Symposium at College Provides Pediatric Training for Emergency Personnel

Published 10.05.2012

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Penn’s Inn was host on Friday to the State Emergency Health Services Council’s second annual Pennsylvania Statewide Pediatric Emergency Care Symposium on Friday. The symposium provided education for emergency medical technicians, paramedics and nurses.

The symposium attracted 109 participants from across the state and featured instructors from both inside and outside Pennsylvania.

Topics included transporting children in ambulances, dealing with the death of a child,  prehospital deliveries, communicating with children, and caring for children with special health care needs.



Dr. Robert Olympia reveals tips for building a rapport with the minors health-care workers may have to communicate with.In addition to Friday’s symposium, the Pennsylvania Emergency Health Services Council also convened a Statewide Presentation for EMS data and a meeting of the EMS for Children Statewide Committee on campus Wednesday and Thursday, respectively.

The symposium provided continuing education credits required for EMTs and paramedics to maintain their license. The Statewide Committee strives to make sure part of that education and training is in pediatrics, explained Steve Mrozowski, EMS systems specialist and EMS for Children program director.

“Less than 10 percent of (ambulance) calls are for kids,” he said, so training sessions are designed to help medical personnel boost their comfort level when dealing with children.

Mrozowski praised Mark A. Trueman, the director of Pennsylvania College of Technology’s paramedic program, for his work in arranging the event and encouraging students in the program to attend. This is the second year the Pennsylvania Emergency Health Services Council has elected to hold the symposium at Penn College, based on last year’s attendance.