IRVING, Texas — A new national study published in Annals of Emergency Medicine offers the first comprehensive snapshot of pediatric capabilities across U.S. EMS and fire-rescue agencies. Drawing on responses from roughly 7,000 agencies, the findings highlight both progress and remaining gaps in prehospital pediatric readiness for the estimated 3 million children who receive EMS care each year.
The assessment was created and carried out through the National Prehospital Pediatric Readiness Project, an initiative of the federal Emergency Medical Services for Children program housed within the Health Resources and Services Administration. The project was conducted in collaboration with national prehospital and emergency care organizations. Participating agencies answered readiness questions across eight areas, including pediatric equipment and supplies, as well as policies, procedures and clinical protocols.
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“Children represent a small percentage of EMS calls, but when emergencies happen, readiness makes all the difference,” Kathleen Adelgais, MD, MPH, lead author, co-director of the PPRP, and an EMS and emergency physician at Children’s Hospital Colorado, said. “This assessment and its results show a strong national commitment to kids within the EMS community, and a clear path to even better care for children.”
Across participating agencies, the median Pediatric Readiness Score was 66 out of 100, establishing a national baseline. Agencies that completed the assessment received customized reports outlining improvement areas and benchmarking their scores against similar services nationwide.
Key findings from the national assessment include:
- Nearly 7,000 of the nation’s 15,293 EMS and fire-rescue agencies responded (46%), representing more than 2 million pediatric encounters each year.
- About 70% of participating agencies reported providing advanced life support (ALS).
- Most respondents were fire-based (58%). More than 40% reported a volunteer component, and nearly 30% serve rural or remote areas.
- Only 38% reported having a pediatric emergency care coordinator (PECC), but agencies with a PECC posted higher readiness scores across every category, including in low-volume, low-resource settings.
- Agencies that see more pediatric patients each year tended to score higher, highlighting the value of repetition and preparedness in a low-frequency, high-stakes population.
- Most agencies reported having nationally recommended pediatric equipment and supplies, reflecting sustained efforts by EMS leaders and the federal EMSC program.
The National Pediatric Prehospital Readiness Project: First Comprehensive Assessment of United States Emerg... by Lexipol_Media_Group
The results are shaping the next phase of the project, including new tools to address common gaps such as training modules for pediatric emergency care coordinators. Researchers will also study how to improve readiness and whether higher readiness translates to better outcomes; similar work in emergency departments has linked higher readiness to significantly lower pediatric mortality risk.
“Thank you to the thousands of EMS clinicians who demonstrated their commitment to children by participating in this assessment,” Douglas F. Kupas, MD, NRP, FAEMS, president of the National Association of EMS Physicians (NAEMSP) said. “Every step forward matters as we work together to provide children with even better care. The PPRP, the EMSC Program, and all of its collaborators are here to support you along the way.”
Learn more during a free Feb. 26 webinar hosted by NAEMT and the EMSC Program. The session is open to all and offers one hour of CAPCE continuing education credit.
