COLORFUL CHARACTERS Post pediatric patients' Broselow colors on their IV poles.

RESCUE REFERENCE
Keep Kids' Colors Close By

We use the Broselow pediatric system to prepare for unexpected airway issues. Our pre-op RNs measure and weigh our patients and document these details in the EHR so they can retrieve the correct size supplies in the event of an emergency. Not too long ago, when a child in PACU suffered a laryngospasm, I saw staff members paging through their electronic tablets to find the patient's Broselow classification. While it only took them a few seconds, in an emergency that's a few seconds too long.

Our patient did fine, but the incident led us to create a more immediate reference point. Since Broselow is color-coded, we made laminated cards of those colors with different matching cartoon animals. Pre-op nurses who weigh and measure patients let them pick one of the animals from their corresponding color, then the card is attached to the IV pole, so we'll have the necessary rescue information at a glance.

Mary Ann Kelly, RN
Madison Surgery Center
Madison, Ala.
[email protected]