Featured resource: In collaboration with the American College of Surgeons Trauma Quality Improvement Program, EMSC Program representatives presented “A Practical Approach to Addressing Deficiencies in Pediatric Readiness” Jan. 25 to more than 500 attendees. The webinar described the importance of pediatric readiness and resources and tools for meeting pediatric readiness standards, which are now part of trauma center verification. Watch the recording.

Resources round-up

Policy statements:

• AAP: Access to Critical Health Information for Children During Emergencies: Emergency Information Forms and Beyond
• AAP: Crowding in the Emergency Department: Challenges and Recommendations for the Care of Children
• AAP: Drinking Water From Private Wells and Risks to Children
• AAP: Recommended Childhood and Adolescent Immunization Schedule: United States, 2023
• AAP: The Hospitalized Adolescent

Disaster resources:

• AAP: DisasterCast: Caring for Children Impacted by Disasters
• ATSDR: Choose Safe Places for Early Care and Education (CSPECE) Disaster Recovery Supplement
• FEMA: Focus on Equity - Engaging Persons with Disabilities in Emergency Response and Recovery Podcast

EMSC grantee resources:

• EMSC Data Center: Weigh in Kilograms Fact Sheet
• EMSC Data Center: EMS for Children Survey Resources and Promotional Materials
• EMSC Innovation & Improvement Center: Pediatric Surge Response Center
• EMSC Town Hall recording

Additional resources:

• AAP: Crowding in the Emergency Department: Challenges and Best Practices for the Care of Children
• CDC: Get Seizure Smart!
• HHS: Telehealth Policy Updates and Best Practices; including a best practice guide for EDs
• HRSA: Resource for Finding Grant Funding
• NASEMSO: EMS Education Toolkit for Pediatrics
• NIMH: NIMH Strategic Framework for Addressing Youth Mental Health Disparities

Upcoming events, conferences, deadlines:

• National Healthcare Coalition Preparedness Conference speaker submission deadline - March 20
• 2023 AAP Advocacy Conference - March 26 - 28
• Advanced Pediatric Emergency Medicine Assembly - March 31 - April 3
• National Rural EMS & Care Conference - April 18 - 20
• Preparedness Summit - April 24 -27
• 6th Annual Children's National - National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Hybrid Symposium (cohosted by the Pediatric Pandemic Network) - April 27 - 28
• AHI Virtual 2023 Conference on Adolescent Health (CE Credits available) - May 11 - 12
• FEMA Emergency Management Higher Education Symposium - June 5 - 7
• NAEMSE Symposium - Aug. 14-19
• Save the Date: EMSC 2023 All-Grantee Meeting - Sept. 11-14

Funding opportunity

• Pediatric Emergency Care Applied Research Network (PECARN) Notice of Funding Opportunity (deadline is April 11)

Five headlines worth reading this month

1. Almost half of children who go to ER with mental health crisis don't get the follow-up care they need, study finds - CNN, Feb. 13
2. Doctors Are Disappearing From Emergency Rooms as Hospitals Look to Cut Costs - Kaiser Health News, Feb. 13
3. Teen Girls Report Record Levels of Sadness, C.D.C. Finds - New York Times, Feb. 13
4. Harvard-Hospital Partnership Tackles Pediatric Emergencies In Lakota Country - Forbes, Feb. 27 (highlights EMSC work with the Indian Health Service)
5. A surge in sick children exposed a need for major changes to U.S. hospitals - NPR, March 3 (explores pediatric readiness and respiratory surge and features EIIC and PPN experts)