Keeping kids safe and healthy during their stay is our number one priority, but safety is everyone’s responsibility and we need your help too.
Watch our safety super heroes video with your child and find out how to stay safe in hospital.
Patient identification bands
We'll put a patient identification (ID) band on your child's wrist or ankle when they come to hospital. It's important they wear this band until they leave hospital. Let us know if your child doesn't have one.
The band has their:
- name
- date of birth
- barcode
- unique patient record number - called a 'UR' number.
We scan the barcode on their ID band to make sure they're getting the right treatment and medicines.
We'll ask you to confirm the details on the band regularly.
Hand hygiene
When you're in hospital, make sure you clean your hands using soap and water or a hand sanitiser. You should do this whenever you enter or leave a patient's room and ward.
We'll clean our hands before and after we care for you. If you think we've forgotten, it's okay to ask us.
Don't visit if you're unwell
Please don't visit anyone in hospital if you're sick or you've been sick recently. Even if you have mild symptoms, you can still infect other people.
Bed sores or pressure injuries
Your child can get bed sores if they spend a long time in bed or in a wheelchair. Bed sores are also known as pressure injuries because they develop when there's constant pressure or friction.
They're more likely to get them on the bony parts of their body, such as their:
- heels
- elbows
- hips
- tailbone
- ears and nose.
They can also get them anywhere a medical device, such as a tube, cast or drip (IV) is touching their skin.
Bed sores can develop quickly when a child isn't well. You can help by:
- checking your child's skin everyday
- changing their position regularly, if they can't move themselves
- having good hygiene and skin care.
Tell us if you find any redness or a mark, so we can help relieve the pressure. Read more about bed sores and what they look like.
Bedside curtains
We'll always leave the curtains around your child's bed open so we can see them and check they're okay. We'll only close them when they need privacy for things like going to the toilet, having a procedure, or if you're breastfeeding.
What you can't bring to hospital
There are some things you can't have in hospital because other patients might be allergic to them. These can be dangerous for sick children.
Don't bring:
- fresh or dried flowers and live plants
- nuts, and anything with nuts in it such as peanut butter
- latex balloons.
You can bring mylar, plastic and other non-latex balloons into hospital. We won't accept deliveries that include latex balloons or flowers.
Falls
Your child is more likely to fall over when they're sick, injured or taking medicines. These can make them feel dizzy or sleepy and affect their balance.
Being in an unfamiliar place or using new equipment, such as crutches also makes them more likely to fall over.
There are things you can do to keep them safe, such as:
- using seat belts and safety harnesses with highchairs and other equipment
- keeping their room tidy with no clutter
- keeping the bed, cots and trolleys in the lowest position with the bed rails up and the brakes on.
You can also make sure your child:
- wears non-slip shoes and clothes that fit
- has help using new equipment
- is careful in the bathroom or if the floor is wet
- doesn't run around or climb on furniture.
Watch our falls prevention video.
Footwear
Make sure you and your child wear shoes or slippers when you're walking around the hospital. This helps keep your feet safe from injury and infections.
Hot drinks
Hot drinks such as tea, coffee and hot chocolate can cause serious burns.
If you're having a hot drink, use a container with a sealed and secure lid in case you accidentally drop or spill it.
Safe sleeping
We follow safe sleeping guidelines for babies to reduce the risk of sudden unexpected death in infancy (SUDI). This includes sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) and fatal sleeping accidents.
The guidelines include:
- putting your baby to sleep on their back
- putting their feet at the bottom of the cot
- making sure their head and face is uncovered
- tucking their bedding in so it's not loose.
Read more about safe sleeping on the Red Nose website.
Raise concerns about your child's health (Ryan's Rule)
You know your child better than anyone. Please tell us if you think your child’s condition is getting worse, or not improving as well as expected while they’re in hospital.
Your first step should always be to talk to your child’s nurse or doctor.
If you don’t think the matter has been resolved, talk to the nurse in charge or call 13 Health (13 43 25 84) and request a Ryan’s Rule clinical review. This is a 3-step process to help families or carers raise their concerns.
A Ryan’s Rule call will alert a Medical Emergency Team to visit your child’s bedside and assess the situation.
Read more about the Ryan's Rule process on the Clinical Excellence Queensland website.
When not to use Ryan’s Rule
Ryan’s Rule isn’t for general complaints. If you have a complaint or other feedback about the care your child has received, please talk to the nurse in charge. You can also contact our Patient Experience Team on 07 3068 1120 or email CHQ_PatientExperience@health.qld.gov.au.
Your safety and security
We have 24-hour onsite security and video surveillance (CCTV) monitoring across the campus. This includes our car parks.
Our external entrance doors are locked between 8 pm and 6 am so people can't wander around the hospital after hours. If you need to come in during the night, you have to go through the emergency department on Stanley Street.
Our exit doors are always open from the inside.
The security office is on level 2 near the escalators. If you need security, you can call 07 3068 3300, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.