Child-Friendly Hospital Language

IV = "medicine straw"

Veins = "blue lines” or “lines where our blood flows"

Tourniquet = “rubber band”

Stitches = "string bandaids"

Staples = “special metal clips to close a cut"

Shot / poke = "pinch"

Needle (IV, sutures) = “helper”

Anesthesia = "sleepy medicine"

Versed / Ativan = "relaxing medicine"

X-Ray / CT = "take pictures"

Ultrasound = "a way to look inside your body with a wand"

Blood pressure = “arm squeeze”

Pulse ox = “sticker to measure your heartbeat"

Leads = “stickers to listen to your heart”

EEG = “rainbow wires to look at your brain”

Nose swab = “nose tickle” or “steal boogers”

Throat swab = “throat tickle”

It burns = "warm and tingly"

Cold spray = “Elsa spray”

Numbing cream = “lotion to help us not feel ouchies”