EMS for Children Program
- EMS-C Advisory Committee Members
- Report on pediatric resources for MT EMS services
- Report on pediatric resources for MT hospitals
EMS for Children (EMSC) is a national initiative to reduce childhood death and disability due to severe illness or injury. In 1984, Congress enacted legislation authorizing the use of federal funds for EMSC. Administered by HRSA’s Maternal and Child Health Bureau (MCHB), the EMSC Program provides grant money to all states to develop and “institutionalize” emergency medical services for critically ill and injured children. The program does not promote the development of a separate EMS system for children, but rather enhances pediatric capability of existing EMS systems
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EMS-C Program Contact Info:
Joseph Hansen
EMS-C Program Manager
(406) 444-0901
In 1993, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) released a comprehensive report on children’s emergency medical care, detailing the nature, extent, and outcomes of pediatric illness and trauma emergencies. The report revealed deficiencies in pediatric emergency care for many areas of the country. In 2006, the IOM released Future of Emergency Care which included a series of three reports: “Emergency Medical Services at the Crossroads”, “Hospital-based Emergency Care: At the Breaking Point”, and “Emergency Care for Children: Growing Pains”. These reports outlined accomplishments and improvements made as well as identified issues and deficiencies that remain prevalent in pediatric emergency care since the 1993 report.
In conjunction with the IOM report findings, the Federal EMSC Program has established performance measures to assist states in working with EMS leaders statewide to ensure that all children, no matter where they live, receive the best care possible in an emergency situation. Should an emergency or disaster occur, EMSC’s goal is to ensure that emergency personnel are properly trained in pediatrics; that ambulances and emergency departments have the equipment, supplies, and medications needed to treat children of all sizes; and that well-defined pediatric treatment protocols and procedures are in place.
