Arizona first responders get trained on children-specific traumas
Nov 7, 2019, 4:25 AM
(Photo courtesy of Phoenix Children's Hospital)
(Photo courtesy of Phoenix Children's Hospital)
PHOENIX — First responders are expected to be equipped to handle all emergency calls, including those involving children.
That’s why Phoenix Children’s Hospital held a training Wednesday for hundreds of first responders from across the state.
They got trained on pediatric trauma and how to manage certain injuries children face. They also got trained on everything from how to spot children with autism to how to treat children with severe allergies.
“Peanuts are kind of the classic one where they have an acute reaction that is life-threatening and without immediate intervention could die,” said Julie Augenstein, base hospital medical director at PCH. “So we really wanted to highlight how you recognize it and how you treat it.”
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About 700 first responders from across the state attended the training held at Talking Stick Resort Arena in downtown Phoenix. Among them were paramedics, school nurses and even police officers and members of search and rescue teams.
“Sometimes it’s not a firefighter or a paramedic that’s the first on scene,” Augenstein said. “It’s a police officer or a search and rescue team, so training them is also important.”
Phoenix Fire Capt. Kenny Overton said the training is beneficial for multiple reasons.
“It enables our EMTs and paramedics to get continuing education hours so their certification stays current,” Overton said. “It also keeps us current with the newest happenings in the field, both in the hospital and pre-hospital.”
Wednesday’s training was put together by Phoenix Children’s Hospital in partnership with the Phoenix Fire Department and the Phoenix Suns.
