Emergency Medical Services for Children (EMSC) Resources

NYS EMSC Products

Prehospital Pediatric Readiness Toolkit

The Prehospital Pediatric Readiness Toolkit content is organized by the seven domains of prehospital pediatric readiness as outlined in the Checklist. The tools and resources align with the Joint Policy Statement and will assist prehospital emergency care providers to better understand and achieve the components of pediatric readiness in the prehospital environment. The resources in this toolkit have been curated by a comprehensive team of stakeholders and will be useful to all dedicated to delivering high-quality pediatric prehospital care.

National Equipment List for Emergency Ground Ambulances

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has co-authored a joint policy statement, " Equipment for Ground Ambulances " along with 6 other National Associations (American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma (ACS-COT), American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP), Emergency Nurses Association (ENA), National Association of EMS Physicians (NAEMSP), Emergency Medical Services for Children (EMSC) and National Association of State EMS Officials (NASEMSO)

This list of pediatric equipment for Ground Ambulances has been approved and endorsed by New York's State EMS Council (SEMSCO), State Emergency Medical Advisory Committee (SEMAC) and the EMS for Children Advisory Committee (EMSCAC) for all certified EMS agencies in New York.

Safe Transport of Children in Ground Ambulances

Child Abuse and Maltreatment

EMTs were added to the list of mandated reporters of suspected cases of child abuse and maltreatment in February 1, 2002. While EMTs are not specifically required to obtain training in child abuse and maltreatment, the Bureau of EMS EMSC Program has been able to develop and identify training options to assist EMS providers in carrying out their mandated reporter responsibilities.

Child Abuse Training

Mandated Reporter Training from the NYS Office of Children and Family Services

The New York State Office of Children and Family Services Mandated Reporter Training is available online. This training is fully narrated and interactive, the two-hour Self-Directed Online Mandated Reporter Training saves your progress as you complete each 10-15 minute section and allows you up to 30 days to complete upon registering. This training meets the New York State Education Department's mandatory requirements for training in child abuse identification and reporting.

  • Click here for no-cost online Mandated Reporter Training in child abuse and neglect/maltreatment identification.

Pediatric Agitation and Mental Health

The COVID 19 pandemic highlighted the need for increased education and awareness related to pediatric mental health and agitation. In light of this increased need to improve mental health care for pediatric patients in emergent situations the following may be used as resources for EMS agencies and emergency departments.

Emergency Preparedness

The purpose of these 'toolkits' is to provide guidance to hospitals and EMS agencies throughout New York State in preparing their own unique emergency disaster plans. It is especially useful to the hospitals and EMS agencies that do not routinely care for pediatric, newborn, or obstetric patients.

Injury Prevention

EMSC Innovation & Improvement Center

The EIIC is focused on improving outcomes for children in emergency situations by using improvement science as the basis for collaborative efforts to address known gaps in the US healthcare system. EMSC EIIC receives federal funding from U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration's Maternal and Child Health Bureau, to work in partnership with States, communities, medical institutions, public-private partners, and families to enhance the capability and capacity of EMS systems to manage the emergency medical needs of children in the areas of prevention, pre-hospital EMS care, hospital-based care, rehabilitation and re-entry of the child into the community. The EIIC also contains toolkits and education modules for a variety of topics for use by EMS educators and providers as well as Emergency Departments.

AAP Releases Policy Statement: Consent for Emergency Medical Services for Children and Adolescents.

American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) released the policy statement Consent for Emergency Medical Services for Children and Adolescents. The purpose of the statement is to provide guidance in those situations in which parental consent is not readily available, in which parental consent is not necessary, or in which parental refusal of consent places a child at risk of significant harm.

AAP/ACEP/ENA Guidelines on Pediatric Readiness in the Emergency Department

The AAP, the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP), and the Emergency Nurses Association (ENA), published updated joint guidelines in the November 2018 issue of Pediatrics titled, "Pediatric Readiness in the Emergency Department," that recommends ways health care providers can make sure every injured or critically ill child receives the best care possible. This is a revision of a 2009 AAP policy statement (Guidelines on Care of Children in Emergency Departments) and highlights recent advances in pediatric emergency care that can be incorporated into all hospital emergency departments that care for children. The statement emphasizes the importance of evidence–based guidelines and includes additional recommendations for quality improvement plans focusing on children and disaster preparedness.

Handoffs: Transitions of Care for Children in the Emergency Department - AAP Policy Statement

An AAP policy statement authored by the Committee on Pediatric Emergency Medicine titled "Handoffs: Transitions of Care for Children in the Emergency Department" was released in the e-pages of Pediatrics in October 2016. The statement is joint with the American College of Emergency Physicians and the Emergency Nurses Association. The rationale for structuring transitions of care (ToCs), specifically those related to the care of children in the emergency setting, and a description of identified strategies are presented, along with resources for educating health care providers on ToCs.

Standardization of Inpatient Handoff Communication – AAP Policy Statement

A policy statement from the Committee on Hospital Care from the American Academy of Pediatrics entitled,"Standardization of Inpatient Handoff Communication"was released in November 2016. Handoff communication is identified as an integral part of hospital care. Throughout medical communities, inadequate handoff communication is being highlighted as a significant risk to patients. The complexity of hospitals and the number of providers involved in the care of hospitalized patients place inpatients at high risk of communication lapses. This miscommunication and the potential resulting harm make effective handoffs more critical than ever. Although hospitalized patients are being exposed to many handoffs each day, this report is limited to describing the best handoff practices between providers at the time of shift change.

HealthyChildren.org

HealthyChildren.org provides information regarding the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) many programs and activities, policies and guidelines, publications, and other child health resources.

Safe Kids

Safe Kids Worldwideis a nonprofit organization working to help families and communities keep kids safe from injuries. Most people are surprised to learn preventable injuries are the #1 killer of kids in the United States. Throughout the world, almost one million children die of an injury each year, and almost every one of these tragedies is preventable.

Safe Kids works with an extensive network of more than 400 coalitions in the United States and with partners in more than 30 countries to reduce traffic injuries, drownings, falls, burns, poisonings and more.

Safe Sleep

Resources related to infant and child safe sleep.