The Emotional Safety Initiative: Enhancing Comfort for Children During Medical Procedures

In the early days of the pandemic, my daughter, who had battled a respiratory infection the previous winter, began to wheeze again. She started waking up at night needing nebulizer treatments, and I panicked—my first thought was COVID-19. Her pediatrician prescribed a COVID test.

In those initial weeks, the only testing method involved a nasal swab conducted by someone in full protective gear who leaned into the car window. My daughter held her breath and endured the swab, ultimately testing negative—thankfully! Nearly a year later, she recounts that experience, vividly describing the “swab that touched her brain.”

While her experience left her with just a story, many children may develop a lasting fear and distrust of medical settings. This is where Child Life Specialists come in, and the Emotional Safety Initiative is one of their tools for fostering comfort in children during medical procedures.

We spoke with Jordan Davis, President of the Association of Child Life Professionals (ACLP), about the Emotional Safety Initiative and a newly released paper emphasizing the importance of prioritizing emotional safety alongside physical safety in healthcare.

What is the Emotional Safety Initiative?

The Emotional Safety Initiative is a movement aimed at giving emotional safety equal importance as physical safety in pediatric medical experiences. Emotional safety “is an intentional, interdisciplinary practice to promote resilience, healing, and trust for pediatric patients and their families during medical experiences,” as stated in an ACLP press release. In essence, it focuses on creating a stress-free and emotionally supportive experience for patients and their families.

The Framework of the Emotional Safety Initiative

The Emotional Safety Initiative consists of four main components:

Screening and Assessment: This element aims to understand the unique experiences of patients and their families to establish a supportive framework. Assessments can be done prior to a planned admission or quickly during emergencies.
Intervention: This aspect focuses on the child’s comfort level and understanding their past experiences with medical procedures. The goal is to identify what was challenging for them and avoid similar situations in the future.
Environment: Everything in a medical setting can be intimidating for children—from the attire of healthcare staff to the size of the equipment. This component encourages healthcare providers to cultivate a child-friendly atmosphere. For instance, in her hospital, Davis mentions that they are designing new rooms to ensure that parent beds are optimally positioned to support the child.
Education, Training, and Communication: Everyone involved in a child’s care, from security staff to medical professionals, plays a role in ensuring emotional safety. This component aims to educate all personnel about emotional safety standards.

The Impact of Emotional Safety

According to the National Child Traumatic Stress Network, about 80% of pediatric patients and their families face some degree of traumatic stress after treatment for life-threatening conditions. Short-term consequences can include developmental setbacks and sleeping issues, while long-term effects can be more severe, leading to a reluctance to seek medical care as adults.

Davis shared a poignant story about a relative who, at the age of seven, underwent multiple surgeries in a system that didn’t prioritize emotional safety. As an adult, she developed an intense fear of healthcare environments, ultimately avoiding necessary treatment, which contributed to her early demise from a treatable condition.

This highlights the crucial need for Child Life Professionals to advocate for emotional safety in medical settings.

How Parents Can Foster Emotional Safety

Parents can significantly contribute to their child’s emotional safety by recognizing the potential impact of medical procedures. Even seemingly minor actions, like a nasal swab, can have lasting effects that ice cream won’t necessarily fix, Davis points out.

It’s vital for parents to feel empowered to ask questions and understand their options. They are the experts on their children and should seek information about emotional safety in medical care. For guidance, they can refer to resources like the Emotional Safety Initiative website.

Ultimately, the Emotional Safety Initiative aims to help both healthcare providers and parents acknowledge that emotionally safe care can positively influence both the physical and mental well-being of pediatric patients. Davis emphasizes that emotional safety is crucial for ensuring healthy healthcare relationships throughout a child’s life.

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Summary

The Emotional Safety Initiative aims to ensure that children feel secure and comfortable during medical procedures by prioritizing their emotional well-being alongside physical health. This four-part framework includes screening, intervention, creating a supportive environment, and educating all staff involved in a child’s care. Parents can play an essential role in this process by understanding the potential impact of medical experiences and advocating for their children’s emotional safety.