Emergency Care
About Our Emergency Care Initiative
Children are anatomically and physiologically different from adults, and they require specialized equipment and training for their emergency care.
The National Emergency Medical Services for Children (EMSC) program is the only federal program focused on improving the quality of emergency care for children. It focuses on reducing child and youth mortality and morbidity resulting from severe illness or trauma. In 2013, the Wisconsin Department of Health Services called upon Children’s Health Alliance of Wisconsin to lead the EMSC state partnership program in Wisconsin. We work to meet the national EMSC performance measures related to improving prehospital and emergency care for kids.
We provide training, resources and support to each of Wisconsin’s 134 emergency departments and more than 725 emergency medical service agencies.
Emergency Medical Services for Children is funded by the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, Division of Public Health, through the National Emergency Medical Services for Children program, administered by the Health Resources and Services Administration’s Maternal and Child Health Bureau.
of all pediatric emergency visits occur in community emergency departments.
On average, WI emergency departments only score 67/100 on pediatric readiness.
Approximately 6% of all EMS ambulance calls are for pediatric patients.
Just 38% of WI hospital disaster plans include care of children.
What We Do
Emergency Medical Services for Children works to improve pediatric emergency care by providing training, tools and support to emergency departments and emergency medical services agencies.
Emergency Medical Services for Children
Emergency Medical Services for Children works to improve pediatric emergency care by providing training, tools and support to emergency departments and emergency medical services agencies.
Education & Training
Wisconsin EMSC connects EMS providers to high-quality, accessible, online trainings on a variety of topics including pediatric safe transport, respiratory distress, seizure, and more.
Prehospital Readiness
Pediatric calls may be infrequent but it’s important to be ready for them. Find equipment lists, patient care guides, toolkits and education for your EMS agency.
Emergency Department Readiness
Most sick and injured children seek care at community emergency departments. It’s critical to have the training, equipment and resources to provide effective emergency care for children. Find protocols and guidelines, equipment lists, toolboxes, fact sheets and national resources to ensure your your emergency department is ready to care for children.
Emergency Planning for CYSHCN
When children or youth with special health care needs (CYSHCN) require emergency care, parents may not always be available to give important medical information to emergency responders. Planning for CYSHCN helps EMS providers provide the best possible care.
Resources for Pediatric Emergency Care Coordinators (PECCs)
PECCs ensure the pediatric perspective is included at EMS agencies by communicating with emergency departments and coordinating pediatric injury prevention activities and education. Join our work to increase the number of PECCs in Wisconsin.
Contact Our Staff
Carissa Brunner, MPH, CLC
Program Leader
Emergency Care
(414) 266-4773
cbrunner@childrenswi.org
Brittany Farrell, MS
Program Manager
Emergency Care
(414) 337-4570
bfarrell@childrenswi.org
Emergency Care News
Wisconsin Emergency Medical Services for Children celebrates National Rural Health Day
Written by Brittany Farrell National Rural Health Day is Thursday, November 16, 2023! Established in 2011 by the National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health (NOSORH), the day highlights [...]
A team approach: HSHS St. Vincent Hospital takes extra steps to enhance pediatric care
Kids are not just small adults and they require different care tactics, measuring techniques and equipment. During times of pediatric surges such as Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) and influenza, [...]
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1-2-3 EMSC
A quarterly newsletter highlighting pediatric emergency care news and events.
