Policy 17 - Safe Transport of Pediatric Patients

What weight threshold requires an approved child restraint device secured to the stretcher or captain's chair, unless immobilized to a spine board?

Under 50 lbs (23 kg)

What weight range can use the captain's chair's built-in child restraint system for a patient who can sit upright unassisted?

20 to 50 lbs (9 to 23 kg)

What device should be used for any pediatric patient secured to the ambulance stretcher?

An approved pediatric restraint device

What age range, as a rule of thumb, may be secured in the captain's chair child restraint system if able to maintain head stability unassisted?

1 to 7 years old, non-critical

How should infants be secured during transport?

In an infant car seat properly secured to the captain's chair or the stretcher, or secured to the stretcher using an approved pediatric restraint device

Which direction should car seats face in the MICU?

The rear of the MICU

Should a pediatric patient be held by a caregiver or other person secured to the stretcher, captain's chair, or bench seat?

No, this is not permitted

What is the exception allowing a newborn to be held during transport?

A newborn may be transported skin to skin with the mother restrained to the stretcher, if the mother is stable enough to securely hold the newborn

Where should an infant or child car seat NOT be secured?

The bench seat that runs parallel to the stretcher

What must all EMS personnel do regarding restraint systems?

Use the available restraint systems

Who should be transported in an alternate passenger vehicle whenever possible?

Adults and children who are not patients

What must a parent agree to in order to ride in the ambulance patient compartment?

Remain secured with seat belts at all times

What behavioral condition must a parent meet to ride in the ambulance patient compartment?

Be cooperative with no suspicion that crew or patient safety may be jeopardized

What patient care condition must be met for a parent to ride along?

Patient care will not be adversely affected by the parent's presence

What safeguarding condition must be met for a parent to ride along?

Child abuse is not suspected

What hemodynamic/transport condition must be met for a parent to ride along?

The patient appears to be hemodynamically stable and there is no indication that the ambulance will need to travel Code 3 at any point of patient care

What is required of all patients during transport?

All patients need to be secured during transport

What should be done for patients whose medical conditions may be aggravated by stress or require unconventional positioning?

Make every attempt to optimize safety