In the early days of the pandemic, my daughter, who had battled a respiratory infection the previous winter, began wheezing again. She started waking up in the night, requiring nebulizer treatments, and I felt a wave of panic wash over me. My first thought was, “Is it COVID?” After a trip to the pediatrician, she received a prescription for a COVID test.
During that time, getting tested meant enduring a nasal swab conducted by a person in a hazmat suit who leaned into the car window. My daughter clenched her teeth but bravely endured the swab (it turned out negative, thank goodness!). However, nearly a year later, she still recounts the experience, dramatically describing the “swab that touched her brain.”
While her story has a lighthearted twist, for many children, such experiences can lead to enduring fears and distrust of medical environments. This is where Child Life Specialists come in, working to prevent these negative outcomes through initiatives like the Emotional Safety Initiative.
I spoke with Sarah Thompson, President of the Association of Child Life Professionals (ACLP), who shed light on the Emotional Safety Initiative and its newly released paper emphasizing the importance of prioritizing emotional safety alongside physical safety in medical settings.
What Is The Emotional Safety Initiative?
The Emotional Safety Initiative aims to place emotional safety on par with physical safety in all pediatric medical experiences. Emotional safety is defined as a deliberate, interdisciplinary approach designed to foster resilience, healing, and trust for pediatric patients and their families during medical encounters, as stated in an ACLP press release. Essentially, it focuses on creating a stress-free and emotionally supportive environment for patients and their families.
The Four-Part Framework of the Initiative
The initiative is built on four foundational elements:
- Screening and Assessment: This first step involves understanding the patients and their families to establish a supportive framework. It assesses their experiences, strengths, and challenges, whether in advance of a planned admission or during an emergency visit.
- Intervention: This element emphasizes the child’s comfort and seeks to understand their previous medical experiences. The goal is to identify what has been difficult in the past to avoid replicating those stressors.
- Environment: Everything in a medical setting can be intimidating for children, from the attire of healthcare professionals to the size of the equipment. This part of the initiative encourages providers to create a welcoming, child-friendly atmosphere. For example, Sarah mentioned a hospital that is designing new rooms with the layout of parent beds in mind to better support children.
- Education, Training, and Communication: Every individual interacting with the patient, from security to medical staff, plays a role in ensuring emotional safety. This component focuses on educating all team members about the standards for emotional safety.
The Importance of Emotional Safety
The National Child Traumatic Stress Network reports that 80% of pediatric patients and their families experience some form of traumatic stress following medical treatments for severe illnesses or injuries. Immediate effects can include developmental setbacks and sleep issues, while long-term consequences may include a reluctance to seek healthcare in adulthood.
Sarah shared a heart-wrenching story about a family member who faced serious health challenges at a young age. During her hospitalizations, emotional safety was not a priority, and access for family visits was limited. After undergoing multiple surgeries and spending a year in the hospital, she developed a profound fear of medical environments, ultimately leading to her passing from a treatable condition.
Though this is an extreme case, it underscores the vital mission of Child Life Professionals in safeguarding emotional well-being.
How Parents Can Support Emotional Safety
Parents can play a crucial role in fostering emotional safety by recognizing the potential impacts of medical procedures. Even seemingly minor procedures, like a nasal swab, can leave lasting impressions that can’t be fixed with a treat afterward. It’s essential for parents to feel empowered to ask questions and understand their options, as they are the experts on their own children.
For additional guidance, parents can visit the Emotional Safety Initiative website, which offers resources to help navigate healthcare conversations and advocate for emotionally safe care. The overall objective is for healthcare providers and parents to acknowledge that providing emotionally safe environments significantly influences both physical and mental health outcomes for patients and families.
In conclusion, the Emotional Safety Initiative is a vital advancement in pediatric healthcare, ensuring that children receive not just the necessary medical care but also the emotional support they need to foster a positive relationship with healthcare for years to come.
Summary of Related Resources
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