbed the pump.
In the written statement Hassam gave to school officials Tuesday, he said the pump fell to the floor and the tube came out of his leg. The high school junior said his blood sugar levels did not return to normal until early this week.
School district officials said Maline has been removed from the pool of substitute teachers.
I started to say something about an ID in my wallet, but erased it. : )
I think a lot of the diabetic shock stuff and low blood sugar instances happen more to: 1. type 1s and 2. types 2 who are not in good control. It is so much easier to stay in control these days, there really isn't much excuse for sugar-related issues. What I worry about more are the millions of diabetics who don't even realize they are diabetic. They are much more likely to have issues than people who are taking their meds, eating right, etc.
I know several type 1s. the last thing they want is for people to identify them w/a bracelet. I know many more type 2s, some of whom have problems at their jobsite w/testing or dosing. These aren't people who are 'sick' and taking time off, they're on the job and just need a moment to look after themselves. The amount of ignorance about diabetes is amazing. I guess many diabetics would rather take care of their own issues than advertise it to an often unsympathetic world.
Will some people have a problem because they have an emergency situation and don't have an ID on? Yeah, probably. Diabetics should test their blood each time they get into a car. I don't know anyone who does this. So they could wear all the IDs they want, if they don't test, if they aren't aware of their own bodies, an ID bracelet isn't going to stop them from having a highway hypo.
Thanka for taking the time to answer. I'm glad to hear that control is easier than it used to be.
Go ahead and BE pi$$ed off! I stand by my statement. I have little or no respect left for "professional educators" anymore. Sure, there's a few conservatives left in the (public) school house, damn few. Teachers were once at the top of my list of good, honest professionals. Not anymore...........
Sorry to hear that. My son was diagnosed with diabetes at the age of 5. It is not easy for him OR his parents. However, he is now a registered pharmacist who is making more money than I do. He is 27 years old and has NO signs of complications.
Take it seriously. Learn all that you can about it. Learn how to handle a glucagon injector. Tell others (including her friends) so that they can react appropriately during a reaction. Yes, you will have reactions unless you run BG's so high that she will be blind by the time she is 25. Have identification on her at all times. Make sure she carries glucose tablets at all time. Anytime she feels low eat one immediately. Have a meeting with school administators and EACH AND EVERY teacher she has to brief them. Realize that strangers will think that low BG's are because she is drunk, crazy, or on drugs. They will not help or worse.
The junior high he went to had a rule that no changes could be made on the assignments each kid was given. Unfortunately, he had gym class just before lunch. We protested, but they refused to change anything. After three bad reactions (and one that landed him in the hospital), we hired a lawyer. Only then did they change his schedule so he had no more reactions.
Are you saying,"Those who can, Do. Those who can't, Teach?"
For those of you who don't know, that is a quote from GEORGE BERNARD SHAW (1856-1950)........
And a very bright man indeed.
LOL!
A teacher has no right to rip anything from anybody unless it's a weapon or an item being used as one.
This was a teacher over stepping his bounds.
He just, mostly, played around............
rotf!!
Unfortunately most schools are like this and, believe me, I've seen my share. My son has been diabetic since the age of 3. He's now 17. Being military, we've moved on average every 2 years ... that's a LOT of schools to deal with. We have to fight this issue every time. The focus is rarely on the child with diabetes but more on the concerns of sharps and blood. It's another case of the good kids suffering because so many others are out of control.
What profession do you claim allegiance to then, pray tell? I would be curious to know. I am sure not everyone associated with it is of sterling reputation.
Well, it's no cakewalk either! My son wore a pump for two years, and one of his greatest worries was the needle being ripped out ... either by someone grabbing it, mistaking it for a phone, or the pump just falling out of his pocket. Maybe you've had to deal with this issue on a daily basis, I don't know. If you're speaking from experience, you're a real he-man for dealing with it so well. If not, your sense of compassion is sorely lacking.
Precisely why my son has worn a bracelet every day since the day he was diagnosed 14 years ago ... Except for one day when he was 4 years old. He decided that he didn't want to be diabetic anymore, so he took off the bracelet and tossed in the trash can :o(
Prayers for you and your daughter, leah. Type I diabetes is a difficult thing to deal with. Please feel free to FReepmail me if you would like.
You are correct! Not everyone of any profession is of sterling character, even the clergy and medical professions. But, having just put a child thru the local school system for 13 years, and having contact with each and every one of the teachers, all of whom seem to be of the flaming liberal, condescending , know-better-than-thou, chip-on-my shoulder, where's-my-paycheck, type......
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