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%.

Pediatric Readiness in Emergency Medical Services Systems.

This is a joint policy statement from the American Academy of Pediatrics, American College of Emergency Physicians, Emergency Nurses Association, National Association of Emergency Medical Services Physicians, and National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians on pediatric readiness in emergency medical services systems.

Pediatric Readiness in Emergency Medical Services Systems.

Ill and injured children have unique needs that can be magnified when the child's ailment is serious or life-threatening. This is especially true in the out-of-hospital environment. Providing high-quality out-of-hospital care to children requires an emergency medical services (EMS) system infrastructure designed to support the care of pediatric patients.

Pediatric Readiness in Emergency Medical Services Systems.

This is a joint policy statement from the American Academy of Pediatrics, American College of Emergency Physicians, Emergency Nurses Association, National Association of Emergency Medical Services Physicians, and National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians on pediatric readiness in emergency medical services systems.

Alcohol as a Factor in 911 Calls in Denver.

Background: Excessive alcohol consumption is associated with a substantial number of emergency department visits annually and is responsible for a significant number of lives lost each year in the United States. However, a minimal amount is known about the impact of alcohol on the EMS system.

Objectives: The primary objective was to determine the proportion of 9-1-1 calls in Denver, Colorado in which (1) alcohol was a contributing factor or (2) the individual receiving EMS services had recently ingested alcohol.

Improving Pediatric Education for Emergency Medical Services Providers: A Qualitative Study.

Objectives: Previous studies have illustrated pediatric knowledge deficits among Emergency Medical Services (EMS) providers. The purpose of this study was to identify perspectives of a diverse group of EMS providers regarding pediatric prehospital care educational deficits and proposed methods of training improvements.

Methods: Purposive sampling was used to recruit EMS providers in diverse settings for study participation.

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.

Use of capnographs to assess quality of pediatric ventilation with 3 different airway modalities.

Objectives: Prehospital pediatric airway management is difficult and controversial. Options include bag-mask ventilation (BMV), endotracheal tube (ETT), and laryngeal mask airway (LMA). Emergency Medical Services personnel report difficulty assessing adequacy of BMV during transport.

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.