Patient Information
A Kid’s (and Parent’s) Guide to Drawing Blood and Starting IVs
- What is it?
- What do we do?
- Why do we do it?
- What can your parents do to help?
- Parents: if you decide to leave the room please remember…
1. What is it?
Drawing blood (venipuncture) is putting a needle into a vein to take a sample of blood. Starting an IV is putting a tiny tube inside a vein to give someone fluid (intravenous fluid). All needles are brand new and are only used one time and then thrown away.
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2. What do we do?
If you need blood drawn you may see the doctors and nurses using things like
- Alcohol pads or brown soap to clean the skin
- A big rubber band called a tourniquet, which is put on your arm or leg so they can find the vein easier. This may be a little tight and uncomfortable.
- A small needle
- Tubes to collect the blood in. Tubes may have different color tops (when the blood comes out it may look like a lot but usually it is less than a teaspoon).
- A small IV tube that is left in the arm or leg when the needle is removed so fluid can get into the vein
- Clear tubing may be attached to the tiny tube so the bag of fluid can enter the vein.
- Things like Numby Stuff® vapocoolant spray or EMLA Cream® to help decrease the pain and discomfort you feel during the needle stick
- Depending on how old you are we may use a special board or sheet to hold you very tightly so that the doctors and nurses can do the needle stick as quick and easy as possible.
Drawing blood and starting an IV can hurt for a short time and it may take the nurse or doctor more than one try to get it.
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3. Why do we do it?
We do a venipuncture to test the blood for infection or to see how your body is working. We give IV fluids to replace fluids you may have lost from vomiting, diarrhea or fever. There may be other reasons, so ask the staff if you have any questions!
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4. What can your parents do to help?
Some parents want to stay in the room during the needle stick and some parents choose to leave. You and your parents can work it out together. Either way is ok! If they stay in the room you might want them to help you turn your attention away from the needle stick. Here are some suggestions.
- Tell stories
- Make funny faces at each other
- Talk about your favorite subject at school
- Take deep breaths
- Sing or talk softly
- Say or do something that you do at home when you need help staying calm
- Grab your parent’s hand and squeeze as hard as you can
- Have Mom or Dad rub your arm or leg
- If they decide to leave someone will be with you to comfort and distract you
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5. Parents, if you decide to leave the room please remember that
- Someone will be with your child to comfort them
- You may return right after the needle stick is done or the IV is started
- You may tell the medical staff what types of things work to help calm your child
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