We had DD in hossy twice in one week when she was 13 months old. The first was to have stitches in her forhead - she climbed a set of shelves at day care and wasn't being watched... and the second is when she grabbed my freshly brewed black coffee from the table and tipped it on her and thus a trip to the burns unit.

When we went in for the stiches, we tried to make a game of being in hospital and not talk directly about why we were there unless she asked. Then she was luckily given medazolam for when the stitches went in. This stopped her memory but it didn't stop the screaming so I completely understand the feeling remembering how it sounds. However afterwards we gave her very detailed descriptions of what happened and why. We explained with out emotion as we didn't want her to pick up on our distress.

Then when she tipped coffee on herself, DH and I reacted instantly as per the first aid training we had had. The sound of her screams is something I will never, ever forget... We stripped her off and got her in a cold shower. When we realised the extent of the burn (2nd & 3rd degree) called and were taken to hospital by ambulance where we seemed to have the whole emergency department in the room, about 5-6 of us holding her down so they could put in a morphine drip. I don't think she has much memory of this time. We were then transfered by ambo again to the childrens hospital which took about 1/2 hr. During that time the ambos explained what could happen depending on the severity and I was able to calm my emotions. When we got to the childrens hospital DD had had a sleep and woke up with out pain - thanks to the morphine. In the childrens hospital they were able to put the gauze and bandages on her and explain what was going on. A few hours later she was almost normal...

However when we went to get the bandages changed, she really went off. It was hurting her to take them off as they are directly on the burn, you need to soak them in oil to disolve the glue and it was taking ages. DH was the only one with her and he was stuggling so he made a game of it and used the cooking spray oil. This worked a treat and DD thought it was great being sprayed by this. Again, we learnt to make a game of it and explain what he was doing.

We also got a bear that had bandages on it so she could tell us where the bear hurt and how it was feeling. This worked really well. We still have that bear and photos that we took, DD looks at them and relates the stories we have told her of those times. She isn't scared of hossys or doctors, but is facinated by what they do. She has since had a couple of VERY invasive proceedures and at each appointment we have explained clearly in language that she can understand what will happen. This has helped her understand that even though it isn't comfortable it will help in the end.

However she does still dislike having bandages/bandaids being taken off but she is old enough to do that herself now.

I know this has been a long ramble but I hope that you have got something from it. The main thing we did was explain, in detail, what is being done and why, and also to leave as much of your own emotions out of it. Kids are so smart in the way they pick up our emotions, so if you are afraid, distressed, scared, then so will they be.

HTH