Do you agree with me or parent and child?

It's not depriving Gertie of choice to say, take the tablet or don't come with us. That's a choice & that's the choice she should be making. (not to take or not take & be got onto the bus by deceit (not telling organiser till it's too late) either way.

Why do mothers think a child knows best. The mother is thd adult she knows what the outcome will be so she needs to explain to the child that it is unpleasant for others and preventable, so she will jolly well take the meds, or not go! End of! Parents need to show some authority not all children to make wrong choices

It sounds like Gerty enjoyed being sick and inconveniencing everyone.

What a strange child.

I would have had words with the mother.

I feel really sorry for the kid in front that Gerty chucked up over! Did anyone take her feelings and upset into account? I'd be furious if I were their parent.

I was a child who was car sick. It was the most wretched thing. I can't imagine any child choosing it. So this story sounds a bit fishy to me. I am not sure if it is not designed to provoke outrage at exaggerated aspects of modern parenting.
If it is true, Gerty has probably got problems that go beyond being car sick.

tanith

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

The perfect answer and solution.

Have a 15 year old GS who suffers from travel sickness. I did too when young and still can't go on a boat. Fir GS I always had ice cream tubs with lids in the car for him to use. Would the mother concerned allow the child to make a choice on whether to take diabetic medication on day of the trip. I guess No. So what's the difference with antisickness medicine, I'd say no medicine, no trip. Probably spoiled it for other kids and of course the mess in the bus woukd need to be explained and I bet it wasn't the mother who did that.

I can’t think of a single child or even adult, who would be able to giggle if travel sick.

Of course Gerty must be allowed to choose - she takes the tablet or she doesn’t go! Simples.

As a previous poster said, I’d want to actually see the child take her meds.

Gerty does not go on any future trips unless Mum signs something to say she has had medication AND mum accompanies her throughout trip. Let mum spend the day covered in child vomit. Those poor nearby children, if I was their parent I would be furious about this.
Perhaps little Gerty might decide to take meds if the alternative is having Mum with her on school trip?!

As a retired teacher 'Gerty' would not be allowed to go on trip! No discussion. Take your meds or no trip. What a ridiculous entutled parent.

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