Pediatric Equipment for Ambulance and First Responders - EMSA #188 - Revised 2008

Sep 23, 2026

Emergency Medical Services Authority document EMSA #188 presents standardized guidance for pediatric equipment used by ambulances and first responders. It is prepared by the California Emergency Medical Services Authority and associated leadership, coordinators, and technical committees, including EMS for Children roles. The content describes principles for pre-hospital pediatric care, emphasizing properly trained and equipped providers, medical direction through pediatric protocols or direct physician/nurse communication, and the need for continuous quality improvement.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages8

Reading Time20 min

AccessFree to download

Pediatric Equipment for Ambulance and First Responders

Principles of Pre-hospital Care

Emergency pediatric care principles and quality improvement

EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES AUTHORITY 1930 9th STREET SACRAMENTO, CA 95811-7043 (916) 322-4336 FAX (916) 324-2875 | Pediatric Equipment for Ambulance and
First Responders | | | --- | --- | | | EMSA \#188 Original 1994 Revised 2008 | Pediatric Equipment for Ambulance and First Responders Prepared by: The California Emergency Medical Services Authority Bonnie Sinz, RN EMS Systems Division Chief California EMS Authority ~ Donna Westlake EMS for Children Coordinator California EMS Authority ~ Daniel R. Smiley Interim Director California EMS Authority Kim Belshé Secretary California Health and Human Services Agency Arnold Schwarzenegger Governor Acknowledgements EMS for Children Technical Advisory Committee | Captain Art Andres, EMT-P Paramedic Ontario Fire Department | Judith Brill, MD Co-Chair
Director of Pediatric Intensive Care Unit Mattel Childrens Hospital UCLA Medical Center | Patrice Christensen, PHN Injury Prevention Program Coordinator
San Mateo County EMS Agency | | --- | --- | --- | | Bernard Dannenberg, MD Director Pediatric Emergency Medicine Stanford Lucile Packard Children's Hospital | Ron Dieckmann, MD Director
Pediatric Emergency Medicine San Francisco General Hospital | Robert Dimand, MD Pediatric Critical Care Unit Children's Hospital Central California | | Erin Dorsey, RN School Nurse
Long Beach Unified School District | Jan Fredrickson, MSN, PNP California State Emergency Nurses Association | Les Gardina, RNEMSC/Trauma System Coordinator
San Diego County EMS Agency | | Marianne Gausche-Hill, MD Director EMS and Pediatric Emergency Medical Fellowships Harbor-UCLA Medical Center | Jim Harley, MD Emergency Medicine Children's Specialists of San Diego | Deborah P. Henderson, PhD, RN Adjunct Assistant Professor Department of Pediatrics David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA Harbor-UCLA Medical Center | | Donna Heppner EMSC Representative State of CA Office of Traffic Safety | Ramon Johnson, MD Co-Chair
Director
Pediatric Emergency Medicine Mission Viejo Emergency Medicine Associates | Nancy McGrath, PNP Pediatric Liaison Nurse Harbor UCLA Medical Center | | Maureen McNeil Public Member | Allen Morini, DO
Representative Emergency Medical Directors Association of California | Michael Osur Deputy Director of Public Health
Riverside County | | Barbara Pletz, RNEMS Administrator San Mateo County EMS | Debby Rogers, MSN
Vice President Quality & Emergency Services California Hospital Association | Nicholas Saenz, MD Pediatric Surgeon Rady Children's Hospital | | Debbie Smades-Henes Family Representative | Daniel R. Smiley Interim Director State of California EMS Authority | Scott Vahradian, EMT-PEMS Integration Authority Santa Cruz Co. Fire Department | | Richard Watson Public Member | | | EMS for Children Coordinators | Louis Bruhnke, NREMT-PEMS Coordinator North Coast EMS Agency | Wendy Chapman Training Coordinator North Coast EMS Agency | Joanne Chapman, RNEMSC/Regional Trauma Coordinator
Coastal Valleys EMS Agency | | --- | --- | --- | | Patrice Christensen, PHN Injury Prevention Program Coordinator San Mateo County EMS Agency | Linda Diaz, RN Quality Improvement & EMSC/Trauma System Coordinator Merced County EMS Agency | Roberta Faford, PHNEMSC/Trauma & Clinical Programs Manager Santa Clara County EMS Agency | | Cynthia Frankel, MSN Prehospital Care Coordinator Alameda County EMS Agency | Pat Frost, MSN, PNP Quality Improvement Coordinator
Contra Costa EMS Agency | Les Gardina, RNEMSC/Trauma System Coordinator
San Diego County EMS Agency | | Anne Marcotte, MSN Quality Management Coordinator
Santa Clara County EMS Agency | Beverly Nighswonger, RNEMS Facilities Coordinator Orange County EMS Agency | Karen Rodgers, RN Pediatric Programs Coordinator
Los Angeles County EMS Agency | EMS Authority Staff | Bonnie Sinz, RN Chief, EMS Systems Division
State of California EMS Authority | Donna Westlake EMSC Program

FAQs

What is EMSA #188 about?

EMSA #188 standardizes pediatric equipment and supplies for ambulances and first responders. It supports prehospital delivery of pediatric emergency care across settings.

What improves pediatric survival in pre-hospital emergencies?

On-scene initial assessment and management by properly trained and equipped prehospital providers significantly improve overall survival.

How is medical direction for prehospital pediatric care provided?

Medical direction is provided either through preexisting pediatric protocols (indirect medical direction) or through physician/nurse communication by voice and/or video (direct medical direction).

Sep 23, 2026

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