EMT Tidbits - PAT Assessment

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The EMT student should have an understanding of the anatomy and physiology of the child as compared to the adult. You will learn the appropriate assessment and care for the types of illness and injury affecting children of all ages, injury patterns based on size, and special body system injuries. The EMT will also learn the indicators of abuse and neglect, and the medical and legal responsibilities of an EMT.

KNOWLEDGE DOMAINS:

Explain the challenges inherent in providing emergency care to pediatric patients and why effective communication with both the patient and his or her family members is critical to a successful outcome.

Discuss the physical and cognitive developmental stages of an infant, preschool-age child, school-age children and adolescents, including health risks, signs that may indicate illness, and patient assessment.

Describe differences in the anatomy and physiology of the pediatric patient compared to the adult patient and their implications for EMTs, with a focus on the following body systems: respiratory, circulatory, nervous, gastrointestinal, musculoskeletal, and integumentary.

Explain the steps in the primary assessment of a pediatric patient, including the elements of the pediatric assessment triangle (PAT), hands-on ABCs, transport decision considerations, and privacy issues. Know the steps in the secondary assessment of a pediatric patient, including what EMTs should look for related to different body areas and the method of injury.

Describe the emergency care of a pediatric patient in respiratory distress, including the different causes and the signs and symptoms of increased work of breathing, and the difference between respiratory distress and respiratory failure.

List the possible causes of an upper and a lower airway obstruction and the steps in the management of foreign body airway obstruction. Describe asthma; its possible causes, signs and symptoms; and steps in the management of an asthma attack. Explain how to determine the correct size of an airway adjunct intended for a pediatric patient during an emergency. List the different oxygen delivery devices that are available for providing oxygen including the indications for the use of each and precautions EMTs must take to ensure the patient’s safety.

Describe the emergency care of a pediatric patient who is in shock (hypoperfusion), an altered mental status, a seizure, including the different types of seizures, meningitis, who has been poisoned, including common sources of poison, dehydrated, including how to gauge the severity of dehydration based on key signs and symptoms, a fever emergency, including common causes, a drowning emergency, including common causes, signs, and symptoms.

Trauma emergencies; include how to differentiate between injury patterns in adults, infants, and children and the significance of burns in pediatric patients, their most common causes, and general guidelines EMTs should follow when assessing patients who have sustained burns. Explain the four triage categories used in the JumpSTART system for pediatric patients during disaster management. Describe child abuse and neglect and its possible indicators, including the medical and legal responsibilities of EMTs when caring for a pediatric patient who is a possible victim of child abuse. Discuss sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), including its risk factors, patient assessment, and special management considerations related to the death of an infant patient. Discuss the responsibilities of EMTs when communicating with a family or loved ones following the death of a child. Discuss some positive ways EMTs may cope with the death of a pediatric patient and why managing posttraumatic stress is important for all health care professionals.