Policy 17–Pediatric Transport

What is the general risk this policy addresses?

Without special precautions, children are at risk of injury when transported by EMS.

How should pediatric patients under 50 lbs (23 kg) be restrained (unless immobilized to a spine board)?

With an approved child restraint device secured to the stretcher or captain's chair.

What weight range can use the captain's chair's built-in child restraint system?

20 to 50 lbs (9 to 23 kg), if the child can sit upright unassisted.

How should the average non-critical child age 1-7 be secured, and how should infants be secured?

The 1-7 year old may use the captain's chair restraint if head-stable unassisted; infants should be secured in a rear-facing infant car seat on the captain's chair/stretcher, or with an approved pediatric restraint device on the stretcher.

Can a caregiver hold a pediatric patient during transport?

No — with one exception: a newborn may be transported skin-to-skin with the mother if she is securely restrained to the stretcher and stable enough to hold the infant.

Where should an infant/child car seat never be secured?

To the bench seat that runs parallel to the stretcher.

Where should non-patient adults and children ride, when possible?

In an alternate passenger vehicle, not the ambulance.

What conditions must ALL be met for a parent/guardian to ride in the patient compartment?

They remain seat-belted at all times, are cooperative with no safety concern, patient care won't be adversely affected, no suspected child abuse, and the patient is stable with no anticipated lights-and-sirens ("Code 3") transport.

What is the overall rule for securing all pediatric patients during transport?

All patients must be secured, with extra effort made to optimize safety for conditions that may be aggravated by stress or unconventional positioning.