Guest guest Posted March 23, 2007 Report Share Posted March 23, 2007 As always, we're reviewing some of our operational policies--looking at needed changes, additions, deletions, etc., and I have a question for the group. What are your policies or what special provisions do you have for transporting children as patients? I'm not asking about patient care procedures, but rather how the patient is " packaged " for transport. What specializied equipment do you use? Are adults allowed to hold a child? Do you use the patient's own car seat? What if that seat has just come out of a wrecked vehicle and may be damaged? Those are the kinds of things that I'm asking about. Thanks in advance for your responses. I know this group will be a good source of information. No matter what we've already thought of or how through we think we're being, soneone in this group will think of something that we haven't thought of. Maxine Pate hire-Pattison EMS Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 23, 2007 Report Share Posted March 23, 2007 At CVFD we have an infant carseat on board that young ones are put in if the family does not have a useable one (must be in working order). We allow adult/parent to ride w/ seatbelt in back. One unit just back from refit has a built-in booster seat in the captains chair at head of stretcher. For infants we secure the carrier to the stretcher with belt. We also have short backboard w/ velco straps AKA " pappoose " for spinal restriction cases usually available. > > As always, we're reviewing some of our operational policies--looking at needed changes, additions, deletions, etc., and I have a question for the group. > > What are your policies or what special provisions do you have for transporting children as patients? I'm not asking about patient care procedures, but rather how the patient is " packaged " for transport. What specializied equipment do you use? Are adults allowed to hold a child? Do you use the patient's own car seat? What if that seat has just come out of a wrecked vehicle and may be damaged? Those are the kinds of things that I'm asking about. > > Thanks in advance for your responses. I know this group will be a good source of information. No matter what we've already thought of or how through we think we're being, soneone in this group will think of something that we haven't thought of. > > Maxine Pate > hire-Pattison EMS > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 23, 2007 Report Share Posted March 23, 2007 " The Do's and Don'ts of Transporting Children in an Ambulance, " published jointly by the U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services, Maternal and Child Health Bureau, and the U.S. Department of Transportation, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, December 1, 1999 Do's DO drive cautiously at safe speeds and observe all traffic laws. DO tightly secure all monitoring devices and other equipment. DO make sure that available restraint systems are used by EMTs, patients, and other occupants. DO make sure that other children who are not patients, but are being transported, are properly restrained in another automobile whenever possible. DO encourage the use of the DOT NHTSA Emergency Vehicle Operating Course (EVOC), National Standard Curriculum. Don'ts DO NOT drive at unsafe high speeds with rapid acceleration, decelerations, and turns. DO NOT leave monitoring devices or other equipment unsecured in moving EMS vehicles. DO NOT allow parents, caregivers, EMTs or other passengers to be unrestrained during transport. DO NOT place the child or infant in the arms or the lap of a parent, caregiver, or EMT during transport. DO NOT allow emergency vehicles to be operated by persons who have not completed the DOT EVOC or equivalent. Sims Project Specialist Montgomery County Hospital District ________________________________________ From: texasems-l [mailto:texasems-l ] On Behalf Of hire-Pattison EMS Sent: Friday, March 23, 2007 07:23 To: texasems-l Subject: Transporting Children As always, we're reviewing some of our operational policies--looking at needed changes, additions, deletions, etc., and I have a question for the group. What are your policies or what special provisions do you have for transporting children as patients? I'm not asking about patient care procedures, but rather how the patient is " packaged " for transport. What specializied equipment do you use? Are adults allowed to hold a child? Do you use the patient's own car seat? What if that seat has just come out of a wrecked vehicle and may be damaged? Those are the kinds of things that I'm asking about. Thanks in advance for your responses. I know this group will be a good source of information. No matter what we've already thought of or how through we think we're being, soneone in this group will think of something that we haven't thought of. Maxine Pate hire-Pattison EMS *************************************************************************** The contents of this communication are intended only for the addressee and may contain confidential and/or privileged material. If you are not the intended recipient, please do not read, copy, use or disclose this communication and notify the sender. Opinions, conclusions and other information in this communication that do not relate to the official business of Montgomery County Hospital District shall be understood as neither given nor endorsed by it. *************************************************************************** Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 23, 2007 Report Share Posted March 23, 2007 For liability, as you are well aware, you need to secure all rugrats in compliance with applicable state/federal law. If you don't use the child's own seat (preferable in my eyes- familiar environ to them), there are commercial devices available, and at my current service, we utilize the PediMate, which (IMHO) is Draconian and makes duct tape look enjoyable. I have seen services that carry around seats in a compartment just for this scenario. As you also are probably aware, if you do allow parent to hold child, strap parent into stretcher- don't put strap around child also- any rapid deceleration will cause parent's weight to crush child against strap, popping the little feller like a zit. I've never had to evaluate a seat post-crash, but I seem to recall that some quasi-official entity recommends all child safety seats be replaced after collisions, just as with bike helmets after its been bumped. FWIW, if the child is under 2 years old, the child can LEGALLY be held in parent's arms and otherwise unrestrained under FAA regulations- which means, children <2 being flown can be held, and no law is being broken. Weird, huh? Have a great weekend! R Transporting Children As always, we're reviewing some of our operational policies--looking at needed changes, additions, deletions, etc., and I have a question for the group. What are your policies or what special provisions do you have for transporting children as patients? I'm not asking about patient care procedures, but rather how the patient is " packaged " for transport. What specializied equipment do you use? Are adults allowed to hold a child? Do you use the patient's own car seat? What if that seat has just come out of a wrecked vehicle and may be damaged? Those are the kinds of things that I'm asking about. Thanks in advance for your responses. I know this group will be a good source of information. No matter what we've already thought of or how through we think we're being, soneone in this group will think of something that we haven't thought of. Maxine Pate hire-Pattison EMS Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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