How to Take a Medical History From a Child

At some point in time, a child may be faced with a medical emergency. Unfortunately, parents are not always present or able to be reached. As a result, medical professionals need to be able to obtain as much information as possible from the child themselves. Information -- including allergies, prior hospital visits and surgeries -- are all important aspects in providing a child with the best possible treatment. Medical professionals need to use their resources -- including computer systems -- and talk to the child in simple terms.

Instructions

• 1

  Use your hospital's computer system. Check to see if the child has ever been in this particular hospital before. This will not provide you with a complete up-to-date history, but may provide you insight on allergies, prior hospitalizations, surgeries and emergency room visits.

• 2

  Check the child's belongings. Look through a book bag or small purse the child may have been carrying. Look for diabetic supplies or medical alert cards, for example.

• 3

  Look for identification bracelets. Children with chronic or life-threatening conditions are likely to wear a medical alert bracelet. This bracelet will provide you with lifesaving information.

• 4

  Talk to the child. A child may remember certain medical events in his life. Parents may have also instructed their child with regard to certain medical conditions, and what he should tell doctors and nurses. Ask the child if he has any scars or if he ever remembers being in a hospital. Ask him what hurt last time he visited a hospital.

• 5

  Use terms and explain things in ways that a child will understand. When looking for allergies, ask the child if there are any foods that her parents say she cannot eat because it may make her sick. When trying to determine previous injuries, ask a child whether she may have had a cast on her body previously, and where.