My experience as an emergency and pediatric nurse goes back some thirty years. It still surprises me that parents, when under pressure, really don't know their child like they think they do. An accident or sudden illness adds further stress to a parent so recalling valuable information for the healthcare team in the emergency room can be difficult. Here are 5 tips for parents so recalling pertinent history is not overlooked.
1. Make a list of each of your childrens' daily medications and allergies. Use a 3x5 card and keep it tucked in your wallet for those emergency ER or doctor visits. It is so important for the healthcare team to have this information available immediately and your childs' records from the family doctor are not accessible after office hours. Having this information prevents your child from receiving a medication that may cause them a severe reaction. Keep in mind that food allergies and over the counter medicines should be included in that list.
2. Have a current immunization record for each of your children. Use that same 3x5 card and list the immunizations on the back or keep their shot record (which is usually a small card) also in your wallet. Some parents I know have a 3 ring binder with a clear pocket folder for each child that they bring with them to the Emergency room if needed. This is particularly helpful if the child has a extensive medical history or if you have several children.
3. Know your childs' approximate current weight. Also note to the healthcare team if your child has had a recent weight gain or loss. These are keys to certain illnesses and help the team to decide the severity of what is going on with this emergency visit.
4. Know when your child last had something to eat and drink. Also, know the quantity of the intake. This information seems petty unless you understand that if your child is experiencing an illness or injury that would require surgery, this information is vital. Surgery for a broken bone, for instance, might have to be postponed if your child just had a full meal. It is often 4 hours after a meal before a surgeon feels comfortable taking a child to the operating room.
5. Know your childs' medical and surgical history. Some children have an extensive medical history so a written list is valuable for the emergency team. If your child is fairly healthy, then a list of normal childhood illnesses is important. Know if your child has had chicken pox or mumps, for instance, or suffers from a chronic illness. Another example is if your child has had an appendix removed, then the emergency room team would need to look further if your child was experiencing belly pain. Report even simple operations like tubes in the ears or the removal of tonsils. All of this information is valuable when the healthcare team is trying to make a diagnosis.
Remember, emergencies happen and you may need to make an unplanned visit to a hospital emergency room. Be prepared with the 5 pieces of information I have listed and it will make your childs' visit more beneficial for all concerned.
Terri Forehand
terri.forehand@gmail.com
http://heartfeltwords4kids.blogspot.com
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