TRAUMA TIGER | Department of Emergency Medicine

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Our goal is to empower healthcare personnel with the means to change every child’s medical experience for the better.

Imagine the worst day of your life. Now picture yourself at just 10 years old—surrounded by strangers, bright lights, loud voices, and people moving you around, examining you from head to toe. While our daily lives may often feel routine, a visit to the emergency room is anything but normal—especially for a child.

It’s remarkable to consider the impact a small plush toy can have in such a moment. Trauma Tiger is a new initiative that embraces a holistic approach to pediatric emergency care. It highlights how even simple, comforting gestures—like offering a cuddly toy—can leave a lasting impact on a child’s ability to process trauma and build resilience.

Childhood resilience, grounded in scientific research, reminds us that the effects of trauma extend far beyond the hospital visit. Trauma Tiger represents more than just comfort in the moment; it’s a tool for long-term healing and empowerment.

As emergency medicine providers, we are called to be more than just clinicians—we are advocates, healers, and leaders. By helping children cope with fear through comfort, we begin to change lives. Learn the science, understand the impact, and discover the next steps we can take to shape a better future for our pediatric patients.

- Sarahbeth Howes, MD (LSUHS Resident)

   

RESEARCH

4th Southern Intensive Care and Emergency Medicine Symposium Poster References

  1. Jack P. Shonkoff, Andrew S. Garner, The Committee on Psychosocial Aspects of Child and Family Health, Committee on Early Childhood, Adoption, and Dependent Care, and Section on Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, Benjamin S. Siegel, Mary I. Dobbins, Marian F. Earls, Andrew S. Garner, Laura McGuinn, John Pascoe, David L. Wood; The Lifelong Effects of Early Childhood Adversity and Toxic Stress. Pediatrics January 2012; 129 (1): e232–e246. 10.1542/peds.2011-2663 
  2. Knudsen EI, Heckman JJ, Cameron JL, Shonkoff JP. Economic, neurobiological, and behavioral perspectives on building America's future workforce. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2006 Jul 5;103(27):10155-10162. doi: 10.1073/pnas.0600888103. Epub 2006 Jun 26. PMID: 16801553; PMCID: PMC1502427. 
  3. Lerwick JL. Psychosocial implications of pediatric surgical hospitalization. Semin Pediatr Surg. 2013 Aug;22(3):129-33. doi: 10.1053/j.sempedsurg.2013.04.003. PMID: 23870205. 
  4. Li WHC, Chung JOK, Ho KY, Kwok BMC. Play interventions to reduce anxiety and negative emotions in hospitalized children. BMC Pediatr. 2016 Mar 11;16:36. doi: 10.1186/s12887-016-0570-5. PMID: 26969158; PMCID: PMC4787017. 
  5. Kim Anderson Khan, Steven J. Weisman, “Nonpharmacologic Pain Management Strategies in the Pediatric Emergency Department.” Clinical Pediatric Emergency Medicine, Volume 8, Issue 4, 2007, Pages 240-247, ISSN 1522-8401, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cpem.2007.08.008.
  6. Sarah J.K. Wente, Nonpharmacologic Pediatric Pain Management in Emergency Departments: A Systematic Review of the Literature, Journal of Emergency Nursing, Volume 39, Issue 2, 2013, Pages 140-150, ISSN 0099-1767, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jen.2012.09.011.