Even the thought of surgery is scary, not to mention all the things one worries about before undergoing a medical procedure. Yet, have you ever thought about children and their fears in such a situation, considering that even adults cannot handle it well sometimes?
Well, people at Doctors Medical Center in Modesto, California, have, and they have come up with a unique idea to ease the pre-surgery jitters they go through- by allowing them to enjoy a nice drive instead of being wheeled in on a gurney!
This is a brilliant idea, considering the fact that our little ones need to focus on something fun and exciting when heading into surgery, instead of being completely confused and scared and asking tough questions.
In a Facebook post, Doctors Medical Center explained that their smallest patients can choose from a little black Mercedes, and a pink Volkswagen Beetle, was generously donated by one of their employees and her family.
The hospital even posted a video of one of their patients riding the car, with a caption: “With a little passenger in tow, Caroline takes our new pink Beetle for a spin!
Doctors Medical Center now has two little cars available for our young surgical patients to ride into the operating room. We can see the stress and anxiety melt away when they hop in the car.”
By adding a little play and excitement back into their lives, this hospital manages to calm nerves all around and get some cute smiles.
The hospital also explains that its goal is to reduce anxiety and stress and make the experience less scary for everyone involved.
The cars are designed for kids between 2 and 7 and can be operated by the kids themselves or by remote control. They are equipped with headlights and taillights, as well as a radio so the children can choose the kind of music they would like to listen to before their surgery.
The doors open and close and the seatbelts do their job. Moreover, the mini-cars even have a horn, so everyone stays out of the way of these kids.
According to pre-op nurse Kimberly Martinez, who came up with the idea, it can be traumatizing for a young patient to be peeled away from their parents as they head into surgery.
Therefore, these children light up when they find out they can go into the operating room riding in a cool mini car, and while it melts away their fears, their parents are put at ease as well.
This short adventure raises the spirits of these little heroes as it reminds them of their innocent world full of playgrounds, cartoons, and fun.
Sources:
goodfullness.com
www.distractify.com
www.boredpanda.com