Comments on: Three Hour Emergency Room Wait Edition – Personal Finance Review

By: Rachel @ Master Your Card

Rachel @ Master Your Card — Tue, 20 May 2008 06:42:55 +0000

Luckily the only time I had to take my son to the emergency room was in the evening and there was only one other person waiting to see the doctor. They have a great selection of toys in the waiting room which was lucky as I had only prepared food, drinks, nappies and spare clothes – completely forgetting about toys.

By: jabster

jabster — Mon, 19 May 2008 13:28:22 +0000

I’m glad he did so well, and very impressed that he held still for the exam and treatment. Another tip is that if you have more than one child, leave the non-injured kids with a trusted neighbor, a grandparent, or a friend — or have one of those people meet you at the hospital to pick up the other kids. That leaves both parents free to focus on the injured child and whatever medical decisions are necessary. Parenthood — it’s not for the faint of heart!

By: Ben

Ben — Mon, 19 May 2008 05:29:34 +0000

Mike, thanks for hosting. I know it’s a lot of work!

By: Ben

Ben — Mon, 19 May 2008 05:28:59 +0000

Oops, thanks for the warning jabster. I guess as parents we’re always learning, I hadn’t thought of that aspect. I’ve updated the list to reflect your warning.

Luckily, no surgery was needed for our little guy and he did stay quite still while the doctor worked on him.

By: Four Pillars

Four Pillars — Mon, 19 May 2008 04:26:45 +0000

Thanks a lot for the link!

Mike

By: jabster

jabster — Mon, 19 May 2008 03:54:52 +0000

An article:
Modern fasting guidelines in children . Best Practice & Research Clinical Anaesthesiology , Volume 20 , Issue 3 , Pages 471 – 481 S. Cook-Sather , R. Litman

Abstract

Pediatric fasting guidelines are intended to reduce the risk of pulmonary aspiration of gastric contents and facilitate the safe and efficient conduct of anesthesia. Recent changes in these guidelines, while assuring appropriate levels of patient safety, have been directed at improving the overall perioperative experience for infants, children, and their parents. Now after nearly 15 years of practice worldwide, the relative safety and benefits of allowing clear liquids up to 2hr prior to anesthesia for otherwise healthy children are well established. Shortened fasting periods for breast milk (3hr), formula (4hr) and light meals (6hr) are supported by accumulated experience and an evolving literature that includes evidence of minimal gastric fluid volumes (GFVs) at the time of surgery. Ideal fasting intervals for children with disorders that may affect gastrointestinal transit have yet to be determined.

By: jabster

jabster — Mon, 19 May 2008 03:49:18 +0000

As an anesthesiologist, I strongly urge all parents out there PLEASE DO NOT FEED YOUR CHILD IN THE EMERGENCY ROOM. If your child needs surgery, he or she will have the safest induction of anesthesia if his or her stomach is as empty as possible. If you feed your child while waiting for medical attention and your child needs non-emergent surgery, then you have just bought 6 more hours of waiting (for the stomach to empty) since the last bite of food. If your child needs emergent surgery, then you have just increased your child’s risk of aspiration pneumonia and death. I have 4 children ages 2 to 14. Two of them (so far) have had ER visits for broken bones, and I understand how cranky and hungry they get. Bring toys, bring patience, bring a blankey or lovey, but please please please do not bring food to the emergency room. A little water or even small sips of Sprite are okay, but nothing more substantial than that, for the safety of your child.