In our hospital leaves on the door, signify this person is a fall risk and should not be out of bed alone.

If I saw this on the door and the patient moving around in the room, [which one might do if they saw a clown coming down the hall], I could alert the nurse this pt is getting up alone.

there are symbols for isolation too. NEVER, NEVER go into one of these rooms.

In ours blue tape seal the door, meaning it has been cleaned for the next pt. if some one breaks the seal then cleaning staff has to disenfect the room all over again.

This are just a few for example symbols maybe different at other hospitals.

If you have a patient who's on oxygen, you mustn't take in anything that'll spark. That could include a gimmick or a battery-operated balloon pump. It'll say clearly on their door that oxygen is in use. And it is HIGHLY flammable!

If you have a patient who's on oxygen, you mustn't take in anything that'll spark. That could include a gimmick or a battery-operated balloon pump. It'll say clearly on their door that oxygen is in use. And it is HIGHLY flammable!


TRY TO BLOW UP A BALOON AND BLOW UP THE HOSPITAL THEY MAY NOT ASK YOU TO COME BACK

it's better to not take balloons, latex alleries are often unknown. Some hospitals do not allow them for this reason. they can make latex free gloves when will they do balloons? I severly allergic to penicillin and for some reason this increases my risk for developing the allergy, and that I use the gloves regularly.

Yeah, I was thinking the same thing. Instead of needing the hospital, everyone would need the coroner because I blew the hospital up. Not a cool situation!

Good thought about the latex, Sue. I'm mildly allergic to it, but I rarely use latex gloves, so it tends to be forgotten.

sassy if you're mildly allergic, I know you don't care for balloons much, and you really shouldn't do them, you are more at risk for a big reaction if you're already alleric.

PVC balloons. We have had some success using the 63" long Inflate Bongo Sticks (http://www.orientaltrading.com/application?namespace=search&origin=searchMain.jsp&event=button.search&Ntt=IN-49%2F749&Ntk=all&Ntx=mode%2Bmatchallpartial&N=0&x=19&y=14) from Oriental Trading Company (Item # IN-49/749). The down side to these is that they are not easy to twist. Problems twisting these range from it being hard to judge exactly how much to under-inflate them, to the bulk involved in twisting them, to the vinyl's tendency to let go when twisted too tightly. When I use these I tend to leave 6 inches at the valve side. Keeping the tail at the valve side allows you to open the valve and adjust the amount of air in them fairly easily. To deal with the difficulty twisting these, I use small zip strips to make the bubbles in the vinyl balloon, clipping the excess off very close to the head of the zip-strip. I only use actual twists when absolutely necessary. Even when I actually twist them, I try to use a zip strip when possible to avoid any hard twists.


Poly Tubing. A number of balloon artists have had some success using poly tubing in place of their balloons. Poly tubing usually comes on a roll, allowing you to make any length balloon you need. You will have to select with thickness (from 1 mil to 12 mil) and widths (from 1/2 inch to 12 inches and up) for your needs. Poly tubing can not be effectively tied and is generally closed using a heat sealer. Sealed poly tubes can generally be twisted much like normal balloons, however you will sometimes find that zip strips are indispensable when twisting these. On the down side, poly tubing comes in a very limited selection of color (clear is common, and you can sometimes find yellow). A google search for "Poly Tubing" will turn up venders for both the tubing and the sealing machines.


I know it isn't much - but it's something; and it's a start. There are rumors going around that their are some new attempts at latex free balloons being looked into - hopefully they're true.

Jolly, I am glad to see you sharing some of that vast wealth of wisdom you have. This is good stuff.

I know in this area, a full white face clown is a "no no" to hospitals - but ok for nursing homes. Latex balloons are a BIG "NO NO" - mainly due to allergy reactions at hospitals but are very accepted at nursing homes. FULL white face clowns ARE NOT welcome in the big malls... although Sonshine did walk the entire mall... 2 floors shopping with 2 or her 'normal' friends... and past the security guard station... but was escorted out ...as we were walking to the exit anyway.... was told the "Full face cover - was not allowed due to Homeland Security"... Could just seen the nightly news.... aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah! handcuffed - clown - coming out of shopping mall with shopping bags in hand...

I like the new avatar. Did you have the Princess create it special for you?

FULL white face clowns ARE NOT welcome in the big malls... although Sonshine did walk the entire mall... 2 floors shopping with 2 or her 'normal' friends... and past the security guard station... but was escorted out ...as we were walking to the exit anyway.... was told the "Full face cover - was not allowed due to Homeland Security"... Could just seen the nightly news.... aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah! handcuffed - clown - coming out of shopping mall with shopping bags in hand...

What do they tell people on Halloween?

I like the new avatar. Did you have the Princess create it special for you?


Mia? No, its on the list.... I was not aware our Princess did such things...

What do they tell people on Halloween?

??? But security told us that due to the fact, my real face was hidden, I was considered to be fully masked - which makes identification impossible = therefore, I was not allowed in the mall. (Sonshine did ask the guard, if he would mind doing all her shopping for her in the future - he smiled and said he didnt like shopping. )

??? But security told us that due to the fact, my real face was hidden, I was considered to be fully masked - which makes identification impossible = therefore, I was not allowed in the mall.

You were probably the most readily identifiable person there.

Have they never heard of asking for a driver's license for identification?

Really, the terrorists have won when we take things to this sort of extreme.

White face or Auguste also depends on where you are, geographically, small town here. I've gone to nurising homes as well as the hospital as Saphire Sue without any problems.and often compliments on my makeup. Main thing is to check out your area before hand and get approval. Don't just assume you can go in costume to any type of facility without approval, hospital, school, nursing home, day care, etc.

You were probably the most readily identifiable person there.

Have they never heard of asking for a driver's license for identification?

Really, the terrorists have won when we take things to this sort of extreme.


ToTALLY agree..

I went to the license bureau recently, I wanted to checkout about getting an IDENTIFICATION card for Sonshine - but was told at the license bureau that I could not have BOTH a STATE ISSUED ID and a STATE ISSUED DRIVERS LICENSE - I said I wouldnt .. Sonshine would have the ID and Cathy would have th license... I just wanted to be able to show people I am who I am .. in makeup /or not.

I found this website. I know I heard of clown ID cards before. I've never tried this company, but here is their website to check out: http://www.stuff4clowns.com/registry.html

Miss D.

I have a clown ID that has both my regular picture and my clown picture along with my general information. I got it at the Midwest Clown Association I think in 2003. Is stuff4clowns Tom E. Boy's website? It seems I remember him offering something like that as well a couple of years ago.

Yes, thats Tom E. Boy's site.

Just curious as to wether anyone has had the opportunity to try out pvc or poly tubing for alternative twisting yet?

I have a hospital safety day thing to do in May; s will probably try to work out some designs between now and then just in case I come across an allergy while there...

Not too sure what you are trying to accomplish.
What I have done with schedule 80 pvc is design and fabricate snares for trapping and handling rattlesnakes, critters and such.
I find that a torch, hacksaw and a tubing cutter allows me to make relief cuts and use the heat from the torch to form the pvc and cause it to move where I want it to be.

ah sorry - I mean PVC Balloons - not piping :)

I use them as alternatives for latex allergic balloon customers. I' dont have alot of experience with them; as the demand has been limited. You can make some basic balloon sculptures from them though - maybe even some advance ones in the hands of a better balloon twister than myself.

I really need to play around with it some more - but I've been lazy on doing so.

This are just a few for example symbols maybe different at other hospitals.

It's important to always check with the charge nurse before entering a room anyways. For example, a security guard sitting outside of a room could mean the patient is confused or violent, or it could mean that the patient was admitted for attempted suicide, and some cheering up might work better than anything else. They may not want to share that with you, but they might just say, "Yes, go on in." I guess it's a little easier for me because I work in the hospital and know most of the nurses and the routines, but checking first is essential

Thank You Jolly Well for introducing me to pvc balloons. I went on a little trip around the net and was amazed at a lot of the applications that pvc is used for.
Amazing! It even appears that there might be something that could be designed for certain types of stilts. I don't know too much about stilting either. Just the ones that we made from 2x4 lumber when we were kids...
Good Luck with your balloon twisting...

wow! hospital clowning is sure very tough! :o

wow! hospital clowning is sure very tough! :o

Not really at all. If you are there to truly help the patients and not just to show off or practice or to make yourself feel good, then you will usually be assisted and well received. Nurses are entitled to bad days due to enormous pressures they are sometimes under and because they care, but don't take it personal. The adage works here too: "Killem with kindness."

the main thing is before you go in to any hospital to clown, get clearance beforehand, make sure you know what you can and can't do. Here volunteers are required to attend the same orientation that employees have to attend. one example is that, Our hospital has now gone latex free were ever possible [no balloons, unless the mylar type],