I saw an ad in one of the plethora of parent/baby magazines I get about the VeinViewer, which is a near-infrared light viewing device. It projects a real-time image of your child's (or your own) veins onto the skin to help the doctor/nurse get the vein the first time. Supposedly it has a 80% stick rate (anyone else scared its less than that without this thing?). I've never heard of it before now, but if you had a very sick child I would imagine it would be invaluable.

I think it would only be useful for a child who was chronically ill and needing blood draws or IVs. Both my kids have been in the NICU, for different reasons, and in my experience it's not finding the veins that's difficult, it's getting an iv needle into a tiny vein without blowing it that is the problem.

plus, I doubt I'd remember to take it on an ER run. I know I forgot things the two times I took my son (less than one month) in to be hospitalized.

I've never heard of it but it sounds interesting and slightly scary! But I'm sure, as Seattle Mom mentioned, there is a great use for something like that to some people.

I get the feeling this is something the hospital would have not you, as I imagine its fairly expensive equipment. Could be useful for kids that come in dehydrated or underweight.

I don't know about that. I have never had a misstick, so to speak. Maybe it's my veins but they always get it on the first try. I guess if someone had hard to find veins, it would make a difference.

Having a mis stuck is always a horrible deal to go through. My mom used to tell me that if they did it wrong 3 times you can ask for a new person to try. I don't have hard veins to hit but I have had newbies working on me before and its not fun at all.