Keeping Your Child Safe in the Hospital

Children’s safety is very important to us. We partner with families to keep young patients safe while in the hospital.

Here are some tips:

• The nursing call bell is located on the bed.
• A pull call bell is located in the bathroom.
• Patient ID bands must be worn at all times.
• For children under 2 years of age, a HUGS ID bands will allow monitoring of the child’s location.
• It is not safe to blow up gloves like balloons to play with. They are a choking hazard.
• At night, the bathroom light will be left on with the door ajar as a “night light.”
• Please accompany your child if they are in the play room.
• Breast milk storage is available. Please discuss our policy with an RN.
• All pediatric rooms have security camera surveillance with a monitor at the nurses’ station.
• Pediatrics is a locked unit:
  • When entering the unit, please use the intercom outside the unit to have the door unlocked for entrance.
  • When leaving the unit, please press the button to the left of the doors to open them
• Visitors under 12 years of age should be accompanied by a responsible adult and not be left unattended.
• Siblings and friends may not sleep over

Keeping your child safe from falls in the hospital

Falls can occur anytime, anywhere. Falls may also occur while a parent or family members are present. Here are useful tips on how we can prevent falls while in the hospital.

Please:

• Notify the pediatric nurse if you are leaving the department and will not be present with your infant or toddler.
• Accompany your child to the bathroom, especially if he/she is attached to any equipment, is under medication, or just had surgery. Let the nurse know if the child is getting up for the first time, or if you need assistance.
• Make sure the bed/crib side rails are always up, and the bed/crib is in the position closest to the floor.
• If you feel sleepy while holding your child, please place him/her in the bed/crib, with the side rails up.

Remember:

• Feet need to be covered at all times. Slipper socks are available.
• It is not safe to play with, or ride on equipment, such as IV poles.
• It is not safe to stand or climb on the windowsills and couches.
• It is not safe to run in the hospital.
• Use built in safety straps for babies placed in infant seats, high chairs, strollers and bouncy seats. Do not leave your child unattended.
• Children under 3 years old are safer in a crib even though they may not be in one at home.

We want to be sure your child is in the safest environment possible. We identify all children at risk for falling, and place a “Humpty Dumpty” sign outside his/her room to remind everyone of the child’s risk to fall.