V ISITING C RITICAL C ARE IN H OSPITAL Preparing children to visit family members in Critical Care in Hospital Ref: Froedtert & Medical College of Wisconsin

FOR PARENTS When a parent or family member is hospitalised, children often have a hard time understanding the reasons or rules about visiting the hospital. Family life may be disrupted and children’s schedules often change. Including children in the hospital experience is helpful as long as they have appropriate information and preparation. This booklet is created to help you prepare and include your child in the healthcare experiences of your family. Ref: Froedtert & Medical College of Wisconsin

THE CRITICAL CARE UNIT The Critical Care Unit is a special place in hospital for people who need the most care, if they are very sick or hurt. Special doctors, nurses and other hospital workers will be taking care of your family member. They will be using many important medical ‘tools’ for helping make people better. This book will tell you about the things you may see or hear while you are visiting in the hospital. Ref: Froedtert & Medical College of Wisconsin

THE PATIENT Your family member, who is called ‘the patient’, may not look the way you remember. Sometimes the medicine or bandages make their face look puffy. They will be lying in a hospital bed and may have many tubes attached to their body. There may be lots of equipment in the room. There might be many doctors and nurses taking care of your family member. Your special person may not be able to talk to you, but you can talk quietly to them. You will only be able to stay at the bedside for a short time because your relative needs rest to get better. You can work on this booklet while you are waiting in the visiting room. Ref: Froedtert & Medical College of Wisconsin

DRAW A PICTURE OF YOUR FAMILY Ref: Froedtert & Medical College of Wisconsin

HANDWASHING C OLOUR THE P ICTURE One of the best ways that you can help everyone in the hospital is to remember to wash your hands before you go on to the Critical Care Unit and when you leave. Being careful to be SUPER-CLEAN and not letting germs into the hospital is very important! Ref: Froedtert & Medical College of Wisconsin

EQUIPMENT The room where your family member is staying will have lots of special equipment and a special bed. The equipment is to help people to get better. The machines may make different noises. Ref: Froedtert & Medical College of Wisconsin

C LEVER E QUIPMENT Here is some more clever equipment for you to colour in. Ref: Froedtert & Medical College of Wisconsin

UNIFORMS Here are some hospital uniforms for you to colour in. People who work in hospital wear special uniforms. They are very clean so no germs can be spread in the hospital. Ref: Froedtert & Medical College of Wisconsin

DIFFERENT JOBS Put the names on the badges. Many people with many different jobs will be helping to take care of your special person. Write the names of the people you meet. Ref: Froedtert & Medical College of Wisconsin

T HINGS T O D O Draw a cheerful ‘Get Well’ picture Ref: Froedtert & Medical College of Wisconsin

T HINGS T O D O Write a ‘Get Well’ message Ref: Froedtert & Medical College of Wisconsin

T HINGS T O D O Keep a diary of what is happening in the world, at school and at home DayWhat Happened Today? Ref: Froedtert & Medical College of Wisconsin

M ORE T HINGS T O D O Read to your family member Bring photos of you and your family to decorate the bedside Sit quietly and hold their hand Talk quietly to your family member about your day. Ref: Froedtert & Medical College of Wisconsin

C OLOUR T HIS P ICTURE Ref: Froedtert & Medical College of Wisconsin

D RAW A PICTURE OF YOUR FAMILY MEMBER IN THE HOSPITAL BED. D ECORATE THE ROOM THE WAY YOUR FAMILY MEMBER WOULD LIKE IT. Ref: Froedtert & Medical College of Wisconsin

D RAW A LINE FROM THE LABEL TO THE CORRECT PICTURE W HEEL CHAIR X-R AY M EDICINE C RUTCHES B LOOD P RESSURE C UFF S TETHOSCOPE S YRINGE A MBULANCE D RIP S TAND B ED Ref: Froedtert & Medical College of Wisconsin

YIVENTILATOROTCV QUAJHESRUNKLEWED APPIOBPORBLERVIO MEXTARIOMEDNAIRC BEDNXOLACOPEYSAT URSEPILLESTISIMO LOPISTOALMONITOR ANDTERWRXEVHAONY NCEALZERHOPATRIE CLAPITAJORSUVENT EINGLYGEWGORCRTU DEWLATIPSOHAUGHS Find these words in the word search: PatientVisitorNurse BedDoctorVentilator MonitorHospitalAmbulance StethoscopePillowXray Ref: Froedtert & Medical College of Wisconsin

W RITE OR DRAW ABOUT THE THINGS YOU WILL DO WHEN YOUR FAMILY IS HOME TOGETHER AGAIN Ref: Froedtert & Medical College of Wisconsin

COLOUR THE PICTURES Ref: Froedtert & Medical College of Wisconsin

COLOUR THE PICTURE Ref: Froedtert & Medical College of Wisconsin

Provided by: West Yorkshire Adult Critical Care Operational Delivery Network JUNE 2014 Ref: Froedtert & Medical College of Wisconsin