What is the Maine EMS for Children (EMS-C) Program?
Visit the Maine EMS-C Advisory Committee & Minutes page
The goal of EMS-C is to reduce pediatric mortality and morbidity across the nation by ensuring appropriate and effective pediatric emergency care. The EMS-C Program was signed into law in 1984 as the federal Emergency Medical Services for Children (EMS-C) Program. It is administered by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), focusing on the emergency care needs of America’s
children. Whether in times of a disaster or an everyday emergency, the HRSA EMS-C Program supports every state, U.S. territory, and freely associated states to provide the right care, in the right place, at the right time, for every child. Since its inception, all 50 states, the District of Columbia, five U.S. territories, and three freely associated states have received funding from the Federal Program.
The Maine EMS-C program focuses collaboratively with Maine EMS services, emergency departments, and EMS and hospital personnel to encourage preparation, education, and care for those under 18 years old. We work within a federally defined set of performance measures that strike a balance between EMS, hospital, and long-term resourcing of the State for pediatric responses, care, and transport.
- EMS-C Performance Measures Summary (PDF)
- EMS for Children Program Performance Measures Manual (PDF)
- Maine EMS-C Overview (PPT) and Maine EMS-C Overview (PDF)
- EMS-C Advisory Committee Overview (PDF)
Stork Award Program +
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Stork Award Program Policy for EMS Field Deliveries of a Newborn (PDF)
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2020 Report on Stork Awards (PDF) (January 27, 2021)
Pediatric Emergency Care Coordination (PECC) +
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As part of the EMSC grant, we have a goal of 90% of all Maine EMS services to have a designated individual to coordinate pediatric care (30% by 2020, 60% by 2023, and 90% by 2026).
Prehospital PECC Fast Facts (PDF)
Sample PECC Job Description (DOC)
Joint policy statement on pediatric readiness in EMS systems (PDF) (Pediatrics, January 2020)
NAEMSP position statement "Physician Oversight of Pediatric Care in EMS" (PDF) (June 29, 2016)
Resource Document "Coordination of Pediatric Care in EMS Systems" (PDF) (2017)
Pediatric EMS Equipment Usage +
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As part of the EMSC grant, we have a goal of 90% of all Maine EMS services to have a process that requires EMS providers to physically demonstrate the correct use of pediatric specific equipment (30% by 2020, 60% by 2023, and 90% by 2026).
Demonstrating pediatric-specific equipment Youtube Overview Video
Simulation-based Assessment of Paramedic Pediatric Resuscitation Skills (PDF) (Prehospital Emergency Care, 2009)
Michigan Pediatric Medication Dosing by Paramedics Study (PDF) (Prehospital Emergency Care, 2019)
Safe Transport of Children By EMS +
- Documenting Pediatric Transport Method in MEFIRS (PDF) (4/7/2020)
- Pediatric Transport Device Comparison (PDF) (10/2020)
- NASEMSO Safe Transport of Children Committee (Website)
- Safe Transport of Children by EMS: Interim Guidance (PDF) (3/8/2017)
- NASEMSO Proposal for Testing Child Restraint Devices in Ambulances (3/11/2020)
- The State of Pediatric Transport (PDF) (courtesy of EMSWorld & Quantum EMS)
- Child Passenger Safety - Maine Bureau of Highway Safety (Website)
Transport Device Manuals
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(Does not constitute product recommendation by Maine EMS)
Ferno Pedi-Mate User Manual (PDF) (1/12019) - Ferno Pedi-Mate Plus User Manual (PDF) (1/1/2019)
- Ferno Neo-Mate User Manual (PDF) (1/1/2019)
- Quantum ACR Pediatric Transport Education (PowerPoint) (3/1/2019)
The Maine EMS for Children program regularly surveys Maine EMS agencies on their individual efforts around pediatric education. This is reflected through a national survey conducted at the same time, giving perspective on Maine's efforts compared to national metrics. Survey results are found below:
2021 EMSC EMS Survey +
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The Maine EMS for Children program continued surveying EMS agencies in Maine in 2021. This survey was sent to every EMS agency in Maine, as well as over 15,000 EMS services nationally. The focus of this survey was on pediatric 911 call volume, as well as pediatric training conducted by individual EMS agencies. With nearly 92% of Maine EMS agencies completing the survey, we are extremely grateful for the time service leaders took in filling out the information.
2021 Maine EMSC EMS Survey Results Report & Recommendations (PDF) (June 24, 2021)
2021 Maine EMSC EMS Survey Results (PDF) (June 24, 2021)
2021 National EMS Survey Report (PDF) (July, 2021)
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2021 National EMSC EMS Survey Results (PDF) (June 24, 2021)
2019 EMSC EMS Survey +
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The Maine EMS for Children program conducted a statewide survey of all EMS agencies regarding two critical concepts. These concepts are part of the EMS-C performance measures and federal requirements.
- Does your service have a Pediatric Emergency Care Coordinator (PECC) to help with equipment, education, and pediatric specific QI?
- Do you conduct annual pediatric skills evaluations of your clinicians?
Maine EMS-C and NEDARC (our EMS-C national partner in data collection and analysis) reached out to all services and service leaders with a multitude of emails, statewide meeting reminders and hundreds of phone calls over a period of 3 months. 118 out of 259 (45.6%) EMS services responded to the survey and provided the following information. (14 licensed services were not included as they do not respond to 911 calls)
- Does your service have a Pediatric Emergency Care Coordinator (PECC) to help with equipment, education, and pediatric specific QI?
The Maine EMS for Children program regularly surveys Maine Hospital Emergency Departments on their individual efforts around pediatric readiness. This is done through the National Pediatric Readiness Project (NPRP). This is conducted through a national survey supported by national stakeholder groups, including the Emergency Nurses Association (ENA), the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP), the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), and the EMS for Children program. The information obtained is shared in aggregate form to help in giving perspective on Maine's efforts, compared to national metrics. Survey results are found below:
2021 National NPRP Survey is currently in progress
2018 National NPRP Survey Results (PDF)
2018 Maine NPRP Survey Results (PDF)
2014 National NPRP Survey Results (Web Link)
2014 Maine NRPP Survey Results (PDF) *Note - Maine did not have an EMSC program in 2014
The NPRP has a number of resources related to ED readiness, QI in the ED, and other toolkits for use. Visit the NPRP website for more information.
Other Maine Pediatric Resources
- Map of Hospitals in Maine with Birthing Capabilities (PDF)
- Child Abuse & Mandated Reporters in Maine
- Maine State Infant Safe Haven Law (PDF)
- Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children during COVID (MIS-C)
- Youtube video of May 29, 2020 presentation from Massachusetts General Hospital for Children
- Maine Medical Center/Barbara Bush MIS-C Clinical Guidelines (PDF)
Resources for Families and Caregivers
- A Guide to Safety Conversations with Families (PDF)
- Evidence-Based Strategies for Child & Adolescent Injury Prevention (PDF)
- Maine Office of Child & Family Services
- Caring for Children in a Disaster
State & Local Partners
- Barbara Bush Children's Hospital at Maine Medical Center Pediatric Emergency Department
- Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center Pediatric Critical Care
Northern New England Poison Center- Maine Chapter - American Academy of Pediatrics
- Consider being a foster parent in Maine! (PDF) Also learn more at A Family for ME
Federal Partners
- American Academy of Pediatrics
- EMSC & Innovation/Improvement Center (EMSC IIC)
- National EMS for Children Data Analysis Resource Center (NEDARC)
- Pediatric Emergency Care Applied Research Network (PECARN)
- EMS Agenda for 2050
Reference Resources
Maine EMS makes no recommendations on any particular products or procedures.
Clinical Resources
- Critical Crossroads: Pediatric Mental Health in the Emergency Department (PDF)
- Maine CDC Measles Recommendations and March 8, 2019 Status (PDF)
- Pediatric Vital Signs (PDF) (printable chart)
- Quality Improvement in EMS for Children (PDF)
Disaster Resources
- Taking Care of Your Family During COVID-19 and Other Infectious Disease Outbreaks (PDF)
- Youth and Children with Special Health Care Needs During COVID-19 (PDF)
- Children with Special Health Care Needs in Disaster
If you would like a manual or resource added, please email marc.a.minkler@maine.gov