Tag: pediatrics
- School Age Children & Adolescents ()
At this point the school age child (age 6 – 12) and the adolescent (13 to 18) brain is working on both hemispheres. This age group can be extremely creative and extremely logical (both at the same time). School age children are constantly dealing with losing their baby teeth and dealing with the pain that […]
- Getting SPASTIC With Pediatric Altered Mental Status ()
What is altered mental status? Altered mental status (AMS) is a disruption in how your brain works that causes a change in behavior. This change can happen suddenly or over days. AMS ranges from slight confusion to total disorientation and increased sleepiness to coma. What causes AMS? AMS can be caused by physical, psychological, and […]
- SIDS & ALTE ()
Sometimes baby’s just die in their sleep Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) is the sudden, unexplained death of a baby younger than 1 year of age that doesn’t have a known cause even after a complete investigation. This investigation includes performing a complete autopsy, examining the death scene, and reviewing the clinical history. When a […]
- Pediatric Seizures ()
The status seizure requires immediate ALS intervention A status seizure is a seizure that continues through the post ictal phase. When a typical seizure lasts 30 seconds or less, the status seizure can last 5 to 15 minutes; or literally just continue until the patient is dead. Despite the fact that status seizures are rare, […]
- Pediatric Shock ()
The only way to defeat pediatric shock is to stay in front of it The mechanism of injury can provide useful clues to finding shock in pediatric patients before it is too late. If the patient lost any blood, possibly ruptured a hollow organ, or became dehydrated after being locked in a hot car for […]
- Pediatric Airway Compromise ()
Initial management of pediatric patients is guided by the primary survey. The equipment used for adults such as oropharyngeal and nasopharyngeal airways are the same for pediatric patients as they are adults, only smaller. All patients with respiratory distress should immediately be given high flow oxygen via non rebreather mask, blow by, or positive pressure […]
- Patient Assessment For Pediatric Patients ()
The EMS crew should always be looking for a mechanism of injury, regardless of how a call is dispatched. In the case of the pediatric patient, mechanisms of injury may not be obvious. An infant falling off the countertop probably requires transport to a trauma center (fall twice the height of the infant). Broken furniture […]
- How To Assess Pediatric Patients ()
Assess from a distance When infants and children are sick, they look sick. The same can’t always be said for adults. A useful triage tool to use when assessing an infant or child is the pediatric assessment triangle. The pediatric assessment triangle will allow the medics to perform a quick but limited assessment of the […]
- Special Considerations In Trauma ()
Pregnant patients When trauma strikes a pregnant woman, the potential exists for an unexpected high body count as both the mother and unborn child can die from injuries sustained from the trauma. Normally, pregnant women are transported to the labor and delivery department to see an obstetrician, but in the case of trauma from a […]
- AED Specifics ()
Adult defibrillators are recommended after 2 to 4 minutes of consistent CPR. If blood flow has not been established with consistent chest compressions, the heart chambers will not have any blood. When the defibrillation takes place and converts the patients electrical rhythm to a viable rhythm, no blood flow will result. Without consistent chest compressions, […]