Articles: emergency-medical-services.
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Pediatric emergency care · Feb 1992
Comparative StudyPediatric EMS transport: are we treating children in a system designed for adults only?
Unlike adults, small children and infants do not require stretchers or ambulances for transport from a prehospital scene to the emergency department (ED). This study was designed to determine the importance of this difference in patient transport needs. ⋯ Utilizing this model, police transports demonstrate shorter TTIs for brief scene-to-ED travel times or limited paramedic success rates, while paramedic intubations produced shorter TTIs for long scene-to-ED transports. These results suggest that nonambulance transport of pediatric patients be considered in the development of urban or suburban pediatric Emergency Medical Services.
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Prehospital and resuscitation periods and times to emergency surgery were studied in major trauma victims over two 12-month periods to identify factors causing delay in emergency care. Eighteen patients required emergency surgery in the first group and 13 in the second. ⋯ Causes of delay included a sequential approach to resuscitation and investigation, limited staff and theatre availability, and failure to call the trauma team. Times for resuscitation and times to surgery could be reduced by earlier decision-making, alerting key personnel promptly and performing tasks in parallel.