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Two girls hospitalized after a burn
Diane and Aélia arrive at the emergency room on the stretcher of the firefighters. The girls, who are in the large kindergarten section, burned themselves in the canteen by spilling a dish that was too hot. Installed in different rooms, they are taken care of, one after the other, by Caroline, nurse. You will have to pierce the blisters and remove the damaged skin. Painful acts. So that the little girls can bear the pain better, Caroline shows them how to breathe in a magic mask that diffuses a gas composed of nitrous oxide and oxygen. The famous laughing gas. Before using it, Diane and Aélia choose a scented marker and color the inside of the mask to hide the plastic smell. The two friends choose the same pineapple scent. It’s a fun way to get children to agree to wear a mask. And if laughing gas is a good help to relax them, this drug is not enough, because children must remain still during the procedure.
An iPad to ward off the pain and let go
An unusual tool in an emergency department! And yet, these tablets which have been installed in the 12 boxes of the service are super effective in distracting children during care. Be careful, it is not a question of leaving them alone in front of the screen. A nurse is always present to accompany them. But tablets help them let go and focus their attention on something other than the pain or caring for them.
In any case, the efficiency is there. Moreover, the nursing staff is unanimous: “Since the arrival of Ipads in the service, three years earlier, there has been better pain management”, notes Prof. Ricardo Carbajal, head of the pediatric emergency department. . It helps children in particular to reduce their stress and their crying. Nothing magic, it simply allows “reassure them because they find a familiar and reassuring universe”, specifies Pascale Mahiques, health manager. Indeed, they often have a tablet at home. An argument that is confirmed with Diane and Aélia.
The girls chose to see their favorite movie: Frozen
They know the songs by heart. Carried away by history, they almost forget that they are being treated. The iPad is a good distraction tool, but it’s not the only one used here. Doctors and nurses have their gown pockets full of puppets, whistles and funny little figures. They also have books, soap bubbles and musical instruments close at hand. “And sometimes we sing, even if we don’t always sing very well,” adds Caroline.
Because of course, for painful acts, children always receive analgesics. This is the case of Anaëlle, 6, who must have stitches on her forehead. The doctor gives her a local anesthetic so that she does not have pain. Then to keep her still while the doctor does the stitches, the medical team uses another means of distraction. Marie, a nursery nurse, lets her choose between a cartoon on the iPad or a book. It will be a book. The girl listens to the story, answers the questions … without realizing that her wound is stitched up. Well done ! Anaëlle has not moved, she receives a certificate of courage to congratulate her.
Bubbles, puppets to capture attention
For more efficiency, caregivers adapt to the tastes and ages of children to offer them distraction tools that suit them. For example, in toddlers 3-4 months to 2 years of age, soap bubbles or finger puppets are more effective at capturing their attention. Demonstration with Anass, 7 months old who has to breathe an aerosolized saline serum to de-clutter his bronchi. It is not painful, but babies often find it difficult to accept breathing in this type of mask which makes a lot of noise. Caroline then takes out puppets to capture his attention. It works ! The baby calms down and breathes quietly into the mask.
Another example with Louis-Ange, 5 months old, who has just been admitted to the emergency room. The toddler sits still while the nurse takes his heart and respiratory rates, gives him the diabetes test and other routine exams. He is captivated by the finger puppets used by the doctor, then by his dad. Parents are often encouraged to use the various distraction tools as well. “It’s just as effective as if they were employed by medical staff, and in addition, it helps them better manage the stress of seeing their little one in the emergency room,” says Caroline. Means that we would like to see generalized in other pediatric emergency departments.