Welcome to the Epilepsy Monitoring Unit (EMU) Here s a story to help prepare you for your visit!
Hello and Welcome to Let s tour the EMU. The EMU is the Epilepsy Monitoring Unit. This is a place where you are connected to specials wires that read your brain s activity. We will talk more about that later. The EMU is a pretty fun place! There are games and activities. In the EMU, the doctors will learn about how your brain is working. Let s read and understand more about what will happen when you come to the EMU at CHEO.
In the EMU you will be having an EEG Say that 5 times fast! Question: What is an EEG? An EEG is a special test that help the doctors to track and record your brain s wave patterns. It s a way for the doctors to understand more about how your brain works. For the EEG, small discs with thin wires (electrodes) are placed on your head. These wires help send signals to a computer to record the results what your brain is doing. You will have a video camera in your room. The video camera will watch what you and your wonderful brain are doing. Don t worry the EEG does NOT read your mind. Did You Know!? EEG = electroencephalogram EEG is way easier to say!!
When you arrive at the hospital, you will go to the admitting office, this a place where your parent or caregiver will sign some papers. This is what the office looks like. Next, you will go to your EMU room, where you will stay for the next days. Come and check out the room!
This is one of the EMU rooms. You will have your own room and one of your parents or caregivers will stay in the same room as you! Sleepover! I SPY. See if you can find A camera A TV A toilet A privacy curtain A hospital bed Look on the next page for the answers!
In your room, the camera cannot see behind the privacy curtain. So you can change and use the toilet with privacy! Don t forget to close the curtain! privacy curtain TV camera toilet hospital bed
While in the EMU, there will be times when the nurse will be checking in with you. The nurse will check your temperature, your blood pressure (how strong your heart is working ) and your oxygen level (the air that you are breathing). None of these things will hurt. Please ask the nurse if you have any questions.
You may also meet a child life specialist. This is someone who can help explain what is happening and keep you busy with fun stuff while in the EMU. The child life specialist may help you to find an activity to do while the leads are being put on. Again, if you have any questions, please ask any of the people who are here to help you!
Next, you will meet a neurophysiology technologist. You re probably asking yourself, Who s that?. A neurophysiology technologist is the person that will place the tiny wires on your head. They help set up all the equipment to collect your brain activity. Let s talk about that next! Say Hello to some of the EEG technologists.
Now you re probably wondering what are leads? Leads are those little round circles attached to different colored wires. The leads are placed onto special spots on your head. The leads help us to understand what your brain is doing. The leads don t hurt. Don t worry, the leads don t read your mind either! EEG Leads
Also, here are a few things you may see when we put the leads on your head. These things will NOT hurt you. When we put the leads on your head, staying very still is a BIG help! Some people like to listen to music, watch TV or play with a toy while we put on the leads. Remember to keep your head still. Kind of like a being statue! Can you find: the leads the measuring tape the paste the marking pencil
glue marking pencil leads measuring tape paste Did you spot them?
Next, you will find a place on the bed and get comfortable. The neurophysiology technologist will start by measuring your head and making marks with a special crayon. These marks come off later.
We keep the leads in place with a special paste. Sometimes we may use a special hair dryer to dry the paste.
Next, they will wrap your head lightly with a special cloth. This cloth acts like hat and helps the leads to stay in place.
You also will have some leads with stickers placed on your chest. These watch what your heart is doing. We will also put leads on your cheeks too.
The long colored wires will be connected to a white box that will be placed in a little bag. This makes it easier to carry when you move around in the room, especially if you want to play! Sometimes, we may ask you to do a special breathing exercise. There may be a special light that you will have to look at.
The little white box is connected to the computer. The computer helps to see and record your brain activity. If you look on the computer monitor you will see all sorts of wavy lines moving on the screen. This is what brain activity looks like. The special doctors on the neurology team know how to read this special language!
Once you are all set-up, you can choose to do an activity if you wish! You can also bring some of your own favorite things from home to help keep you busy. Also, don t forget there is a menu where you can order food (breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks!) from CHEO s Food Services. What will you do to keep busy? play a board game? make a craft? watch a movie? play a videogame? listen to music?
Thank You and Have a Great Stay at EMU! Please call if you have any further questions EMU coordinator @ 613 737 7600 ex 3743