ASSESSMENT LAUNCHING MAY 1: HOW READY IS YOUR FIRE/EMS DEPARTMENT FOR PEDIATRIC CARE?

The majority of fire, EMS, and rescue departments provide emergency care for children, but pediatric calls are rare. In fact, most departments see fewer than eight pediatric patients per month. Many EMS providers don’t feel comfortable or confident when caring for children. But being “pediatric ready” – trained, equipped, and prepared for children in accordance with national recommendations – can help reduce anxiety, increase confidence, and potentially improve outcomes on pediatric calls.

The National Prehospital Pediatric Readiness Project offers free tools and resources to help fire, EMS, and rescue agencies become pediatric ready, including a national online assessment opportunity launching Wednesday, May 1. The assessment includes seven categories of questions designed to provide departments with a picture of their current pediatric readiness and identify areas for improvement. After completing the assessment, which takes approximately 30 minutes, all respondents will receive a detailed report describing any gaps and benchmarking information. Departments will have until July 31 to complete the assessment.

To learn more about the assessment:

• Access a checklist and toolkit to help you prepare.
• Contact the project’s leadership team at pprp@emscimprovement.center or connect with your state’s EMSC Program Manager to see what local resources may be available to support you, including workshops, trainings, and other assistance.

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 15+ national organizations. 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.