Making the Trauma Bay Less Scary: Child Life Tips for Non-Pediatric Centers (Live)-Helping Pediatric Patients Through the Ride

Helping Pediatric Patients Through the Ride

Pdf Summary

The guide offers age-appropriate ways for EMS providers to comfort children during transport. For infants (0–12 months), use soft singing or humming, shushing, swaddling, and a pacifier. For preschoolers (3–5 years), try “I-spy,” bubbles, jokes, riddles, cartoons, or conversation about their interests; offer choices and validate their feelings. Teens (13–17 years) benefit from clear explanations, involvement in decisions, open-ended conversation about their interests, phone-based distraction, and respect for their privacy and dignity.<br /><br />Quick distraction options for children include bubbles, stress balls, “I-spy” cards, stuffed animals, stickers, and light-up toys. Providers can also offer safe objects or equipment to touch, play peek-a-boo, and use calm, reassuring speech.

Keywords

EMS

child comfort

pediatric transport

infants

preschoolers

teens

distraction techniques

reassuring speech

swaddling

privacy and dignity