BACKGROUND—The process ofprehospital care continues to develop in the UK. AIMS—To evaluate the availabilityof important paediatric resuscitation equipment in emergency ambulancesand the extent of paramedic training in paediatric emergency medicine. METHODS—Postal survey of paramedictraining managers. RESULTS—Completed questionnaireswere returned by 41 (93%) training managers. No trust provided all ofthe equipment listed. Facemasks and self inflating bags (of appropriatesizes for all children) are provided by 32% and 42% of trustsrespectively. Less than one third carry paediatric oximeter probes. Ofthe respondents, 16 (39%) trusts provide less than eight hourstraining in paediatric emergency medicine and five (12%) offer notraining at all. Ongoing education varies from none to regular yearly updates. CONCLUSIONS—Paramedics seem illprepared to deal with paediatric emergencies. Important deficiencies inthe provision of equipment and training are noted. The results of thissurvey provide information against which improvements can be measured.
展开▼