Halfway through the first lunch, a nine-year-old pushes his plate away and says his mouth feels funny. His mother, three tables away, calls out that he has a nut allergy. You did not know. The chef did not know. And nobody onboard knows where his auto-injector is, or whether he even brought one.
The Conversation Happens BEFORE They Board
Every one of those failures was preventable at the preference sheet stage. This is the most valuable paediatric safety work you will ever do, and it is done with a pen, days before anybody arrives.
Ask the parents, in writing, and confirm verbally on arrival:
- Does the child have any allergy? To what, and how severe? Has there ever been anaphylaxis?
- Does the child carry an auto-injector? How many? Are they in date?
- Does the child have asthma? Do they carry a reliever inhaler and a spacer?
- Any other condition: diabetes, epilepsy, heart condition, recent illness?
- What regular medication do they take, and who administers it?
- Can the child swim? How well? Honestly?
- Any medication the child must never be given?
The Written Crew Medical Brief
The answers become a short written brief that the whole crew sees, not a conversation the chief stew half remembers.
| Field | Example content |
|---|---|
| Child, age, cabin | Name, 6, VIP port |
| Allergies | Peanut, tree nut. Anaphylaxis history |
| Emergency medication | Two auto-injectors, in date |
| Where it is kept | Galley first aid point and cabin drawer |
| Who knows | All crew. Briefed 14 May |
| Asthma | Yes. Reliever inhaler in cabin |
| Swimmer | Weak. Life jacket on deck at all times |
Two fields matter more than any others: where the medication is kept and who knows. Emergency medication that is locked in a cabin nobody can access, or in a bag on a beach, is not emergency medication.
Galley and Service Discipline
The allergy brief has to survive contact with service. Separate preparation, no cross-contamination, every plate that leaves the galley checked against the brief, and every crew member who serves knowing which child is which. Assume nothing. Ask.
And Still, Get Trained
Knowing a child carries an auto-injector is not the same as being able to act when the reaction starts. That is a practically assessed skill taught on a certified course. Prepare the brief, and book the course.
Onboard Notes
- Get the allergy and medication answers in writing before arrival, every single time.
- Brief every crew member, including day workers and rotational crew.
- Know where the auto-injector and inhaler are, right now, without looking.
- Preparatory study only. Awareness, not first aid training. This course teaches no techniques and does not qualify you to treat a child. A current, practically assessed paediatric first aid certificate from an approved provider is required.