PEARL No. 45: EMS Week and Pediatric COVID Updates

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May 14, 2020

EMS Week and Pediatric COVID Updates

1. Announcements

Please welcome Kim Stamp, EMLRC Education Program Coordinator, who will be assisting with development of PEDReady newsletters.

The National Pediatric Readiness Assessment scheduled to launch in June 2020 has been postponed.

There is a new community paramedicine initiative:

The Florida Rural Health Association and Project ECHO (Extension for Community Health Care Outcomes) is launching the “Rural EMS Project ECHO Clinic-Developing a Community Paramedicine Program”. Learn more at https://www.floridaruralhealth.org/rural-ems-project-echo .

The in person June EMSC Advisory Committee meeting and Gathering of Eagles conference has been postponed due to COVID. Appointment of EMS-C Advisory Committee members, chair and liaison positions are on hold due to the DOH COVID response.

A new order of FL PEDReady communication cards are on the way. https://com-jax-emergency-pami.sites.medinfo.ufl.edu/wordpress/files/2019/03/9546-FLA-Hospital-Communication-Cards-Update.pdf . Email pedready@jax.ufl.edu to receive laminated sets for your agencies and EDs.

A Haitian Creole translation is in the works! In Florida, approximately 2.1% (418,000) of the state speaks Haitian Creole, and about 38% (160,000) of that population is in the North Miami area. Florida ranks #1 in the country with homes speaking Creole.

2. EMS Week

National EMS Week - May 17 - 23, 2020

EMS for Children Day May 20, 2020

The theme Ready for Today Preparing for Tomorrow , was developed long before the COVID-19 crisis. It is particularly meaningful now as we see the EMS community rallying to support those affected by this crisis, while still responding to everyday emergencies. Now more than ever, it is important that we honor and celebrate EMS professionals.

1. EMLRC/FCEP EMS Week Photo Request:

Make a Sign: Write the words “Thank You” or similar message on a piece a paper (include a local EMS agency if you want to personalize). Snap a Picture with the Sign: Grab a colleague, family member, pet, or go solo. Email to mkeahey@emlrc.org ASAP. Photos will be used to create a collage and shared on social media outlets and via email/newsletters.

2. EMS Week Education and Activities

Florida EMSC has been working on new pediatric educational opportunities for EMS Week that unfortunately will not be available until summer. Please share your EMSC Day educational opportunities and photos by emailing pedready@jax.ufl.edu .

Thanks to EMLRC for offering the following online educational courses at no charge during EMS Week!

Wednesday, 5/20 – EMS for Children Day

24- hour FREE access to the Unfamiliar Pediatrics series for all licensed EMS professionals treating pediatric patients in emergent or urgent situations.

A Closer Look at Cardiovascular and Respiratory Emergencies
Unfamiliar Pediatrics – A Closer Look at Newborn Resuscitation
Unfamiliar Pediatrics – A Closer Look at Trauma and Non-Accidental Trauma

For other free educational offerings during EMS week click here

To register go to emlrconline.org, click on one of the free courses and follow the steps below.

Click create new account
Create a user name, password and enter other required information.
Click the blue create new account button at the bottom of the screen.
Click the continue button to confirm new account.
Continue on to selected course.
Complete the pre-test (required on some courses)
Watch the entire video
Complete the post-test (required on some courses)
Take the course survey
Print the course Certificate

3. Pediatric COVID Updates

Pediatric ED volumes and transports have plummeted during the COVID crisis with reports of children not seeking timely care and showing up days later in critical condition. Where have all the children gone? - Pediatric perspectives on COVID-19 in NYC https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7183941/pdf/main.pdf

COVID-related Kawasaki disease symptoms are being seen in children. Jones VG, Mills M, Suarez D, et al. COVID-19 and Kawasaki disease: novel virus and novel case. Hosp Pediatr. 2020; doi: 10.1542/hpeds.2020-0123. https://hosppeds.aappublications.org/content/hosppeds/early/2020/04/06/hpeds.2020-0123.full.pdf

With children stuck at home due to no school, ED doctors see more severe cases of child abuse: https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2020/04/30/child-abuse-reports-coronavirus/

See sample COVID Pediatric Exit Care Instructions: https://emscimprovement.center/domains/preparedness/covid-19-coronavirus/hospital-preparedness/

Childhood vaccinations have plunged since the COVID-19 pandemic began. The CDC has noted a significant decrease in the number of vaccines ordered through a federal program that immunizes half of all children in the US. There was a 2.5 million-dose decline in orders of regular childhood vaccines – not counting influenza vaccines – and a 250,000-dose decline in vaccines containing measles protection.

Be sure to ask about immunization status when taking a history.

There is free access to SafeDose (desktop and mobile) for the remainder of 2020 due to COVID. https://www.ebroselow.com/covid-19/

4. Resources, Education and Poetry

1. New PEM Playbook Podcast: Zen and the Art of Pediatric Readiness https://pemplaybook.libsyn.com/zen-and-the-art-of-pediatric-readiness. Pediatric Readiness is not just an ideal -- it's a tangible plan, a toolkit, and even better, an attitude!

2. Handtevy Video Series on Pediatric Cardiac Arrest Scene Priorities https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q5nhjrk_Brk&utm_source=Mailing+List&utm_campaign=9c114cc414-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2018_07_19_03_04_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_ca53c4698c-9c114cc414-106370341

3. Need a game to play? Try the Disaster Triage Game: You are a paramedic responding to a series of MCIs in your city. Fire personnel are on scene, and you are the first paramedic there. The incident commander has declared the scene safe. Your role is to perform primary triage. Ready, Set, Go! https://emscimprovement.center/domains/preparedness/disaster-triage-game/

4. Poetry for EMS Week: The Paramedic https://www.ems1.com/ems-poems/articles/ems-poem-the-paramedic-nbWapClgTNThOVlc/

5. Beaches and swim clubs are opening again and parents have COVID brain! Be a swimming pool safety advocate. Prevent Child Injury has a new swimming pool safety toolkit: https://www.preventchildinjury.org/toolkits/swimmingpoolsafety/

Nicklaus Children’s Hospital has a great infographic in English and Spanish. Download here: https://www.nicklauschildrens.org/NCH/media/docs/pdf/8424-Pool-and-Water-safety-bilingual.pdf

Webinar: Medical Documentation

May 19, 2020 at 1:00 pm | Free

1.0 CEH available

This presentation is designed to review the three main reasons that EMS providers document medical activities: clinical, reimbursement, and legal. The program will also review some foundational issues surrounding EMS documentation, including culture, patient identification, and decision-making capacity. This lecture is taught by Matthew R. Streger, a practicing EMS provider who is also a practicing EMS attorney.

Webinar: Anabolic Steroids Abuse

May 28, 2020 at 2:00 pm | Free

1.0 CME Available

Dr. Jay Ladde will highlight the growing use of these dangerous substances in adolescents, with a focus on the signs and symptoms that all emergency providers should recognize in these patients.

Stay Safe, Pediatric Champions!

The Florida PEDReady Program

www.emlrc.org/flpedready

pedready@jax.ufl.edu | 904-244-8617