How to Secure the I.V. House Wrist Splint for Infant & Toddler Patients

939S TLC Wrist Splint and Finger Tape Note

The Finger Tape Note, included in each small and medium TLC Wrist Splint with Straps package, reminds nurses to tape down the fingers of the smallest patients.

Feb. 3, 2021

Very young pediatric patients are known for their ability to wriggle out of any contraption. That’s why stabilizing the wrist and protecting the IV catheter during IV therapy is so important.

A handy card included with each small or medium TLC® Wrist Splint with Straps reminds nurses to use a ½ inch strip of tape across the fingers of infant and toddler patients. The pre-attached straps with Velcro® closures at the wrist and forearm secure the device.

Tape at fingers secures TLC Wrist Splint for infants and toddlers — A strip of tape helps secure a small or medium TLC Wrist Splint in very young patients.

939S TLC Wrist Splint with tape — Attach tape strip to anchor tape on the back of the device; create a tab for easy removal.

Nurses can find an educational Tips & Tricks sheet online that illustrates proper tape usage. We recommend nurses apply a ½ inch of strip of clear tape to the foam on the back of the splint at the fingers end to serve as anchor tape.

When applying the splint, nurses then secure the patient’s fingers by applying a ½ inch strip of tape to the anchor strip and then wrap the tape around the fingers and back onto the anchor tape. It’s a best practice to fold one end under to create a tab for easy removal.

When the TLC Wrist Splint is applied, the see-through openings allow nurses to Touch, Look, and Compare the extremity with the IV catheter to the opposite extremity to help spot early warning signs of complications such as changes in color, temperature, or size.

Apply an I.V. House UltraDome® or I.V. House UltraDressing® to protect the IV catheter from bumps and snags that can lead to accidental dislodgment.