Everyday, in EDs across the planet, children are poked and prodded. We draw blood, we clean wax out of ears – little things, but they are painful for our patients. Here are a few things that are relatively easy to do, that can reduce the pain we sometimes inflict:
2. Sucrose – sugar water isn’t a drug but it behaves like one in infants. It helps calm them in stressful situations. Try squirting some in the mouth or dipping the pacifier in sucrose before a venous stick or ear wax removal. Keep it handy at the bedside cart. If you have to leave the bedside, write for it and wait until it shows up, you’re less likely to use it.
3. Caregivers – holding a child down on a table to do a blood draw is more traumatic for them than doing it in the parent’s lap. With good positioning, you can frequently get your stick while the parent holds the child.
4. The power of distraction – flashy toys and blowing bubbles are great but you can also do this by having someone stroke the child’s forehead and talk softly to them about good things like birthday parties or family trips. This is a good role for a parent, but any extra person can do this.
All these modalities are available in most EDs. You just have to remember to use them. Reducing pain is as much about mindset as it is about medication.
1 Comment
Here in Mexico we soak the pacifier on a solution of tequila and sucrose. Works great, no sedation needed !
No really, the sucrose works great alone. The tequila part is for the celebration after the shift. Cheers !