The Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU’s new Children’s Tower officially opened April 30. The event featured VCU Police to help the patients settle in their new rooms and approximately 50 first responders
that flashed their vehicle lights while patients’ flashlights beamed from their hospital windows.
However, many observers found the sudden, unexpected 15- minutes wail of sirens from emergency responders disturbing and even triggering given Richmond’s recent propensity for gun violence with young people among many of its victims.
When asked about the alarms, Kate Marino, manager for strategy, marketing and enterprise marketing for the VCU Health System, said:
“The purpose of goodnight lights was to “The purpose of goodnight lights was to show the children and their families that there is a whole community surrounding and supporting them. First responder units from throughout the region came out and the reaction from inside the hospital was overwhelmingly positive. One mom described it as a “once-in-a-lifetime experience they’ll remember forever.”
Perhaps. However, we hope that future displays intended to reflect a space where children can find comfort and healing are less about sounds associated with trauma and more about sensitivity and tranquility.
