Don’t Sleep on Surgery

Katie Taylor, CCLS Child Life On Call for SmileMakers Inc.

In my first role as a child life specialist, I provided support to pediatric patients in a large surgery center, where anywhere from 40-90 patients per day were treated for surgeries as routine as having tonsils removed or as complex as brain surgery. And though every surgery is different, and every patient is different, a common factor for all of these children was anesthesia.

Preparation is in the Play

Anesthesia, a big word I described as “sleepy medicine,” was scary to both children and parents. In the pre-op area, as my little patients would meet their medical team, I would slip into the room and get right down to the patient’s eye level. As I introduced myself and my role as someone to support them and their family, I would ask what they knew about surgery and anesthesia. It was at this point I would bring out a few of my preparation items: an anesthesia mask, a selection of scented lip balms, and some bright, fun character stickers. Presenting the mask in the pre-op area allowed me the opportunity to help answer questions and explain how anesthesia works. It gave the patient a chance to practice breathing with the mask and get comfortable with how the mask would feel on their face.

Silly Scents and Stickers

So why would I bring scented lip balms and stickers? Anesthesia is known to not smell so great. This can be shocking to kids during anesthesia inductions and contribute to stress and anxiety related to their surgery experience. Scented lip balm can easily be rubbed inside an anesthesia mask, turning a smelly experience into a tropical one! SmileMakers offers a variety of scented lip balms in single-use options. Allowing kids to choose their favorite scent puts a feeling of control back into their hands.

Own the Experience

Another way I helped patients “own” their anesthesia experience is by letting them decorate their mask with stickers. Kids would light up when they recognized a character from their favorite show or a superhero that made them feel brave. What once felt so unfamiliar and scary became an experience where those pediatric patients felt more empowered.

Easy Ways to Make a Difference

It’s remarkable how something as simple as a few stickers and some scented lip balm can so significantly reduce the anxiety levels of kids facing surgery. Check out SmileMakers.com for these and many more products that can help make your pediatric patients’ surgery experience a more positive one!