Is everything in the show real
Well hello tumblr itâs been a while! I saw this question in my inbox and thought - why not answer it? So, is everything in Red Band Society real? As someone who has spent a great portion of my life in hospitals, the answer is yes and no.Â
All of the conditions in the show are real conditions. Cystic fibrosis, anorexia, osteosarcoma, enlarged heart, coma, etc.Â
Childrenâs hospitals/wings are decorated with bright colors, murals, and art like they are at Ocean Park.
Nurses spend a lot of time with patients and with each other, have all the good gossip, and advocate for patients.Â
The procedures are all real, though sometimes played up for drama (for example, your doctor would not stop as you were being wheeled to surgery to run back to your friendâs room. At that point you would have already been partially sedated)
Patients do bond! Thereâs usually a lot of options for activities and chronically ill/disabled teenagers often have form strong friendships with each other both in and out of the hospital.
Emmaâs eating disorder is portrayed very realistically - sheâs struggling, she has triggers, and itâs not about her appearance, itâs about control. Itâs an unhealthy coping mechanism that causes serious physical consequences for her later on.
Dash and Maeâs situation is very real - patients with CF cannot be within six feet of each other without risking spreading bacteria to each other, which could be deadly. Many CF patients wear masks around each other to keep each other safe.
Most of the Red Danders would not actually be inpatient, or at least not for as long as they are in the show. For example, Kara would probably be sent home with a heart monitor and told to follow up with a cardiologist. Same with Leo - his physical therapy would largely be outpatient as well, and these days many chemo treatments are even done as outpatient procedures. Emma would be inpatient, and Dash is on the fence. Many people with CF are admitted for tune-ups for weeks or months, but Dash seems to be in an okay place with his CFÂ - heâs not on oxygen and we donât see him doing many breathing treatments.
Kara and Charlie would almost certainly not be roomed together - first because theyâre of the opposite sex, and second because most childrenâs hospitals have single-patient rooms for long-term patients (at least in the case of physical illnesses).
You can decorate your hospital room to an extent when youâre in inpatient, but not like the Red Banders do. For physical illnesses posters, string lights, blankets and photos are quite common. But in psych wards youâre allowed to bring very little in and youâre limited in what you can keep in your room.
Sneaking in and out of the hospital, while not impossible, is much harder to do than it is on the show. Getting out is one thing, but getting back in unnoticed is a huge challenge.Â
An even bigger challenge is the drugs and alcohol that appears in a few episodes. Many hospitals do daily blood draws, so underage drinking/illicit drug use would be identified very quickly.
Nobody looks that good in a hospital. Most people are in pajamas, sweatpants, and hospital gowns. Your clothes often need to able to open in the front or back for physical exams, IVs, ports, etc.
Being in the psych wing, Emma wouldnât be allowed to have most of the things that are in her room. She likely wouldnât be allowed to go to the bathroom by herself, and her meal plans would be much stricter than they are in the show.Â