Preparing children to visit family members in
Critical Care in Hospital
Ref: Froedtert & Medical College of Wisconsin
VISITING CRITICAL
CARE IN HOSPITAL
FOR PARENTS
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
When a parent or family member is hospitalised,
children often have a hard time understanding
the reasons or rules about visiting the hospital.
THE CRITICAL
CARE UNIT
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 Critical Care Unit is a special place in hospital for people who
need the most care, if they are very sick or hurt.
THE PATIENT
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
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.
Ref: Froedtert & Medical College of Wisconsin
DRAW A PICTURE OF YOUR FAMILY
HANDWASHING
COLOUR THE PICTURE
Ref: Froedtert & Medical College of Wisconsin
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!
EQUIPMENT
The equipment is to help people to get better.
The machines may make different noises.
Ref: Froedtert & Medical College of Wisconsin
The room where your family member is staying will
have lots of special equipment and a special bed.
CLEVER EQUIPMENT
Ref: Froedtert & Medical College of Wisconsin
Here is some more clever equipment for
you to colour in.
UNIFORMS
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
Here are some hospital uniforms for
you to colour in.
DIFFERENT JOBS
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
Put the names on the badges.
THINGS TO DO
Ref: Froedtert & Medical College of Wisconsin
Draw a cheerful ‘Get Well’ picture
THINGS TO DO
Ref: Froedtert & Medical College of Wisconsin
Write a ‘Get Well’ message
THINGS TO DO
Day
What Happened Today?
Ref: Froedtert & Medical College of Wisconsin
Keep a diary of what is happening
in the world, at school and at home
MORE THINGS TO DO
Sit quietly and
hold their hand
Talk quietly to
your family
member about
your day.
Ref: Froedtert & Medical College of Wisconsin
Read to your
family
member
Bring photos of
you and your
family to decorate
the bedside
COLOUR THIS PICTURE
Ref: Froedtert & Medical College of Wisconsin
Ref: Froedtert & Medical College of Wisconsin
DRAW A PICTURE OF YOUR FAMILY MEMBER IN
THE HOSPITAL BED. DECORATE THE ROOM THE
WAY YOUR FAMILY MEMBER WOULD LIKE IT.
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WHEEL CHAIR
X-RAY
MEDICINE
CRUTCHES
BLOOD
PRESSURE
CUFF
STETHOSCOPE
SYRINGE
AMBULANCE
DRIP STAND
BED
DRAW A LINE FROM THE LABEL TO THE CORRECT
PICTURE
Ref: Froedtert & Medical College of Wisconsin
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Y
I
V E N T
I
L A T O R O T C V
Q U A J H E S R U N K L E W E D
A P P
I O B P O R B L E R V
M E X T A R
I O M E D N A
I
I O
R C
B E D N X O L A C O P E Y S A T
U R S E P
I
L L E S T
I
S
I M O
S T O A L M O N I
T O R
A N D T E R W R X E V H A O N Y
N C E A L Z E R H O P A T R
C L A P
E
I
I
E
T A J O R S U V E N T
I N G L Y G E W G O R C R T U
D E W L A T
I
P S O H A U G H S
Find these words in the word search:
Patient
Visitor
Nurse
Bed
Doctor
Ventilator
Monitor
Hospital
Ambulance
Stethoscope
Pillow
Xray
Ref: Froedtert & Medical College of Wisconsin
L O P
I
WHEN YOUR FAMILY IS HOME TOGETHER AGAIN
Ref: Froedtert & Medical College of Wisconsin
WRITE OR DRAW ABOUT THE THINGS YOU WILL DO
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