How to Prepare for an Emergency Room Visit With Your Child

As a parent, it is scary for you and your child when your child is ill or injured enough to go to the Emergency Room. Since there are not very many pediatric hospitals around it is difficult to create a less scary atmosphere. Even in big emergencies you usually have a couple of minutes to grab some things. Here are some ways to make an Emergency Room visit less scary for your child.

Before you leave home there are a few things that you should grab. If your child uses a comfort item such as a teddy bear you should grab that. Depending on your child's age, you may need to grab diapers, formula, etc. as well. Pack up any thing you may need for an overnight stay, an extra change of clothes for you and your child, and a few toys and books. Do not give your child anything to drink or eat until after you have been seen at the Emergency Room. You should also gather the following information to have handy for any occasion:

-A list of any and all medications that your child is currently taking and make sure to include the dosages for each medication.

-A list of any phone numbers that you may need to get in contact with in an emergency situation. A lot of Emergency Rooms do not allow the use of cell phones so be sure to check with the nurse before using it.

-Always keep extra quarters or a few extra dollar bills for the vending machines in case there is no ATM.

After you arrive at the hospital prepare to be patient. Remember that patients are seen in the order of how sick that they are and not in the order of arrival. If you get upset than your child will sense this and get more upset. Once you get in the room you should ask the nurse if you can lower the lights as well as ask for extra blankets and pillows. This can make the room seem less scary. Turn on the television and find some cartoons and sit next to your child. If you feel that your child is in pain and needs a pain reliever than do not be afraid to speak up.