Do you agree with me or parent and child?

Mother must go too. Provide bucket and make sure sitting with mother

When I was a classroom assistant at a Primary School I was always in the front seat of the coach in charge of the bucket. Vomit doesn't phase me one bit. Any child who had travel sickness sat with me and bucket at the ready I managed to catch any puke rather than it being sprayed around the coach.
The mother should be told her daughter will not be allowed to go on any further trips unless she has had her medication. It just isn't fair on anyone sat near her. Blow giving her a choice! Tell 'Gerty' it's medication or not going.

Entitlement is the name of the game.

It is perfectly fine to give a child choices, this is how they make decisions after all and the earlier choices are given the better. Particularly with regards to bodily autonomy, however, the consequences of decisions need to be discussed. In this situation when you’re just presented with it, sitting at the front away from friends but with a bucket would have been my solution. Going forward, she’s not allowed unless tablets have been taken. And then make sure she’s sitting with a bucket.

When I was young, I was always feeling sick when travelling, and was very grateful for an anti sickness tablet.

i was a sahm so i would go on the days out with my childs class, i made sure he was in another group with another person who was helping, it was never a problem. i would tell gertys mum that she comes or gerty does not go if she does not take the medication, make sure you have a plastic bag and she has to hold it at all times and be sick into that, if possible she sits on her own, it might seem harsh but being sick on someone is not funny.

As another member said it should come under the heading of ‘safeguarding’ which I agree with. A child who vomits could inhale said vomit and choke or another child could get up and slip in the vomit thereby injuring themselves, or another child could feel ill after being vomited on. Putting it under that heading would cover the OP inasmuch as insisting this child either takes a med or comes with a responsible parent who will bring along suitable containers and cleaning substances to deal with this problem.

It's totally unfair on everyone .
Either Gerty takes a tablet or she doesn't go or her mother comes as well with a bucket just in case and cleans up any mess .

In order for Gerty to have choice she caused great discomfort to the children on whom she vomited. Not to mention the smell to be endured by everyone. No one else on the coach had a choice to not be involved with the consequences of Gerty's selfish choice. The mother needs to understand that actions have consequences, sometimes very unpleasant (for other people) as a result of her indulgence of her own child.

If it is a youth organisation you are not compelled to take her on any future trips.
It is most unpleasant for other passengers if someone has vomited: the smell lingers and can make others feel ill, not to mention the damage caused to upholstery and carpet in the vehicle.

tanith

Insist ‘Gertys’ Mum goes too so she can clean up the inevitable mess.

This would be my immediate response too, but I am not certain that my quondam headmistress would have approved it!

Is there any possibility of seating Gerty on her own, so she only vomits on hersefl the floor and the empty seat beside her? (Bad enough, but better than over other children).

Knowing today's parents and their dear, spoiled children, who are in no way responsible for their lack of upbringing, I very much doubt that whether you are a teacher taking a class on a trip, or a volunteer planning supervised events for children during the holidays, whilst parents are at work, that you can actually either demand a child takes medication, or ban the child from taking part.

This situation strikes me, a retired teacher, as a minefield, so before proclaiming ulitmatiums, check whether you can and may do so for your own sake.

I imagine your strongest allies are the parents of the children who were within Gerty's range.

Am amazed that Gerty appeared not to mind being sick, one of life's more unpleasant experiences. A good thing that none of the other children didn't follow suit, given the pong in the bus. I agree - no medication, no trip.

If it’s a youth organisation is Gerty that young ?
Although you didn’t have enough buckets to go around surely after the conversation with her mum prior to getting on the coach she should have been priority to have one
However I would follow all the other posters in future no meds no trip another time

How b8zarre that a mother wpuld not be bothered about her child goingbthrough the mess and distress of vomiting. Not to mention mouthfull of sick and risk of inhalation. I would approach it as a safeguarding issue and see what she says.

I would want to see the child take the medication and if I didn't, I wouldn't allow her to go.

I agree with everyone else, if the mother wants her child to make a choice, give her one, she either takes the meds or doesn’t go on the trip. Other children didn’t choose to be covered in vomit.
This isn’t about giving a child a choice is about allowing a child to do as she pleases and taking away the choices of others to enjoy a coach trip.
If you do this another time be sure to tell the mother that because of the previous trip her child should either take the meds or unfortunately cannot go on the trip.

Grammaretto

I think you know the answer! Yes taking the tablets etc is the only way Gerty should be allowed if there is a next time.
Her mum should come too though she sounds very stupid and not someone you'd want on a coach trip.

Mum should also sit next to her with a bucket on her lap and copious wet wipes!

A chorus of her classmates yelling "dirty gerty" might discourage her.

Perhaps a bucket on her knee at the start of the trip might have been a good idea, just to be “on the safe side”? 🪣

She might have opted for the medication instead…

Yes. That's true.
But a risk assessment is only as good as the information given to the person doing the assessment.

It sounds to me as though nothing was said about this ahead of the day.

It should have been part of the risk assessment.

tanith

Insist ‘Gertys’ Mum goes too so she can clean up the inevitable mess.

Or ask Gerty's mummy to please drive her separately (and take her home again afterwards).

If she is unable to travel without being sick I think you should be able to provide her with a "suitable alternative activity" to be done at school or at home.

I would be very upset for the other children with vomit over them.

I think you know the answer! Yes taking the tablets etc is the only way Gerty should be allowed if there is a next time.
Her mum should come too though she sounds very stupid and not someone you'd want on a coach trip.

Kwells are very easy to take and you can get children's ones.

But this business of asking infants to make a choice when their experience of life is so short, sounds like utter nonsense to me!

I had 4 kids and not much spare cash so I can't remember offering them many choices.

It wasn't a school trip but a youth organisation. We had buckets, etc, not enough for one per passenger, spread around the coach. Mother wasn't particularly concerned when she picked Gerty up.

tanith

Insist ‘Gertys’ Mum goes too so she can clean up the inevitable mess.

Best advice !