The Comfort Zone 

Our pledge to families

If a painful treatment is necessary, every effort will be made to keep your child comfortable.

• We will help your child cope with discomfort by using relaxation techniques and/or pain medication.
• Whenever the need for a blood sample is not an emergency, we will offer a special numbing cream one or two hours before blood is taken.
• If an intravenous (IV) line is needed, we will help your child relax, use a special numbing cream or inject a numbing medicine. IVs also may be placed after your child feels comfortable in his or her room. The playroom is a "safe place" where no procedures are done.
• We will make every effort to give medicine in a pain-free way. We will give your child medicine to swallow or through an IV.
• We will check for pain often. We will respond to reports of pain quickly.
• We will measure your child's pain based on his or her level of understanding.

We will support parents in their roles as part of our pain management team.

• We will provide information on how to prepare and support your child before, during and after a procedure or surgery. Most of the time, you will be able to be with your child.
• We will provide information about pain and work with you to develop a pain management plan.
• After the procedure or surgery, we will make every effort to keep your child comfortable using the pain management plan. If he or she is uncomfortable, we will change the plan until your child is comfortable.

What parents and families can do to help:

• Ask your child's doctor or nurse what to expect regarding pain and pain management.
• Discuss pain relief options with your child's doctor or nurse.
• Work with your child's doctor or nurse to create a pain management plan.
• Tell your child's doctor or nurse if your child's pain is not relieved.
• Ask your child's doctor or nurse if you have any questions about your child's pain management.