Chapter 54
Pediatric medical priorities
Toni Gross,
J. Joelle Donofrio-Odmann,
Toni Gross
Search for more papers by this authorJ. Joelle Donofrio-Odmann
Search for more papers by this authorToni Gross,
J. Joelle Donofrio-Odmann,
Toni Gross
Search for more papers by this authorJ. Joelle Donofrio-Odmann
Search for more papers by this authorBook Editor(s):David C. Cone MD,
Jane H. Brice MD, MPH,
Theodore R. Delbridge MD, MPH,
J. Brent Myers MD, MPH,
David C. Cone MD
Professor of Emergency Medicine
Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
Search for more papers by this authorJane H. Brice MD, MPH
Professor of Emergency Medicine
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
Search for more papers by this authorTheodore R. Delbridge MD, MPH
Executive Director
Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services Systems, Baltimore, Maryland
Search for more papers by this authorJ. Brent Myers MD, MPH
Chief Medical Officer ESO Associate Medical Director
Wake County EMS, Raleigh, North Carolina
Search for more papers by this authorFirst published: 18 August 2021
Summary
Because pediatric calls account for only a small percentage of all patient care, EMS physicians must ensure that an infrastructure designed to support the care of pediatric patients exists. Approximately half of the EMS responses to calls for pediatric patients are for medical complaints, and medical complaints predominate over traumatic injuries in children younger than 5 years. Respiratory distress and seizures are common prehospital medical complaints for children. Prehospital cardiac arrest is uncommon. Most of the current literature does not support prehospital intubation as an effective means to improving patient outcomes. Medication errors are common in pediatric patients, but tools and practices have been developed to enhance dosing safety.
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