Virtual Sea Coves: How VR Calms Children in Son Llàtzer's Pediatric Emergency

When a Game Works Better Than a Drop of Anesthesia

Late morning on Ward 3 of the pediatric emergency at Son Llàtzer Hospital: the bright neon light mixes with the scent of disinfectant and freshly brewed coffee from the cafeteria. On one of the turquoise benches sits a mother, her seven-year-old son beside her. Instead of fidgeting or crying, he watches calmly — through a virtual reality headset at a quiet sea cove. A nurse had just put the device on him. A small miracle in everyday clinical life, which here has become almost commonplace.

What Happens Behind the Headset?

The VR devices show short, interactive sequences: simple games, colorful meadows or calm beach scenes with subtle sounds of waves. The scenes are deliberately kept simple, no action, no hectic effects. While a blood draw or an infusion is being placed, the virtual world provides distraction. The medical team observes that many children become visibly calmer, breathe more slowly and cry less. Some later report that they hardly felt the prick.

A Look Behind the Scenes: The project has been running for a few weeks, funded by a public health program. Nurses received brief training: hygiene, content selection, and how to introduce the devices to children. On Ward 3 there are now always two charging cables and a small box with spare cushions — details that make daily life easier. "We already call them the magic windows," says a pediatric nurse with a half-amused smile, while the distant beeping of a monitor can be heard in the background.

More Than Mere Distraction

The effect is not only sentimental. Doctors report that procedures run more smoothly because children cooperate better. Less stress also means that stronger sedatives or additional support measures are needed less often. For nursing staff this means: faster interventions, fewer restless children and more relaxed parents — a small but tangible gain for daily hospital life.

Parents are often surprised. One mother said her child stayed briefly in the virtual sea cove after the treatment — very calm, almost peaceful. Such moments create a small space for recovery in an environment that is otherwise marked by worry and hustle. And in the waiting area, you can now more often hear quiet laughter, a small sign that the technology is more than just a toy.

Hygiene, Safety and Limits

Of course there are clear rules: no use with contagious illnesses, thorough cleaning between uses and careful selection of content — nothing overwhelming, nothing exciting. Some children are not interested or react fearfully to the technology; for them, personal conversation and the familiar hand of the nurse remain the best help. The VR headsets are therefore not a panacea, but an additional tool in the toolbox of pediatric care.

Looking Ahead: Opportunities for Palma and All of Mallorca

The hospital is examining whether the offer can be expanded — beyond the emergency department, for example for pain therapy in chronically ill children or in the dental clinic. Multilingual content for the many families living on or visiting Mallorca is also conceivable. Structured training for more staff, regular hygiene checks and a clear deployment plan would help anchor the project sustainably.

On Mallorca, where the sea is often part of everyday life, the virtual sea cove has a special effect. It is a small, local experiment with big impact: fewer tears, quicker procedures and more relaxed parents in the end. And if on the next visit to Son Llàtzer a quiet child€™s laugh drifts down the corridor, that may be the clearest sign that technology and humanity work well together here.