Emergency medicine is a vital part of the health care picture for children and adults alike, and each year we set aside a week to recognize the important work being done by emergency medical services (EMS) clinicians nationwide. Each day of EMS Week is dedicated to highlighting an aspect of emergency care – from health and wellness, to saving lives and more. Each year during EMS Week, Wednesday is designated as EMS for Children (EMSC) Day, which celebrates the critical work being done for children in emergency medicine.
2023 EMS Week Theme Days
- Sunday, May 21 = Health, Wellness, and Resilience Day
- Monday, May 22 = Education Day
- Tuesday, May 23 = EMS Safety Day
- Wednesday, May 24 = EMS for Children Day
- Thursday, May 25 = Save-a-Life Day
- Friday, May 26 = EMS Recognition Day
EMSC Day in Wisconsin
May 24 has been officially declared Emergency Medical Services for Children Day (EMSC Day) statewide in a proclamation from Governor Tony Evers. The proclamation recognizes the wide range of organizations working to bring Wisconsin’s children the best possible emergency care, and the vital importance of ensuring that children’s unique medical needs are taken into account. This EMSC Day, Wisconsin Emergency Medical Services for Children (WI EMSC) is highlighting resources we offer to help meet those needs, and encourage health care providers statewide to get involved!
Pediatric Emergency Care Coordinators (PECCs)
If you work for a hospital emergency department (ED) or EMS agency, consider becoming a PECC! PECCs take the lead on advocating for children’s needs at their agency or ED, and are a proven approach for improving emergency care for children.
Pediatric Comfort Kits
During an emergency, it can be challenging to keep pediatric patients calm while providing them with care. WI EMSC offers free Pediatric Comfort Kits with items to help soothe, comfort, and distract pediatric patients while they are being treated or transported. You can request one for your agency or ED here!
Free Pediatric Weight-Measuring Tapes
Getting an accurate weight estimate is key to getting dosages right. To help with this, WI EMSC offers free, retractable, Broselow-compatible weight measuring tapes for EMS agencies to use in emergency vehicles. You can request one for free here!
Prehospital Readiness
WI EMSC offers a wide range of resources to help prehospital care providers prepare to treat children. Visit our site for tools to help assess and build on your agency’s readiness to treat kids!
EMSC Day Webinars
WI EMSC is hosting a webinar for ED providers on EMSC Day! Drs. Maureen Luetje and Swathi Prasad from the Emergency Department Section of Pediatrics at Children’s Wisconsin will be presenting on disaster planning in the ED on May 24 from noon – 1:30 p.m. CT. Join via the Zoom link here.
The EMSC Innovation and Improvement Center (EIIC) is offering a webinar with continuing education credits for EMS clinicians this EMSC Day! Join EIIC from 5 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. CT on May 24 to learn more about the important role that PECCs can play in EMS agencies. Register here!