Pediatric Emergencies Chapter 30

Pediatric Emergencies• List and describe the anatomical and physiological differences between

children and adults

• List and describe six stages of growth and development

• List the normal range of vital signs for each pediatric age group

• Understand and be able to incorporate communication tips and techniques for

assessing and interacting with a pediatric patient

• Describe the signs and symptoms of respiratory distress and failure in a child

• List and describe the signs/symptoms of various pediatric disorders

• List the most common cause of cardiac arrest in pediatric patients

• List common causes of seizures in pediatric patients

• List five indicators of potential child abuse and neglect

• Define sudden infant death syndrome

• Describe and demonstrate how to assess a pediatric patient, using the

pediatric assessment triangle

• Describe and demonstrate how to manage common pediatric illnesses and

injuries

Anatomy and Physiology

• Children are not miniature adults!!!!!

• Most important differences:

• Size of airway

• Mechanism of breathing

• A child’s head is proportionally larger and

heavier

• Bones and ligaments are softer/more flexible

Human Growth and Development

• 6 Stages

• The stage a pediatric patient is in will often

influence how you treat them

Newborn Stage

• Begins at birth and spans first 28

days of life

Infancy

• Months 2 through 12

Toddler Stage

• 12 months to 36 months

Preschool Period

• Ages 3-5 years

School Age Period

• 6 years to 12 years

Adolescence

• Ages 13 - 18

Common Pediatric Illnesses and Injuries

• Airway Problems

– Croup

– Tonsillitis

– Foreign-Body Airway Obstruction

– Bronchitis

– Pneumonia

– Asthma

– Epiglottitis

Common Pediatric Illnesses and Injuries

• Respiratory Failure and Cardiac Arrest

• Abdominal Pain

• Nausea, Vomiting and Diarrhea

• Seizures

• Meningitis

• Poisoning

Common Pediatric Illnesses and Injuries

• Sudden Infant Death Syndrome

(SIDS)

• Trauma

• Burns and Electrocutions

• Child Abuse and Neglect

• Shock

Assessment

• Follow same steps as for adults

• Modify assessment based on age and level

of development of the patient

• Remember: heart and respiration rate may

change rapidly, metabolic compensation

may make child seem stable when they

aren’t

• Gain consent for anyone under 18

Assessment

• Helpful methods of assessing a child:

– Pediatric Assessment Triangle

– Asking questions such as:

• Is the child active and moving about or instad sits

still and quiet?

• Does the child make eye contact?

• Does the child appear irritable or agitated?

• Does the child respond to the caregivers voice?

Assessment • Monitor ABCDs frequently

• For small children information in the

SAMPLE will most likely come from

parent/caregiver

• Approach children slowly, be friendly,

explain everything and make them

feel comfortable