While the majority of emergency medical services (EMS) and fire-rescue agencies provide emergency care to children, pediatric calls are rare. In fact, because many agencies see fewer than eight pediatric patients per month, EMS clinicians often don’t feel comfortable or confident when caring for children. Pediatric readiness can reduce anxiety and increase confidence, and research suggests it may also improve outcomes. But what is pediatric readiness, and how do you know if your agency is really ready to take care of children?
The National Prehospital Pediatric Readiness Project is launching an assessment Wednesday, May 1, that can answer these questions—and more. The goal of this national project is to improve prehospital care for acutely ill and injured children, which translates into EMS and fire-rescue agencies being trained, equipped, and prepared in accordance with national recommendations.
- Access a preview of the Prehospital Pediatric Readiness Project to help you prepare
- Visit https://emspedsready.org to access the assessment. Only one person per agency can complete the assessment. Talk to your team to ensure you are the correct person to respond.
- Contact the project’s leadership team at [email protected] or connect with your state’s EMSC Program Manager for questions or support
About the Prehospital Pediatric Readiness Project
The National Prehospital Pediatric Readiness Project is a federally funded initiative of the Emergency Medical Services for Children Program in collaboration with 30 national organizations, federal partners, and experts. It empowers EMS and fire-rescue agencies that respond to public 911 calls to improve their “pediatric readiness” or capability to care for acutely ill and injured children. The PPRP provides EMS and fire-rescue agencies with free and open-access tools and resources for improvement. Learn more at https:/bit.ly/prehospitalpedsready.
