1. Storage of Alcohol
Extra alcohol is stored in the yellow metal cabinet located inside the closet in the Child Life Workroom, WA , next door to the Volunteer Services Office.
When a new bottle of alcohol is opened, attach the sprayer and use a Sharpie pen to write the current date on the bottle. Alcohol for toy cleaning should always be in the original bottle.

2. Alcohol Storage

3. Safety
All items that can be a possible choking hazard for infants and toddlers should not be left unattended. Only leave these items with patient if parent is present.
Volunteer should use best judgment when distributing toys with small pieces.
Phone: if the phone rings, please answer, “2nd /3rd/5th floor playroom, ______ speaking.”
Refer to the list of important phone numbers by the telephone when needed.

5. Safety cont.
It is important to be vigilant as patients often have equipment they are not used to or are unable to maneuver easily. Be alert to help.
If patients with IVs come to the playroom, please watch to see that the patient is not moving about such that it might cause the IV needle to infiltrate. If you notice swelling or redness around the site of the IV needle, please contact the patient’s nurse immediately. It is possible the patient may not feel any discomfort although the IV needle has infiltrated.

6. Test toys and other items to see if they are a choking hazard
Test toys and other items to see if they are a choking hazard. Anything that can fit in this vial is a definite hazard.

7. Emergencies Code Red: if a child stops breathing
Press code button OR call *9999
Stay with patient until help arrives
Dr. Pyro announcement: Fire Alarm
Close the playroom door, keep patients with you
Call the nurses’ station and let them know who is with you
Listen for further directions to be announced
Remember occasionally we have fire drills and/or false alarms

8. Emergencies cont. Code Pink: a child is missing or abducted
Remain in the playroom
Keep patients and families with you
Call nurses’ station and report who is with you
Be aware of people who are moving through the hallway or entering the playroom during the code
Wait for an all clear to be announced
Nosebleeds, Toilet Accidents, Vomiting
Call Environmental Services for cleanup:
Call the nurses’ station to report patient’s condition
Place paper towels over the spill and keep others away

9. Child Life Volunteers in the Emergency Center
Beginning your volunteer shift in EC
Toy Cleaning
EC Patient List
Reading the Patient Information Board
Interaction with Patients
Sibling Support
Food and Drink in the EC
Rooming patients in the exam rooms
Ending EC Session
What else?

10. Beginning Your Volunteer Shift in the Emergency Center
When signing in at the Volunteer Services office, please check the calendar on the bulletin board and use the phone on the wall to call the Child Life Specialist on duty during your shift to notify them that you are here. You and the Child Life Specialist will work as a team to serve the patients in the Emergency Center.
If the Child Life Specialist is with a patient, she may not be able to answer. In that case, please look for the CL Specialist while you are in the EC to connect and serve the patients.

11. Toy Cleaning
At the beginning of your shift, check to see if there are dirty toys in the Soiled Utility Room WB Any toys found there should be considered “dirty”.
Spray the toys with 70% alcohol and allow them to dry (5-7 minutes).
While the alcohol is drying, retrieve a cart from the storage room, WB Equipment Storage.
Return to the Soiled Utility area, place the clean toys on the cart, and spray them with water to rinse or wipe with a wet towel.
Take the cart with the clean toys to the storage room, WB Equipment Storage.

12. Toy Cleaning - Continued
Any “clean” toys that remain in the soiled area for more than a few minutes will be considered dirty and must be re-cleaned.
You may dry toys with a clean towel or allow them to air-dry once they are in the storage area.
Place clean, dry toys on the shelves. Be sure to put some clean toys in the Great Hope section of the EC.
Dirty toys should be removed from exam rooms as each room turns over between patients.
Try to clean all dirty toys before the end of your shift and do not leave them for the next volunteer.

13. Toys are cleaned in the Soiled Utility closet WB. 0250
Toys are cleaned in the Soiled Utility closet WB across from Exam Rm 10.

14. Toys should be cleaned on rack and returned to WB. 0250
Toys should be cleaned on rack and returned to WB Equipment Storage.

15. CL Volunteer Supplies are found in WB. 0250
CL Volunteer Supplies are found in WB Equipment Storage across from Exam Room 1

16. Child Life Supplies

17. Toys in the Great Hope Area of the Emergency Center

18. EC Patient List
Obtain a patient list form from the Volunteer Folder in WB Equipment Storage.
Check to see what toys, games, and crafts are available to offer to patients.
View the patient info screen (Trackboard) in the EC work area to see what patients are currently in the EC.
Make notes on your patient list of room #, patient, sex and age.
Begin visiting rooms to offer toys, games, crafts, etc. to patients and/or siblings.

19. Patient Info Screen (Trackboard)

20. Emergency Center Nurses’ Station

21. Reading the Patient Information Board (Trackboard)
Basic information is available on the Trackboard:
Exam room #
Patient age and sex
Color of background for Room# indicates the status of service:
Green = ready for discharge
Beige = service in progress
Red = waiting for provider

22. Reading the Trackboard cont.
The status of a room in transition that has disappeared from the Trackboard can be seen on the ED Manager screen at the Charge Nurse’s computer or the UCA’s computer. (UCA= Unit Clerical Assistant)
Please check with the UCA periodically to monitor the status of rooms in transition. The number of a room that is ready for a new patient will be indicated by a white background and no patient name on the ED Manager screen.
When you confirm that an exam room is ready, please check with the First Look Nurse for the next patient to room. (First Look Nurse is located at the Reception Desk in the EC waiting area. If there is no First Look Nurse, check with the Charge Nurse.)

23. Interaction with Patients in the EC
Knock on the patient’s door, pause and listen for a response before entering. Look for acknowledgement through the window.
Introduce yourself, “Hi, my name is ___, I am a volunteer. Can I bring you something to play with? Would you like a toy or an activity? I will be here till ___, if you need anything ask your nurse to call me. “
Make eye contact with the patient and speak clearly and smile. Patients are often nervous and scared by the number of strangers that have entered their room.

24. Interaction with Patients cont.
If the doctor or nurse are with the patient, do not disturb. Come back later.
Deliver the toy or activity requested.
Families with siblings:
You may offer to play with a sibling while the parent supports the patient’s needs.
You may bring a toy or activity for the sibling.
You may invite the sibling to play in designated areas on the unit while the patient is having a procedure in the exam room.
If you feel comfortable, the parent may leave the sibling with you while escorting the patient to Holding/Recovery or the Operating Room.

25. Food and Drink in the EC
If a patient or family member asks for a drink or snack for the patient, tell the Charge Nurse and he/she will address the need. VOLUNTEERS NEVER OFFER FOOD OR DRINK TO A PATIENT.
If the family is requesting food for anyone other than the patient, direct them to the vending machines in the waiting area.

26. Exam Room in EC

27. Exam Room in EC

28. Determining when an exam room is ready for a new patient:
On the Trackboard, the room number highlighted green indicates that a patient is ready for discharge. This is your signal to monitor the status of that room to determine when it is ready for a new patient.
When a patient vacates an exam room, the room number disappears from the Trackboard while the room is in transition for cleaning. The room number does not reappear on the Trackboard until a new patient is in the room.

29. Steps to Follow When Rooming a Patient in the EC
Obtain the patient’s chart from the First Look Nurse stationed at the Reception Desk in the EC waiting area. If there is no First Look Nurse on duty, the Charge Nurse will have the patient’s chart.
In the waiting room, call the name of the patient (usually the first or last name of the patient is sufficient).
Walk the patient and family to the specified exam room, walking alongside and talking to them as you walk.

30. Rooming a patient cont.
Settle the patient and family in the exam room.
Raise the head of the bed to their comfort. Raise both side rails.
Turn on the TV for them. Ask if they prefer to watch TV or a movie directing the TV to their choice with the remote. Show the patient or family member how to use the remote control.
Identify the nurse call light button (red and white button at the top of the remote).
Please tear off one row of the optiolabels (stickers) in the patient’s chart and place under the corner of the communication board in the exam room. If there are old patient labels still on the board, please remove them and dispose of them in the shred bin. Erase any previous patient’s info left on the board.

31. Rooming a patient cont.
Explain to the patient and family what the next step will be. (Ex. “Your nurse will be in shortly, but be sure to press the red button if you need a staff member at any time.”)
After settling the patient and family in the room, place the patient’s chart in the appropriate red file (by exam room #) at the nurses’ station. If there is a previous patient’s chart still in the red file, please remove it and place it in the black basket.