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Celebrating EMS Week 2024 – Day 4: EMS for Children Day

This day’s theme highlights the pediatric clinical care provided by EMS and the need for increased specialized training for our youngest patients

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Welcome to Wednesday – EMS for Children Day!

Today, we focus on the distinctive physiological and psychological aspects of caring for children, highlighting the need for improving pediatric emergency care in prehospital and acute care settings.

Children are not miniature adults; they require a unique approach to medical care due to their evolving physiology, developmental stages and specific emotional needs. This day serves as an important reminder to raise awareness about the challenges faced by EMS professionals on these calls and the ongoing efforts to improve pediatric emergency care.

Check out our “EMS Week – Day 4” video below and take a look at the resources we’ve compiled for EMS for Children Day. Be sure to share this collection with your colleagues and on your social channels to spread awareness!

Pediatric skills training
One of the key aspects of pediatric emergency care is understanding the physiological differences between children and adults. Our resource guide features articles and guidelines that delve into the unique anatomy, vital sign interpretation and medication dosing for pediatric patients.
Go back to the basics with a thorough understanding of pediatric appearance, breathing and circulation warning signs, and the cardinal rule of pediatric assessment
Obstetrics studies reveal best practices in newborn suctioning, umbilical cord clamping
Drs. Dorsett, Jarvis and Escajeda join the Pediatric EMS Podcast crossover episode to discuss pain management
The key is to remember that kids get sick differently than adults and that physical findings may be more subtle
Follow these steps to facilitate a successful outcome for dealing with emergencies involving kids
Pediatric patients are not tiny adults; refresh your knowledge of pediatric blunt trauma and take a quiz to check your knowledge
Pediatric clinical cases
One way to level up your pediatric skills — other than to respond more frequently to pediatric-focused calls — is by observing clinical calls on pediatric patients. Check out our articles focused on this special population and learn something new.
Preparing for the most stressful call you can receive: pediatric cardiorespiratory arrest
Antevy, Piehl and Spiro evaluate differential diagnoses and key interventions for a provider-captured video
Learn how to assess, monitor and manage pediatric asthma emergencies, as well as underlying pathophysiologic changes
Managing unusual abdominal injuries, including intussusception, Hirschsprung disease and appendicitis
Check out this incredible footage from video laryngoscopes that captured burned and swollen airways during intubation
A detailed patient history and physical examination inform this diagnosis of exclusion after a brief resolved unexplained event (BRUE)

Rachel Engel is an award-winning journalist and the senior editor of FireRescue1.com and EMS1.com. In addition to her regular editing duties, Engel seeks to tell the heroic, human stories of first responders and the importance of their work. She earned her bachelor’s degree in communications from Cameron University in Lawton, Oklahoma, and began her career as a freelance writer, focusing on government and military issues. Engel joined Lexipol in 2015 and has since reported on issues related to public safety. Engel lives in Wichita, Kansas. She can be reached via email.