WHEN YOUR CHILD HAS SUSTAINED A BURN INJURY

HELPING YOUR CHILD COPE

A serious injury and hospitalization can be a frightening experience and sometimes overwhelming experience for both children and families.

Parents and family members know their children best. You know how to comfort your child when she is upset or afraid or dealing with an unfamiliar setting. That makes you the best person to help your child before, during and after injury and hospitalization. Working with the burn team and preparing yourself for what to expect can help make the hospital experience a more positive one for all.

Tips:
Gather information - Knowing about your child’s injury and anticipated treatment and what will happen in the hosital or clinic can help you feel more in control and more comfortable. Ask questions. Make notes and checklists. (You may find the sections on Burn injury and Treatment  as well as the Injury Diary useful)

Find out about support and resources available to you within the hospital. Talk with your child's nurse, doctor or the social worker about pain management techniques and how you can help your child cope with any discomfort he or she may feel. For tips on helping your child cope with pain See PainCopeChild_1)

Share what you know about your child with the treatment team.  Provide information on  his behavior and personality, his ability to deal with stress and how he expresses and copes with upset, favorite foods and sleep routine.  As there are many people caring for your child, you may have to repeat this information many times.

Children wonder and worry about what is going to happen to them. Offer your child honest, but sensitive, information that they can understand. Letting your child know why he or she needs to be in the hospital, what may happen in the hospital and when he or she may be coming home. Reassure your child that being in the hospital is not a punishment for something they did wrong.

Understand your child's feelings - It is important to talk with your child honestly about his or her feelings and understanding of hospitalization. Listen to his concerns, fears and fantasies. Remind him or her that it is okay to be scared or cry and that you will be there to help. It is normal for there to be changes in your child's usual behavior in the hospital. These may include more crying, withdrawal, clinging, anger or aggression.

Supporting your child - It is not unusual for children to act younger than their age due to the stress of injury and hospitalization. Very young children may lose skills (such as walking or drinking from a cup), while older children may behave as if they were much younger (such as wetting the bed or having temper tantrums).

In new and different experiences it is normal for children of all ages to fear separation from familiar people. Having a parent or family member stay with your child can help decrease some of that fear. When you need to leave the room, reassure the child that you will be back and when. Older children are concerned with losing privacy, independence and/or control of their emotions and body functions. They also fear losing contact with siblings and peers. They will benefit from your reassurance that they will be be taken care of and that arrangements will be made to continue their contact with siblings and peers.

Communicating with your child - Because children are very literal in their thinking, it is recommended you use language that does not sound threatening when explaining medical procedures. For example, use the word "injection" instead of the word "shot;" use "medicine" instead of "dye;" use "incision" or "opening" instead of "hole;" and use "bed with wheels" rather than "stretcher." Using positive language can also decrease your child's anxiety. Rather than saying words like "burn," "sting," "hurt" or "taste or smell bad," you may want to say, "This may feel warm, sore or tight," or "This may taste or smell different than anything you've ever tasted before."

Bring familiar items from home to make the hospital room look more inviting. If a young child has a special blanket or stuffed toy your child may want to have that toy or object with him.  Placing pictures and cards and letters up in the room reminds a child that others are thinkig of him. Books and music can be familiar and special as well.  Bring in favorite books that you read together.  Sometimes reading to a child from special books can be reassuring.  Bringing in their music cds or tapes to play or videos to watch can help children.

Some children feel they have to be brave in the hospital, especially around parents who care about them. Remind your child that it is okay to express feelings of anger, sadness, or frustra- tion in the hospital. Often it is difficult for young children to tell their parents how they feel.

Have your child draw pictures of how he/she feels physically and emotionally in the hospital. This can help your child release some possible tensions. Some children have found it very helpful to use the Coloring book for children.  You can download a copy or ask staff to provide you with a copy.

Provide feedback to the heatlh care team on how you think your child is coping and dealing with the injury and hospital stay.  Tell them what they are doing that helps.  If they are ways that you have found to be helpful in interacting with your child when she is stressed, pass it along.

Children do better with a schedule.  Encourage the establishment of a daily schedule that will enable you as well as your child anticipate when things will be happening.