In rural and urban areas, approximately 10 percent of all ambulance calls are for children younger than 14 years old. Trauma is the most common emergency call for children between 5 and 14 years of age, and illness is the most common emergency call for children younger than 5. Treating a pediatric patient can be one of the most stressful situations an EMS provider faces on the job. Many rescuers make a special connection with children because they are young and vulnerable. This course discusses the identification and management of pediatric trauma, as well as the assessment and treatment for pediatric patients in respiratory distress, respiratory failure, and shock. Common pediatric airway complications and emergencies are also defined.
