Pediatric medical priorities

Approximately half of the EMS responses to calls for pediatric patients are for medical complaints, and medical complaints predominate over traumatic injuries in children younger than 5 years. Because pediatric calls account for only a small percentage of all patient care, EMS physicians must ensure adequate continuing education and training for providers to maintain knowledge and skills proficiency. Respiratory distress and seizures are common prehospital medical complaints for children. Controversies exist surrounding appropriate management of the pediatric airway in the prehospital setting; most of the current literature does not support prehospital intubation as an effective means of improving patient outcomes. Important changes are noted regarding the use of automated external defibrillators in young children and infants, the use of capnography, family presence during resuscitation, and the consideration of genetic mutations in children suffering cardiac arrest from unknown causes.