6 Helpful Tips for Reducing Hospital Anxiety

 

Many people get anxious when they need to go to a hospital for treatment. Although this is a normal reaction, it is important to know that nervousness and anxiety doesn’t always have to accompany a visit to the hospital. Keep reading to learn about a few simple strategies for reducing hospital anxiety in people of all ages, and making the experience more tolerable.

 

Practice Relaxation Techniques

Relaxation techniques like progressive relaxation (tensing, then relaxing each group of muscles in turn), deep breathing and visualizing being somewhere pleasant and peaceful can reduce anxiety before and during hospital visits and medical procedures. These techniques are easy to learn and even children can practice them.

 

Use iPads, Music or Games

According to ScienceLife, a study found that using an iPad, listening to music, coloring, playing games or even just blowing bubbles reduces anxiety in children undergoing medical procedures in an emergency room setting. While the study didn’t include children outside an emergency room setting or adults, the article suggests these techniques or similar ones would probably be effective for other ages, as well.

 

Bring a Friend

Having a friend or family member present during procedures at the hospital often reduces anxiety in patients, according to the Nursing Times website. Patients can request to have a family member or friend remain with them and hospital personnel can make changes to hospital policy when needed in order to accommodate those requests and relieve anxiety.

 

Talk about the Anxiety

Talking about the source of the anxiety also helps with nervousness. Sometimes, our fears and anxiety related to the hospital visit are based on the unknown. If you are anxious about a procedure or treatment, asking the doctor or nurse about it will likely calm your fears. You might be worrying unnecessarily, and getting more information about what is going to happen can help you feel more at ease. Discuss your concerns with the doctor, and get all the facts before you start to worry about your hospital visit.

 

Don’t Be Shy

Aside from asking questions, it can also be helpful to form a bond or relationship with the nurses or doctors who will be caring for you. We tend to feel more at ease when we are around people that we are comfortable with, so if you let your doctors or nurses know about your anxiety, they will likely make efforts to help you feel more at ease. Don’t be shy about asking questions, or even asking for items that will comfort you. Of course, you don’t want to be demanding, but most hospital staff will be happy to get something for you if it will help you to feel more comfortable. Speak up about anything that is bothering you, and you won’t have to suffer through anxiety and discomfort while at the hospital.

 

Keep Parents Calm

An article published by the American Society of Nurse Anesthetists explains how children display less anxiety in hospital settings when their parents stay calm. Many of the tips for reducing hospital anxiety in patients will also help reduce anxiety in parents, like talking about the anxiety and staying informed about what is going to happen. If you are trying to keep a child calm about their hospital visit, it is important that you stay calm yourself. This is also true if you are accompanying a friend or family member on their visit.

 

As you can see, while hospital anxiety is common, you don’t have to succumb to it. By getting more information on the procedure or treatment, getting to know your doctor, openly talking about your anxiety, and finding distractions, you can let your worries wash away and be more at ease in the hospital. The information for this article was provided by the professionals of 911 Industrial Response Inc., who specialize in ambulance services in Calgary.

 

Categories: anxiety, Emergency Room, family member, hospital, hospital anxiety, hospital visit, medical procedures, reduces anxiety, reducing hospital, room setting, Tips, visit nbsp

Kid Safety: Choosing the Right Toys

As a parent, it’s only natural to want your children to lead a safe, happy life. However, thousands of kids each year end up visiting the emergency room due to toy-related injuries. According to the National SAFE KIDS Campaign and the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), over 200,000 children under the age of 14 years old experience injury from dangerous toys each year. Although many of these do not require overnight hospitalization, these injuries have occasionally resulted in death for a small percentage of kids.

 

Toys make the perfect gift for kids on birthdays, special occasions and holidays. However, the wrong types of toys can cause choking or strangulation hazards or even damage your child’s hearing. Given the wide range of toys available on the market, what are the top concerns to watch out for?

 

Bigger Is Better

Toys with small parts can present a choking hazard, particularly to smaller children under the age of 3 years old. The best test to see if the toy is appropriate is to use a toilet paper roll tube. If the item can make its way through that, then it’s a definite safety hazard for your little one. Also, keep an eye out for toy warning labels, as well as toys made of materials that may be able to be crushed or balled up and swallowed.

 

Shop With Industry Leaders

Everyone loves a bargain, particularly cash-strapped parents. However, occasionally bargain toys can break, contain toxic materials or unidentified small parts, causing injury. Look for well-made toys from award winning companies like Baby Einstein who pride themselves on creating safely structured, age-appropriate toys for your tots. Also look for toys from companies that regularly appear on parent and government award sites and “best of” lists.

 

Magnetic Charm

It may come as a surprise, but toys with magnets can cause serious complications and risks in children if accidentally swallowed. Today’s magnets are not only powerful, but their shiny look can look like appealing candy to kids. Watch out for magnets used in jewelery and building toys, as well as colorful letter magnets used on your home refrigerator.

 

Lead and Toxic Worries

Although lead toys may be a thing of the past, vintage toys are still handed down and bought for today’s little ones. Surprisingly, the CPSC, PIRG and children’s health groups have discovered high levels of lead paint on recent toys (especially those made before 2009), vinyl lunch boxes and bibs, and in children’s costume jewelry. Try purchasing a home test kit to ensure your child is not be accidentally exposed. Also aim to buy wooden or cloth toys when possible.

 

Get the Right Gear

Active toys such a bicycles, scooters, skateboards and skates pose obvious dangers to today’s kids. Be sure to set ground rules for your children on where they can use these items, being sure to stress the importance of staying out of the street and avoiding road vehicles. Additionally, providing your kids with protective gear such as knee and elbow pads and helmets can go along way to injury prevention.

 

Stay on Top of Those Recalls

Hundreds of toys and games are recalled every year due to safety issues, so it’s important to check lists regularly against what’s in your child’s toy chest. It’s easy to stay informed using government sponsored sites such as Recalls.gov, which also offer an email service to provide you with alerts on the latest product call backs.

 

A child getting a new toy should bring laughs and smiles, not injuries and trips to the emergency room. Pay close attention not only to the toys that you buy for your children, but also what they receive as presents to ensure they are playing with high quality, safe and age appropriate toys. By keeping attentive to what your kids are playing with, you can ensure they lead a happy and injury free childhood.

Writer and mother of four, Melanie Fleury is always concerned about the quality and safety of the toys that her children play with. She has found that sticking with brands she trusts, like Baby Einstein, alleviates those fears. 

Photo Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/realityfaery/4257269900/

Categories: baby einstein, Children, Emergency Room, kid, Kids, lead, nbsp, Safety, Toys

Beware of Dog: Proper Care of an Animal Bite

Even the happiest and friendliest of dogs can suddenly turn on and bite you. When you are bitten by a dog, whether it be a stray or a dog belonging to a friend or family member, you should act immediately to make sure the bite does not become infected.

 

According to one Charlotte NC personal injury lawyer, when an attack or bite occurs, medical treatment is required in 30 percent of cases. Immediately after being bitten, it is vital that you take certain steps to protect your health and perhaps the safety of your family and friends.

 

a) Clean Out the Bite

After you have been bitten by a dog, you should go right away to a sink and wash the wound out with warm water and mild soap. This cleaning will get rid of any food, dirt, or other particles that may have been implanted into your skin. After you clean out the wound, you should apply rubbing alcohol or peroxide to the wound and then wrap it loosely with a bandage. These preliminary steps will provide a first line of defense against infection.

 

b) Go to the Emergency Room

Even if you know the dog that bit you, you should still head to the emergency room for immediate treatment. At the ER, your wound can be cleaned out with the proper medication and then dressed for proper healing. Your doctor can also gather information about the dog’s history to make sure it is vaccinated against rabies.

 

If the dog belongs to a family member or friend, that person may be required by law to prove that the dog is current on its rabies vaccination. If the animal is a stray, an animal control officer will ask you where the animal is so that it can be captured and tested for rabies. If need be, you may need to undergo the appropriate injections to protect you from this disease.

 

c) Comply with the Law

Your doctor is obligated to report dog bites to the local law enforcement agency. Even if the dog is that of a friend or relative, it still may be taken into custody until the police can determine if it is not a danger to the public. Seeing your friend or family member’s dog taken from them can be heart-wrenching. However, this protective measure is required by law and is designed to protect the public. As painful as it is to witness, you must comply with the police and be honest about how and why the animal bit you.

 

d) Get an Attorney if Necessary

Once a beloved dog is taken into custody by the police, your neighbor, friend, or relative may turn on you and try to blame you for the bite. In fact, it should not be up to you to pay your medical bills or make up your lost income because of the dog owner’s negligence. You can protect yourself from the consequences of being bitten by someone else’s animal by hiring an attorney.

 

Your lawyer can make sure that a claim is filed against the dog owner’s home or renter’s insurance policy. This action can provide you with the proper amount of compensation as you recuperate from the dog bite.

 

Being bitten by a dog is a traumatic experience for anyone. You can make sure your bite does not get infected and make sure the animal is properly quarantined and tested for rabies by taking the appropriate actions after you are bitten.

 

Melanie Fleury is the proud mother to four human children and three four-legged ones. While the trusts her own dogs, she has always taught her children to ask before approaching other animals. Auger & Auger Attorneys at Law, a Charlotte NC personal injury lawyer, wants victims of dog bites to know that you may be able to obtain compensation for your injury if you or a loved one is attacked by a dog.

Categories: animal bite, care, Emergency Room