Your child's safety

Electrical outlets

For your child’s protection, all patient care areas have tamper-resistant outlets. These outlets do not need caps or covers to be safe.

Emergency

In the event of a safety concern or emergency situation in the hospital, our first priority is the safety and well-being of our patients, families and staff. To ensure you stay well informed if a situation should arise, there are a variety of ways to get the information you need.

When you're in the building:

Children's Staff – Your nurse or other Children's staff member is the best source of information. In an emergency, our staff will do all they can to keep you informed and provide instructions for what to do if necessary.

Overhead announcements – Hospital security will make overhead announcements if needed. Although you may not be able to hear the announcement when in a patient room, you will hear them in the hallways, lounge areas and meeting rooms. 

Fire

If there is a fire, stay in your area and wait for instruction from staff. The hospital is designed to detect a fire early, and can resist the spread of fire and smoke.

Hand washing

Cleaning your hands is the best way to decrease the spread of germs. There is a waterless sanitizer and soap are available in every patient room. Everyone who cares for your child should clean their hands before they're touching them. Don’t be afraid to remind your child’s care providers to clean their hands.

Everyone should wash their hands with soap and water when there is visit dirt. This includes:

• after contact with blood, body fluids, bandages or diapers
• before eating and after feeding your child
• after using the bathroom

Use the waterless sanitizer if your hands are not visibly dirty. For safety purposes, rub the hand sanitizer into your hands and avoid touching others, equipment or bedding until thoroughly dry. If you have used the hand sanitizer more than 5 times, wash your hands with soap and running water. 

Medicine safety

Give your child’s nurse a list of medicines your child is taking. Tell all of your child’s care providers what medicines your child is taking and their weight.  This includes prescription and over-the-counter medicines.  Be sure to include dietary supplements like vitamins and herbs.

• If you child’s medicine is different from what was prescribed before, ask the care provider to double-check the order
• Make sure the care provider checks your child’s hospital ID band before giving your child any medicine
• Ask for information about your child’s medicines in terms you understand – both when medicines are prescribed and when you get them from the hospital or pharmacy.  Know the side effects of any medicines your child is taking

When you pick up your child’s medicine, make sure it is the right medicine.  Ask if you have questions about the directions on your child’s medicine labels.

Missing child

If you cannot find your child, use the land line phone in your room and dial 444. This is the internal hospital emergency number. You will be immediately connected to ThedaCare Security.

Be sure to provide a description of the child, what they were wearing and when they were last seen. Hospital and clinic staff who are not providing patient care will assist in an orderly search within the building and scan the parking lots for anyone matching your child’s description.

Nurse call system/emergency cords

Each patient room and bathroom has a call cord. Pulling this cord will let the patient care staff know your child needs help.

Preventing falls

To prevent falls and injuries, make sure your child’s bed or crib rails are up and locked. The wheels on your child’s crib or bed always should be locked. Never leave your child alone with the bed or crib rails down. If your child uses swings, bouncers or infant chairs, make sure he or she is safely buckled in.

Reporting a safety concern

Parents are encouraged to report potentially unsafe situations or events involving their child or themselves. This reporting will not affect the care your child receives but will help us make improvements and keep our environment safe. If you have a concern about your child’s safety while at the hospital, call Patient Relations at (414) 266-7848. If your child has a medical need or emergency, contact their nurse first.

Sharp objects and disposal

Never put sharp objects within reach of a young child, in the trash container or on the bed. Special boxes are provided for disposal of sharp objects. They are in each patient room on the wall or counter. Ask your child’s care provider for help.

Tornado/severe weather

A severe weather watch or warning is announced if a severe weather warning has been issued. Stay calm. Close curtains over the windows. Move your child to the hallway and wait for instructions from staff.