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Show Page ID, . Root Beer and Fun Help Ease The Fear North Edition Lakeside Review Wednesday, August 1, 1984 Mom, I can't heart beat rA hear my ' V' v;A Photos by Rodney W. Wright children examine stethoscopes, other dress up in long blue gowns, light blue masks and blue or flowered caps. WHILE SOME APRIL ADAMS Review ; covery after the operation. Staff LAYTON cant hear my I Mom, the little boy said, gazing up at his mother. ' Son, you have to put the stethescope in your ears, the mother replied, leaning down to place the instrument in its correct position. Oh, now I cam hear my thumper heart, he said, with a nod of satisfaction. While this child examined the stethescope, other children were dressing up in long blue gowns, fight blue masks, and either blue or flowered caps. The dress-u- p was all part of the Humana Hospital Davis Norths weekly root beer float party. The party is held every Wednesday afternoon for children, ages 2 to 12 years, scheduled for any kind of surgery, said last weeks party director, Kathie King. King is a registered nurse at the hospital. The childs family mem- Jieart, . It The program relieves the childrens and the families fears. The kids are not as afraid to come into surgery as they were before, and the family knows what to expect, she explained. Jarrad Rawlings of Layton, 6, was scheduled to have his tonsils removed the next day, said his mother, Sharlene, who came to the party with him. ment, and the pediatrics ward. The kids are shown the types of gowns they will wear, and what their beds and rooms will look like, she explained. If they know what to expect, they arent as apt to be quite so frightened. The group' then returns to a classroom where the registered nurse handles any questions or requests the children or family may have. The most common fear a child has is that he or she will return from surgery a different person from what he' was, Ms. King said. Its usually the smaller kids who are afraid they to bers are also invited attend; she said. gives kids a better idea of what goes on in a hospital, Ms. King said. The children and parents are then taken on a tour of the day surgery rooms, the recovery day surgery depart- ' 1 feel happy, Jarrad said, but admitted that he was still a little scared. Aaron Cannon, 5, doesnt appear frightened as his brother leads the little blind taboy up to the dress-u- p ble. Aaron is scheduled to haye ear surgery and have his tonsils removed. . The group first watches a film about a little girl scheduled for surgery, and her re- -- V wont come back the same; since we are taking something of them out of their body. They just have to understand " that its the part of them is coming thats hurting that out. Other children ask if its okay for them to cry,, or if they will get a shot; she said. Occasionally, she will get an unusual request from a child, the nurse Said. One child asked me to write down everything he said when he was asleep, because he didnt want to embarrass ' himself. But the children trust you after you explain everything. They think Kathies my friend, she wont hurt me, AARON CANNON, son of Linda his root beer float. Cannon, enjoys ' she said. After questions are answered, the root beer floats are served, which is really why most of the kids came in the first place, she said with a smile. Jill A After the floats are quickly consumed, the children can then dress up as doctors or nurses and examine the gas masks or stethescopes. ' Each child is asked what flavor gas he prefers: bubblegum, root beer, raspberry or one of the other assorted flavors. , A V s party Aaron receives his official graduation form from the hospital. AFTER COMPLETION of. the Advice for Parents I Kathie King, a registered nurse in the pediatrics ward at 1 Humana Hospital Davis North, offers advice (or par- v & V''' V' ' ' 'SfT' ' 4 ' KATHIE KING, a register nurse at the hospital, gives advice to parents and children awaiting surgery. ents whose child must have an operation. Don't make promises you can't keep, because the child will get you in the end for it, she said. Be honest to the child. Try to understand his fears about going into a new perfectly place. plained. Tell the child it's okay for him to be afraid or to cry, because almost everyone has to have an operation sometime, the nurse recommended. ' Try not to scare the child, but tell him it will hurt, and above all, dont yell or get upset if a child begins to cry. It's ; i t I I natural, she ex- ,t Explain to the child what doctors and nurses do. Don't instill in the child a fear of them, she said. Let the child bring along a favorite toy or blanket that will help him feel secure in a new environment. It is also suggested that parents bring pajamas for the child. , |