Thanks to new and advanced technology, more children with
special health care needs are living at home than ever before,
enabling them to participate more fully at school and in
their communities. With this new independence comes a need to be
well prepared for prompt, safe, specialized care in the event of a medical
emergency. Families, caregivers, school officials, and community
leaders all need to share and collaborate in this responsibility.
The Emergency Medical Services for Children (EMSC) Program
encourages parents (or guardians) and caregivers of children
with special health care needs to develop a written emergency care
plan and have it in plain sight, ready to go. This way, if and when an
emergency occurs, family members, caregivers, bystanders, school
nurses, teachers, and emergency medical services (EMS) providers
will have the information they need to effectively initiate care -
and possibly save a life. An emergency care plan is also a valuable
resource for other health care providers, such as emergency room
doctors and nurses and rehabilitation specialists.
Written emergency care plans should include brief but specific information
about the child's medical condition, including physical and
mental state. Parents and caregivers should work with their primary
care physician, specialists, and case manager to develop a written
emergency care plan that includes the following key information:
Age
Allergies (medications and food)
Medical condition (diagnoses and relevant past medical history)
Medications currently taking and medications to avoid
Baseline findings (pulse and respiratory rates, blood
pressure, orientation, etc.)
Emergency intervention strategies (emergency procedures
that best address your child's unique needs)
Parent/caregiver information (names, phone numbers,
addresses, etc.)
Insurance information
Primary care physician and specialists information (names,
phone numbers, etc.)
The plan needs to be verified and signed by the child's parent or
legal caregiver and primary or specialty physician. Copies of this
document should be placed in several locations (e.g., near the
kitchen telephone, in the child's bedroom, in the car, and at work).
It also is important that parents and caregivers work with school
nurses and local EMS personnel to ensure that this confidential
information is quickly and easily available at school, child care,
and recreation programs. If a child is active and independent at
school and away from home, he or she may want to carry the plan
in his or her backpack, wallet, or purse.
It is important that parents and caregivers take the time to introduce
themselves and their children to their local EMS team. This
initial introduction will help everyone learn more about the child's
special needs - and feel more confident and secure in the event
of an emergency.
In addition, children at risk for medical emergencies should
consider wearing a medical bracelet or necklace to help emergency
providers quickly recognize that the child has a special need.
Until the medical personnel can access the child's written emergency
care plan, it is important that they have a general sense of
the child's condition.
Developing an emergency care plan is an important step in caring
for a child with special health care needs. It can give the child
more freedom - and it can give parents and caregivers the peace
of mind that comes with knowing their child is well cared for during
a medical emergency. Be prepared, plan today.
For additional information on developing an emergency care plan
for children with special health care needs - or to learn more
about the EMSC Program - please contact:
EMSC National Resource Center
111 Michigan Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20010
202-884-4927; 301-650-8045 (Fax)
info@emscnrc.com (E-mail)
www.ems-c.org
The EMSC Program is a federally funded initiative designed to reduce child and
youth disability and death due to severe
illness or injury. The Program is jointly administered by the Health Resources
and Services Administration's Maternal and
Child Health Bureau and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.