Pediatric Equipment Guidelines Toolbox

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It is imperative that prehospital emergency care providers, emergency department (ED) personnel, and office-based pediatricians/physicians have the appropriate equipment and supplies if they are to provide proper care for ill and injured children. Without the necessary medical equipment, health care professionals are limited in the quality of care they can provide to our nation’s children.

Many national organizations and government agencies have tackled this issue by developing essential and recommended equipment and supply list for inclusion in BLS and ALS ambulances, EDs, and physician offices. The following toolbox identifies the most recent guidelines, resources, position papers, and journal articles on pediatric equipment guidelines.

Resources On the Web

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality

Research Activities, March 2007, No. 319. This article describes how a color-coded tape helps EMTs calculate the correct epinephrine dose for children in cardiopulmonary arrest. More details may be found in the article "Emergency Medical Services System Changes Reduce Pediatric Epinephrine Dosing Errors In The Prehospital Setting," Pediatrics 118(4), October 2006 pp. 1493-1500.

Centers for Disease Control National Center for Health Statistics

Availability of Pediatric Services and Equipment in Emergency Departments: United States, 2002-03. This report presents estimates on the availability of pediatric services, expertise, and supplies for treating pediatric emergencies in U.S. hospitals. Middleton KR, Burt CW. Advanced Data from Vital and Health Statistics. 2006 Feb 28;(367):1-16

Click here for more resources on the Web.

Example Practices: Model Programs in Pediatric Equipment Guidelines

Illinois Emergency Medical Services for Children (not a U.S. government website)

Pediatric Equipment Recommendations for Emergency Departments (not a U.S. government website). This document identifies pediatric equipment items that are recommended for the two emergency department facility recognition levels in the State of Illinois: Emergency Department Approved for Pediatrics (EDAP) and Standby Emergency Department for Pediatrics (SEDP). Equipment items listed are all considered essential.
Pediatric Prehospital Equipment Recommendations (not a U.S. government website). This document contains two lists that identify pediatric equipment items recommended for inclusion on basic or advanced life support ambulances. The equipment is classified as essential or desirable.

Click here for more Example Practices.

Database Searches

National Library of Medicine PubMed journal article database

Click to search PubMed

Family and Caregiver Resources

Center for Anaphylactic Support (not a U.S. government website)

EpiPen® (not a U.S. government website) is a registered trademark for the most commonly used autoinjector of epinephrine (aka adrenaline), used to treat anaphylactic shock. This device can save the life of a child who is having a severe allergic reaction. This website provides a video on how to use it.