ABSTRACT: Pediatric patients consist of approximately one-tenth (10%) of all prehospital emergency calls. More than half of these pediatric emergency calls are for pediatric medical emergencies involving respiratory distress and poisonings. This presentation, however, addresses the pediatric medical emergencies that are least-often-experienced (or recognized) by prehospital care providers. Thus, this presentation addresses serious pediatric medical emergencies that the average EMS provider has the least-amount of understanding of, and the least-amount of experience managing.

Charly begins this dynamic presentation discussing pediatric developmental stages, and the COMMUNICATION and ASSESSMENT techniques universally-required by ALL pediatric patients. Then, she provides insightful tips for specifically assessing and treating pediatric medical emergencies involving:

• Dehydration
• Hypoglycemia
• Reye's Syndrome
• Seizures, and
• Meningitis.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES: After attending this presentation, participants will

1. recognize the age-related differences (and similarities)
   of children's response to all EMS emergencies.
   
2. understand and use specific communication and assessment techniques
   that alleviate children's fears in the face of any sort of emergency.
   
3. learn to perform a thorough (yet non-threatening)
   initial assessment and focused physical examination of the pediatric patient.
   
4. understand the assessment, history-taking, and management of pediatric medical emergencies involving: Dehydration, Hypoglycemia, Reye's Syndrome, Seizures, and Meningitis.
   
5. recognize the importance of seeking continuing education about
   the many other pediatric emergency care subjects.

1. Children's' response to emergencies:
   
   • Age-related responses
   • Age-related communication techniques & rules

2. General pediatric assessment considerations:
   
   • Physical examination differences
   • Requirement of pediatric-sized equipment
   • Normal pediatric vital signs, and the importance of obtaining them.

3. Assessment, history-taking, and management of pediatric Dehydration.

4. Assessment, history-taking, and management of pediatric Hypoglycemia.

5. Assessment, history-taking, and management of Reye's Syndrome.

6. Assessment, history-taking, and management of pediatric Seizures.

7. Assessment, history-taking, and management of pediatric Meningitis

8. SUMMARY and encouragement to seek
   continuing education about other pediatric subjects, such as:
   
   • Poisoning
   • Pediatric Respiratory Emergencies
   • Drowning
   • Pediatric Trauma
   • Burns
   • Newborn management
   • PALS (Pediatric Advanced Life Support)
   • SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome)
   • Pediatric and Adolescent Psychiatric Emergencies
   • Child Abuse and Neglect

Email Charly at: c-d-miller@neb.rr.com
Those are hyphens/dashes between the "c" and "d" and "miller"