A one-year-old is seriously hurt after being struck by a car. The paramedics are called — and everybody rests a little easier knowing that help is on the way. But are the paramedics trained to handle seriously injured children? Do they know which hospital in their community is best prepared to treat children and will they take this child to that hospital if there is a choice? Do the doctors and nurses have the proper equipment and knowledge to treat children? Surprisingly, the answer to each of these questions could be no. More than 30 years ago, emergency medical services (EMS) systems were created to provide rapid intervention for heart attacks in adults and rapid transport for motor vehicle crash victims. Initially, no one recognized that children required specialized emergency care.
Did you know that:
WHAT IS EMSC?
E MSC is a national initiative designed to reduce child and youth disability and death due to severe illness or injury. Medical personnel, parents and volunteers, community groups and businesses, national organizations, and foundations all contribute to the effort. A federal grant program supports state and local action.
WHAT ARE THE GOALS?
The initial goal is to prevent childhood illness or injury. When prevention fails, the goal is to ensure that all ill or injured children and adolescents receive state-of-the-art emergency medical care from emergency medical technicians (EMTs) and paramedics, emergency department personnel, and rehabilitation specialists, if needed.
HOW ARE THE GOALS ACHIEVED?
The federal EMSC grant program enables states to address pediatric deficiencies o o o they have identified within their emergency care system. Research also is supported through the program. All states, U.S. territories, and the District of Columbia have received federal funding.
WHAT HAS BEEN ACCOMPLISHED?
Since its establishment in 1984, the EMSC effort has improved the availability of child-size equipment in ambulances and emergency departments. It has initiated hundreds of programs to prevent injuries, and has provided thousands of hours of training to EMTs, paramedics, and other emergency medical care providers. EMSC efforts have led to legislation mandating programs in several states, and to educational materials covering every aspect of pediatric emergency care. Most important, EMSC efforts are saving kids' lives. Although EMSC has made great progress over the years, much remains to be done to ensure children receive optimal medical care.
EMSC... helping paramedics and other emergency personnel understand the unique needs of children.
WHO CAN HELP IMPROVE CHILDREN'S EMERGENCY SERVICES?
Health care providers, parents, caregivers, teachers, and even local and national organizations involved with or interested in child health care can play a significant role in this nationwide effort. Health care providers should be trained to respond to pediatric emergencies and to ensure that their offices or departments are equipped to handle a childhood illness or injury. Parents should talk to their physicians about what constitutes a child health emergency, learn how to access emergency care in their community, and take CPR and first aid training. Teachers should discuss injury prevention measures with their students and learn what to do in an emergency or disaster situation, such as a school fire. Local and national organizations can help educate and inform all target audiences by developing partnerships with their local and state EMS and Maternal and Child Health Offices.
EMSC... helping to educate doctors and nurses about the proper care children need and deserve.
WHO SUPPORTS EMSC?
EMSC is primarily supported and is administered by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Health Resources and Services Administration and the U.S. Department of Transportation's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Other EMSC sponsors include the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the National Fire Protection Association, and the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research. General Motors and Smith-Kline Beecham have been corporate supporters.
EMSC... ensuring children the smoothest possible transition back into the home, school, and community.
NEED MORE INFORMATION?
Two resource centers support the EMSC initiative — the EMSC National Resource Center (NRC), located in Washington, DC, and the National EMSC Data Analysis Resource Center (NEDARC), located in Salt Lake City, UT. NRC provides support and assistance to states on a variety of topics, operates a clearinghouse, and provides information to professionals and the public. NEDARC specializes in providing assistance to states on data collection and analysis. The EMSC web site, located at www.ems-c.org, can provide additional information.
EMSC National Resource Center
Children's National Medical Center
111 Michigan Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20010
202/884-4927 (phone); 301/650-8045 (fax)
info@emscnrc.com (e-mail)
NEDARC
University of Utah
410 Chipeta Way, Suite 222
Salt Lake City, UT 84108
801/581-6410 (phone); 801/581-8686 (fax)
www-nedarc.med.utah.edu/nedarc/ (web)