Emla cream - any tips?

[Muchtoomuchtodo]

DS (7) needs to have a blood test and has got Emla cream to numb the area.

The lady at the chemist said to put it on, wrap the area in cling film and get the blood taken about an hour later.

The timing agrees with the information that has come with the cream, but it states to use a special dressing to keep the cream in the right place.

I'm happy that cling film will do the job, but does anyone have any tips that I should be aware of?

[hazeyjane]

we use the cream on the inner elbow creases, split the cream between each arm, a big blob, wrap the clingfilm around each arm, one hour before (the clingfilm will shift about a bit, wheras the dressing won't)

it works really well on dd2 (who just watches the blood being taken chatting away!) but not at all with ds, who gets into such a state about having the cream on, that there is no point in doing it!

[Muchtoomuchtodo]

Thanks, that's perfect.

We had to pop into phlebotomy at out local, community hospital today to see if they could take the blood from a child so he's seen the room, sat in the seat and had a tourniquet on his arm (to check his veins are big enough for them to do - they don't keep the smallest needles) so he's got a good idea of what to expect now, apart from the actual taking of the blood.

He's pretty stoic so I'm hoping it will all go well.

Next step is his abdominal ultrasound. He's hoping they'll find a baby.......................!