Intensive Care Units: Expect Strong Odors and a Depressing Atmosphere

When people become extremely ill, they will often be sent to an Intensive Care Unit. The ICU is one of the most unnerving areas in a hospital, and many of us will have to pay a visit to one at some point in our lives. In this article, I will describe what it's like being in an ICU.

Basic Description -

ICUs are where most people will go after they've had surgery. Extremely sick patients may also be inside the ICU. For the most part, the ICU is a fairly depressing place. When you first enter one, you may feel a sense of unease. After all, the people around you are sick and quite possibly dieing in some cases.

Nurses, doctors, and specialists will all be paying visits to their patients. Priests may be performing the last rights for some people, or they may just be trying to comfort others who request their presence. And then there are the machines that help people breath, keep track of heart beats, and supply medicine to individuals who need it.

The computers will make lots of beeping noises when you are inside the ICU area of the hospital, and people may be moaning or coughing. Many of these people may be out of their minds because of their illness, surgery, or the medications that they have to take. Several of these individuals will be on morphine and other similar drugs. So don't take it personally if one of these patients starts to look at you funny; they can't help it.

Sanitation -

When you visit an ICU, you will probably be required to wash your hands. You can either wash your hands in the sink with soap and water, or you can use some sanitation gel that will do the same thing as the soap and water. You may also have to wear a mask. It just depends how sick the individual you are visiting is. If it's a disease that affects the immune system then you will definitely have to wear a mask and possibly even a gown.

The mask and gown reduces the chances of you spreading a disease to that individual. If the person's immune system is weakened, it is possible that even a simple cold virus could cause him or her to die. By the way, if you are really sick do not visit an ICU. The illness you have might end up killing a few people.

Stench -

In some of the rooms inside the ICU, it may smell awful. It all depends on the patient. The stench of vomit, diarrhea, and disease is almost unbearable in some cases. So if you have a weak stomach, you may want to try and avoid visiting an ICU.

As you can see, visiting an ICU is probably going to be an unpleasant experience for you. If the individual that you are visiting is awake and lucid then they will probably be very miserable. And now you can understand why.