CURING KIDS’ FEAR

THE fear associated with hospitals, waiting rooms and needles has been alleviated for the dozens of kindergarten students who visited Geelong hospital last week.

Hundreds of four-year-olds have been seeing how doctors and nurses treat and look after patients as the children’s ward opens its door to curious kids.

Children’s ward registered nurse Trudy O’Reilly said most fear children associated with hospitals was caused by not knowing how the hospital operated. During the tour kids were shown the equipment and the playroom and also learnt about snake bites and needle safety.

“It’s the unknown — when they come here we show them equipment that we use,” Ms O’Reilly said. “This (session) really helps with anxiety.”

A group of Torquay Kindergarten kids toured the hospital last week and, under Ms O’Reilly’s guidance, were shown how nurses check for temperatures, give Ventolin and take blood.

Kinder kid Dex Skabla, who was bandaged up by mini doctors Eve Nelson and Lenny Raines, said his class had prepared for the hospital visit by reading books, setting up a hospital corner and talking about why they would go to hospital.

“You come to hospital because they (the doctors and nurses) make you better,” Dex said. “It’s not scary because we get to play.”

About 30 kinder groups will visit the hospital in coming weeks.

Picture: GLENN FERGUSON MITCHELL: “Because you are hurt you stay in bed.” MINI DOCS: Torquay kinder students Eve Nelson, Lenny Raines and Dex Skabla play with the equipment during their tour of the hospital’s children’s ward.

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU GO TO HOSPITAL? NEAVE: “You go to the hospital to get better.”

NOAH: “They check your heart.”