Anaesthesia 2014, 69, 77
Snippet Happy glove balloons
Distraction techniques can decrease pre-operative anxiety in preschoolaged children. We have found that giving a child a ‘happy glove balloon’ to play with calms and distracts toddlers pre-operatively. The ‘balloon’ is tied off after inflation with 2–3 seconds’ flow of emergency oxygen (Fig. 1), and costs about £0.04 (4 rupees, €0.05, $0.06) making its use financially viable in low resource countries. ‘Jedward’ and ‘Mohawk’ variations have been described (Fig. 2) [1]. K. Munshi I. Ali F. A. Khan Aga Khan University Karachi, Pakistan Email: [email protected]
Figure 1 Sterile latex glove held around the emergency oxygen outlet.
Reference 1. Fogarty E, Dunning E, Koe S, Bolger T, Martin C. The ‘Jedward’ versus the ‘Mohawk’: a prospective study on a paediatric distraction technique. Emergency Medical Journal 2013 Apr 29; doi 10.1136/emermed-2013-202337. doi:10.1111/anae.12557
Figure 2 Happy glove balloon variations – ‘Mohawk’ (left) and ‘Jedward’ (right).
© 2013 The Association of Anaesthetists of Great Britain and Ireland
77
Snippet Happy glove balloons
Distraction techniques can decrease pre-operative anxiety in preschoolaged children. We have found that giving a child a ‘happy glove balloon’ to play with calms and distracts toddlers pre-operatively. The ‘balloon’ is tied off after inflation with 2–3 seconds’ flow of emergency oxygen (Fig. 1), and costs about £0.04 (4 rupees, €0.05, $0.06) making its use financially viable in low resource countries. ‘Jedward’ and ‘Mohawk’ variations have been described (Fig. 2) [1]. K. Munshi I. Ali F. A. Khan Aga Khan University Karachi, Pakistan Email: [email protected]
Figure 1 Sterile latex glove held around the emergency oxygen outlet.
Reference 1. Fogarty E, Dunning E, Koe S, Bolger T, Martin C. The ‘Jedward’ versus the ‘Mohawk’: a prospective study on a paediatric distraction technique. Emergency Medical Journal 2013 Apr 29; doi 10.1136/emermed-2013-202337. doi:10.1111/anae.12557
Figure 2 Happy glove balloon variations – ‘Mohawk’ (left) and ‘Jedward’ (right).
© 2013 The Association of Anaesthetists of Great Britain and Ireland
77
