Child Ready

Governor Proclaims Emergency Medical Services for Children Day

New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham has issued a proclamation designating Wednesday, May 19, as Emergency Medical Services for Children Day.

The proclamation, which comes during National EMS Week (May 16-22), highlights the importance of emergency medical services for children, more than 30 million of whom receive emergency medical care each year.

The governor’s proclamation was sought by the New Mexico EMS for Children Child Ready Program, run by The University of New Mexico Department of Pediatrics, which reaches out to rural and tribal communities to promote awareness of their own abilities and challenges in treating the acutely ill or injured children.

“On average, only 7% of our EMS calls or hospital ER visits in New Mexico are pediatric-related,” said Katherine Schafer, program manager for New Mexico EMS for Children. “Treating sick or injured children can make even skilled health care providers anxious. Recognition of EMS for Children Day raises awareness of the need for improved and expanded specialized care for children.”

The initiative’s objectives include helping health care providers in communities, hospitals and EMS services improve their pediatric skills and increase knowledge regarding treatment of an emergently ill or injured child.

It also seeks to expand the Child Ready Virtual Pediatric Telehealth Network throughout the state to provide pediatric emergency specialist consultation to distant hospitals, providers and patients to ensure that each child receives the right care, at the right time and in the right place.

In her proclamation, the governor noted the goal of emergency medical services for children “is to help communities prepare for medical and traumatic emergencies involving children through the provision of properly trained emergency personnel, sufficiently equipped ambulances, pediatric-ready emergency departments and well-defined pediatric treatment protocols and procedures.”