Held Down: A Point-of-View Comic
A comic that explores an adult recalling an early childhood memory about being held down at the doctor's office.
Babies & Toddlers (0-2) Kids (3-11) Tweens & Teens (12+) Comfort positions Getting ready for a procedure Healthcare Providers Needle Pokes Talking with your care team Procedural Pain Comfort positions Getting ready for a procedure Needle pokes Pain Management Talking with your care team
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About This Resource
“When I was a kid, I remember being held down during medical procedures.” That’s how this point-of-view comic opens: an adult recalling an early childhood memory, where a child’s fears show up as monsters.
The child’s perspective in this comic is shared by so many: 63% of kids, 50% of teens, and 25% of adults have significant needle fear. Clearly, we do not believe healthcare workers are monsters. (We love healthcare providers!) Read the full story behind the comic on our blog: Can holding children down for shots traumatize them? A health psychologist says yes.
How To Use This Resource
Holding kids down for medical procedures is a recipe for trauma. There are MUCH better ways to keep kids safe. Learn how & make your own GAME PLAN with the Comfort Positioning Guide and the Printable Comfort Poke Plan for Kids.
Who Is This For
Parents and caregivers getting a child ready for a poke or procedure, and healthcare providers and teams who want kids safe and comforted at the same time.
Downloads
Printable Take Control Poke Plan for Teens
We all do better with a plan! Use this to help teens create one of their very own before their next poke.
Digital Tool
Take Control Mobile App for Teens
Meet the monsters helping your teen breathe easier, stress less, and take control during shots. Because doc visits don't have to be the actual worst.
Digital Tool
SuperMeg Poke Planner
Have no fear, SuperMeg is here! This interactive tech helps your child create a plan for being more calm and comfortable during needle pokes.
A Note About Keeping This Free
Good pain care should be a right, not a privilege.
We’ve spent our careers treating pain and medical anxiety, and we know that comfort and control come from putting the power where it belongs: in your hands. Everything here is free and open source by design. No parent should have to pay to learn how to get their child through a vaccine or a bad headache. No provider should have to hunt for what they need to do their job well. Hundreds of thousands of people have used Meg tools, and not one of them has ever been asked to pay.
But free still costs something.
We rely on the generosity of people like you to keep it that way. It takes about 1 in 30 of us, each giving $15 a month, to keep these tools available for free. If they helped you and you’re able, $15 a month keeps these resources available the next time you or another family need them.
Thanks for being here. Whether you are able to give or not, I’m so grateful a kid somewhere has you in their corner.
— Dr. Jody, Founder and CEO
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