Getting to Know Your Community Emergency Medical Services (EMS)
Emergency Medical Service (EMS)
Your local EMS (which includes your fire department), is also part of your child’s care team. We encourage families to set up a time to meet with their EMS. At this visit, you should tell them where you live, the special needs of your child, a copy of child’s Emergency Information Form (EIF) and the orange envelop from the tool kit in your “patient at risk” folder. Meeting the EMS before an emergency will help during those hard times.
What does the EMS need to know?
The EMS needs to know about your child’s medical equipment. You should talk about how your child uses the equipment and any little tricks that work to provide care. This would also be a good time to see how the equipment fits inside the ambulance. Remember, your EMS may not have seen some of the equipment before.
Does EMS need to know medicines?
The EMS may want a list of medicines and your child’s health care plan. The EIF is a form that parents fill out and give to their EMS. You will need to update this form when changes happen with your child’s health. The EIF is approved by the Academy of Pediatrics and is available at http://www.witrac.org/par.
What is considered an Emergency?
If you have any concerns about your child’s health, you should call the pulmonary team. They may want you to call your local EMS and have them bring your child to the Emergency Department (ED) for an evaluation. The pulmonary team will be talking with the local ED about your child’s condition. If they think that an admission to American Family Children’s Hospital (AFCH) is needed, the Children’s Hospital Emergency Transport Ambulance (CHETA) will be called.
What is CHETA?
CHETA is the AFCH critical care transport ambulance. It is staffed with a Respiratory Therapist and a Nurse. Their focus is taking care of children during transport to a hospital. The ambulance has state of the art technology and equipment for children. CHETA has direct contact with a critical care doctor and a pulmonary doctor during the trip to the hospital. This helps make sure your child gets quality care.
Support Options
It is vital for the EMS, local ED and CHETA to know what care you would like your child to have in case of an emergency. Families may or may not choose interventions based on their personal beliefs and definition of quality of life. Please talk about the wishes you have for your child to make sure they are met.
Hospitalization
Once you get to AFCH, the pulmonary or critical care team will provide special care to your child. The pulmonary team will keep caring for you child during admission.
The information provided should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed physician should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.
Last Updated: 01/22/2013
Copyright © 01/22/2013 University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics Authority. All rights reserved. Produced by the Department of Nursing. HF#7360
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