Guest Speakers Help with Pediatric Assessment

When it comes to caring for children in emergency and pre-hospital settings, every detail matters - from the tone of your voice to how you read a set of vital signs. Assessing a sick or injured child can be one of the most intimidating moments in healthcare. Children are not simply "small adults" - their anatomy, physiology, and development stages require a completely different approach.

Jason Kotas, EMS Outreach & Education Manger, and ED nurse Heather have seen their fair share of pediatric emergencies at Children's Hospital Colorado. Logan County EMS was thrilled to have them come talk to EMS and hospital staff on Monday, November 17th and help attendees sharpen their pediatric assessment skills.

Nurse Heather taught AEMTs tips and tricks to accessing an IO successfully in Pediatric patients. Jason's (probably less popular, but fun, station) included suctioning boogers. Not real boogers of course, but a special concoction that Jason made to simulate the yuckiness that can come out of children's noses and often impede their breathing.

Nurse Heather helps EMS personnel with tips and tricks to get a successful IO site.

EMT Mark Temaat learns how to properly suction a baby's nose.

Jason Kotas sets up the suctioning station.

Nurse Heather explains how to push/pull fluids.

Jason Kotas speaks to EMS and hospital staff about pediatric care.

Jason shows how to properly suction a pediatric nose.

*Click on picture to see full image

Jason has built his career around one mission: improving pediatric emergency care through education and collaboration. As the EMS Outreach & Education Manager at Children's Hospital Colorado, he leads programs that bridge the gap between pre-hospital providers and hospital teams - ensuring that children receive the best possible care from the moment first responders arrive.

Through his work with the hospital's Pediatric Emergency Education Lecture Series and outreach initiatives across Colorado and Kansas, Jason has trained countless EMS and healthcare professionals in how to confidently and accurately assess children in crisis. This talk gave the attendees a chance to pick up practical tips, refresh their knowledge, and maybe even walk away feeling a little more at ease next time they are on a pediatric call.