You have been called for a 4-year-old female who is short of breath. Her mother informs you that she has had a fever and runny nose for two days and today began to have difficulty breathing. Furthermore, the mother is having a difficult time waking her daughter up. You find the girl lying in bed with snoring respirations despite use of the head-tilt, chin-lift airway maneuver. Your assessment reveals her to be responsive to painful stimuli and breathing at 12 times per minute with minimal chest and abdominal rise and fall. Her skin is warm to the touch with cyanosis around the lips. Your partner informs you that her heart rate is 124 beats per minute. What is your immediate action in caring for this child?

EMT (Emergency Medical Technician) services for pediatric patients may include assessing, stabilizing, and transporting them safely.  Some common pediatric emergencies include: Respiratory distress Circulation and shock Seizures and neurological emergencies Allergic reactions and anaphylaxis Traumatic injuries Dehydration  When assessing a child, EMTs should consider: Behavior changes, Vomiting/diarrhea, Urinary frequency, Medication/Allergies, and Medical history.  If the child's condition is urgent, EMTs should focus on the basics: circulation, airway, and breathing.  Pediatric... Show more

EMT (Emergency Medical Technician) services for pediatric patients may include assessing, stabilizing, and transporting them safely. 

Some common pediatric emergencies include:
Respiratory distress
Circulation and shock
Seizures and neurological emergencies
Allergic reactions and anaphylaxis
Traumatic injuries
Dehydration 

When assessing a child, EMTs should consider: Behavior changes, Vomiting/diarrhea, Urinary frequency, Medication/Allergies, and Medical history. 
If the child's condition is urgent, EMTs should focus on the basics: circulation, airway, and breathing. 
Pediatric vital signs for EMS include: Heart rate, Blood pressure, Temperature, and Respiration rate. 
Vital signs vary with age. For example, a child's heart rate is taken using the brachial pulse until they are about 6 years old.
 
Here are some tips for taking pediatric vital signs:
Count respirations for 30 seconds and double the number
Watch the rise and fall of the abdomen for respirations in children under 3
Take a pediatric pulse for a full minute and document the quality and regularity

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