In the previous post, we talked about some of the essentials for air ambulance service providers to ensure better pediatric emergency care. The post talked about understanding the common types of pediatric calls and providing evidence-based guidelines to your crew. But there’s much more to it than that. This post will continue with a few more useful tips that you can use to improve your pediatric air ambulance care.
Consult a Pediatric Specialist
The best way to learn about pediatric medical care is through someone who specializes in the field. It would be wise to get in touch with the children’s hospital in your region and see if their pediatric specialists would be willing to be a part of the medical direction system at your air ambulance service. If not, at least try to get them to review the protocols you have in place for pediatric emergency medical care and transport.
Get Specialized Air Ambulance Service Equipment for Pediatric Patients
Your air ambulance crew will also require specialized tools and equipment available so they can carry out emergency pediatric medical care per the protocols you have in place. Prioritize on equipping your aircraft with a tool that will help your crew in estimating the patient’s weight and determining the right drug dosage. You should have a drug quick-reference guide for pediatric patients, which your team can refer to when administering medications for pain, respiratory issues, or seizure.
It’s also recommended that you have a Wong-Baker Faces Scale that will help your crew in assessing the level of pain a pediatric patient is in when treating one for pain or traumatic injury. This is essential because many children have a hard time using the standard pain scale of zero to ten.
