Guidelines for Minimum Equipment and Supplies for Care of Pediatric Patients in Emergency Departments

 

    ESSENTIAL EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES

    Monitoring

    Cardiorespiratory monitor with strip recorder

    Defibrillator (0-4000 J capability) with pediatric and adult paddles (4.5 cm and 8 cm)

    Pediatric and adult monitor electrodes

    Pulse oximeter with sensors in sizes newborn through adult

    Thermometer/rectal probe (suitable for hypothermic and hyperthermic measurements with temperature capability from 25-44° C)

    Sphygmomanometer

    Doppler blood pressure device

    Blood pressure cuffs (neonatal, infant, child, adult, and thigh sizes)

    Method to monitor endotracheal tube and placement (may be satisfied by a disposable EtCO2 detector, bulb, or feeding tube methods for endotracheal tube replacement)

    Vascular Access

    Butterfly needles (19- to 25-gauge)

    Catheter-over-needle devices (14- to 24-gauge)

    Infusion device (to regulate rate and volume)

    Tubing for above

    Intraosseous needles (16- and 18-gauge) [may be satisfied by standard bone marrow aspiration needles, 13- or 15-gauge]

    Arm boards (infant, child, and adult sizes)

    Intravenous fluid/blood warmers

    Umbilical vein catheters (sizes 3.5 Fr and 5 Fr) [available within the hospital]

    Seldinger technique vascular access kit (with pediatric sizes 3, 4, 5 Fr catheters)

    Airway management

    Clear oxygen masks (preterm, infant, child, and adult sizes)

    Non-rebreathing masks (infant, child, and adult sizes)

    Oral airways (sizes 00-5)

    Nasopharyngeal airways (12 to 30 Fr)

    Bag-valve-mask resuscitator, self-inflating (450 and 1000 mL sizes)

    Nasal cannulae (infant, child, and adult sizes)

    Endotracheal tubes: uncuffed (sizes 2.5 to 8.5) and cuffed (sizes 5.5 to 9)

    Stylets (pediatric and adult sizes)

    Laryngoscope handle (pediatric and adult)

    Nasogastric tubes (sizes 6 to 14 Fr)

    Suction catheters: flexible (sizes 5 to 16 Fr) and Yankauer suction tip

    Chest tubes (sizes 8 to 40 Fr)

    Tracheostomy tubes (sizes 00 to 6) [ensure availability of pediatric sizes within the hospital]

    Resuscitation medications (see table, p. 45)

    Medication chart, tape, or other system to ensure ready access to information on proper per kilogram dose for resuscitation drugs and equipment sizes. [System for estimating medication doses and supplies may use the length-based method with color codes, or other predetermined weight (kg)/dose method.]