Medication Errors in Pediatric Patients after Implementation of a Field Guide with Volume-Based Dosing.

Background: Several studies have demonstrated the high frequency of medication errors in pediatric patients by prehospital providers during both patient care and simulation. In 2015, our hospital-based urban EMS system introduced the Handtevy Field Guide that provides precalculated pediatric doses in milliliters (mL) by patient age. We hypothesized that implementation of the Field Guide would increase the percentage of correct pediatric medication doses to greater than 85%.

Comparison of Errors Using Two Length-Based Tape Systems for Prehospital Care in Children.

Background: The use of a length/weight-based tape (LBT) for equipment size and drug dosing for pediatric patients is recommended in a joint statement by multiple national organizations. A new system, known as Handtevy™, allows for rapid determination of critical drug doses without performing calculations.

Objective: To compare two LBT systems for dosing errors and time to medication administration in simulated prehospital scenarios.

Age- and sex-specific normal values for shock index in National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 1999-2008 for ages 8 years and older.

Purpose: Shock index (SI), the ratio of heart rate to systolic blood pressure, has found to outperform conventional vital signs as a predictor of shock. Although age-specific vital sign norms are recommended in screening for shock, there are no reported age- or sex-specific norms for SI. Our primary goal was to report age- and sex-specific SI normal values for a nationally representative population 10 years and older by 5-year age groups.

Mycoplasma pneumoniae and atypical Stevens-Johnson syndrome: a case series.

Mycoplasma pneumoniae is a common cause of community-acquired respiratory illness in the adolescent population. Stevens-Johnson syndrome is an extrapulmonary manifestation that has been associated with M. pneumoniae infections.