Citation

Ross SW, Campion E, Jensen A, Gray L, Gross T, Namias N, Goodloe JM, Bulger EM, Fischer PE, Fallat M. J. Trauma Acute Care Surg. 2023; ePub(ePub): ePub.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2023, Lippincott Williams and Wilkins)

DOI

10.1097/TA.0000000000003997

PMID

37125944

Abstract

Injury is the leading cause of death in children >1 year of age and children make up 22% of the population. Pediatric readiness of the nation's emergency departments and state Trauma and Emergency Medical Services systems is conceptually important and vital to mitigate mortality and morbidity in this population. The extension of pediatric readiness to the trauma community has become a focused area for training, staffing, education, and equipment at all levels of trauma center designation, and there is evidence that a higher level of emergency department pediatric readiness is independently associated with long-term survival among injured children. Although less well studied, there is an associated need for emergency medical services (EMS) pediatric readiness, which is relevant to the injured child who needs assessment, treatment, triage, and transport to a trauma center. We outline a blueprint along with recommendations for incorporating pediatric readiness into trauma system development in this opinion from the EMS Committee of the American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma. These recommendations are particularly pertinent in the rural and underserved areas of the US but are directed toward all levels of professionals who care for an injured child along the trauma continuum of care.

Language: en