What Are All Those Noises?

Q:  I recently spent several days visiting a relative in the hospital. There were several machines in the room that made a variety of noises. I never knew quite what to do and whether the beeps meant that the machine was working normally or whether it meant that an alarm was going off. What kinds of things should visitors do under these circumstances?

A:  The hospital can be a very disorienting place. Whether involved in an overnight stay, a trip to the emergency room, or an outpatient encounter for testing or a surgical procedure, the sensory input can be overwhelming. If you or your loved one is in the midst of a critical illness, the emotional stakes are just that much higher. In addition to being in an unfamiliar place and meeting unfamiliar people, the background noises from all the technology can add to one’s sense of unease.

It seems as though every machine has its own electronic signature. Each also has a separate sound for an alarm, leading an often unsettling chorus of clicks, bells, and things that go beep in the night. Some of the devices include IV pumps, heart monitors, blood pressure monitors, equipment that measures oxygen and carbon dioxide in the blood, breathing machines (ventilators), machines that assist the heart in pumping blood, and those that monitor the heartbeats of babies during mom’s labor.

First and foremost, don’t be afraid to ask what a particular machine does and what sounds it makes during normal functioning or when an alarm goes off. If the patient is having a critical episode, staff will direct their attention accordingly and may not be able to answer your questions at that time. Often, and especially in the ICU, alarms that are heard in the room are also registered at a console in the nurses station to insure a quick response. If you’re really worried, step outside the room and look for someone to help. Under no circumstances should you attempt to silence an alarm or adjust the functioning of a machine.

Getting some basic information during your first visit will help you and your loved one understand the therapeutic process and should help lower anxiety levels as well – perhaps making the whole process a little less distressing.

"Your Health" provides easy-to-understand information about common health conditions.