Pediatric emergency care
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Pediatric emergency care · Feb 1999
ReviewPriorities for research in emergency medical services for children: results of a consensus conference.
To arrive at a consensus on the priorities for future research in emergency medical services for children. ⋯ The panel was able to develop a list of important topics for future research in emergency medical services for children that can be used by foundations, governmental agencies, and others in setting research agenda for such services.
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To define injuries from short vertical falls (SVF) in infants, and to compare those with minor or no injuries to those with significant injury. ⋯ The most common mechanism of a SVF was rolling off a bed. Most patients sustained minor or no injury. No child sustained an intracranial hemorrhage from a SVF. The child with intracranial injury and/or multiple injuries warrants an investigation. Being dropped appears to be a greater risk for significant injury than rolling off or falling from furniture.
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Pediatric emergency care · Feb 1999
Comparative StudyParental estimates of their child's weight: accurate for resuscitation drug doses.
The aim of this study was to assess parental reliability in estimating child body weight in emergency situations, when weighing the child is often impossible. ⋯ Parents, especially mothers, can estimate their child's body weight within clinically acceptable limits. These estimations can reliably be used to calculate drug doses in prehospital and emergency department situations, when children's weight is not known and cannot be measured.
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To initiate investigation into the medication errors that occur in a pediatric emergency department. These errors have the potential for significant morbidity and mortality, as well as costly litigation. ⋯ Incorrect recording of patient weights leading to an incorrect medication dose and failure to note drug allergy are common causes for medication errors in the pediatric emergency department. Incorrect drugs and i.v. fluids are given because of similar names and packaging. Many of the errors in the ED seem to be preventable.