MAKES SCENTS Children calm down and breathe deeper if they like what they smell.

MAKE MINE CHERRY
Make Your Own Scented Anesthesia Masks

Ask kids what "flavor" of anesthesia they'd like, and you'll ease the anxiety they feel about that scary mask you're about to make them wear.

We keep a collection of scented lip balms in our pediatric anesthesia cart. Kids choose their favorite — bubble gum is the most popular — and we apply a small amount inside the mask before putting it on. So instead of that yucky shower curtain smell, kids get to drift off with the comforting scent of cherry, strawberry, tangerine or whatever else they've chosen. And because they actually like the smell, they're likely to breathe deeper and increase their oxygen levels. Sure, you can buy scented masks, but why bother, when doing it this way is easy and less expensive?

Nick Stuardi, CRNA, MSN
Kristin L. Thompson, RN, BSN, CNOR, RNFA
Riddle Surgery Center
Media, Pa.
[email protected]
[email protected]