Delaware Emergency Medical Services for Children (EMSC)
The EMSC Program: Taking Action, Saving Lives
The federal Emergency Medical Services for Children (EMSC) program supports projects in the states to expand and improve emergency medical services for children who need treatment for life threatening illnesses or injuries. The program has funded pediatric emergency care improvement initiatives in every state, the District of Columbia, and five U.S. territories. Senator Daniel Inouye and Senator Orrin Hatch developed initial legislation to support the EMSC program in 1984. Congress enacted the legislation authorizing the use of federal funds to support EMSC initiatives.
Emergency Medical Care Needs of Children in Delaware
Delaware first received EMSC grant funding in 1997 and the program officially began with the hiring of a program coordinator in 1998. To date (FY97-07) our state has received all levels of federal EMSC funding totaling $1,205,000. Some examples of cutting-edge work underway with support from the EMSC program are projects to: provide specific education and equipment for all levels of pediatric emergency care providers; ensure that Delaware EMS protocols are developed to meet the needs of children; to develop emergency care and disaster education and training programs for child care agencies; and ensure that all state trauma/disaster plans address pediatric needs.
Current Grant
Delaware’s current EMSC Partnership funding is at the maximum allowable amount of $115,000 per year. Funds are used to support the program staff and expenses necessary to oversee and implement the program’s goals and objectives. Delaware EMSC received over $80,000 in additional cost participation/in-kind funding support in 2004 from other partners working closely with the program.
Accomplishments
Education
- Partnered with the duPont Hospital for Children to provide ten Special Children’s Outreach and Prehospital Education Courses (SCOPE) courses were provided across the state in the past year with over 250 participants attending.
- Provided disaster preparedness training to over 150 child care center directors and in home child care providers.
- Conducted pediatric emergency preparedness training and protocols for physicians offices across the state.
- Implemented the Risk Watch childhood injury prevention program in 734 classrooms across the state.
- Partnered with the Delaware SAFE KIDS Coalition for the last four years to provide an annual childhood injury prevention conference aimed at teachers, nurses, EMS personnel and child care providers.
- Provided pediatric education annually at the Delaware Volunteer Firemen’s Association convention to over 250 emergency care providers.
- Partnered with Easter Seals of Delmarva implementing a program to identify children with special needs for emergency responders.
- Developed an interactive CD-ROM for EMS training “Triaging Kids During a Disaster.”
Policy
EMSC, located in the Office of EMS, is working with the Delaware Fire Prevention Commission to address pediatric equipment needs on ambulances. EMSC provides pediatric emergency care experts to assist in development of emergency care protocols in Delaware.
Partnerships
Delaware EMSC has been actively involved in joint projects with over 20 different organizations and state agencies to promote pediatric emergency care and to enhance emergency preparedness.
Delaware EMSC:
- Is supported in part by the duPont Hospital for Children since 1997. Federal grant funds pay for two full-time employees and duPont pays for one full-time employee to support improving pediatric emergency care statewide.
- Developed a Coalition made up of over 60 people statewide interested in improving pediatric emergency care in Delaware. This Coalition is led by Hazel Ocampo, MD and Sue Kost, MD, two pediatric emergency physician experts from the duPont Hospital for Children, our only pediatric tertiary care facility in the state.
- Partnered with the duPont Hospital for Children, Delaware State Fire School, the Fire Marshal’s Office, Children’s Fire Safety Foundation, Department of Education, Delaware State Police and the SAFE KIDS Coalition to implement Risk Watch in classrooms statewide.
- Partnered with Family and Workplace Connection, American Red Cross, the Office of Child Care Licensing, New Castle County Emergency Management and the Delaware Emergency Management Agency to develop a disaster preparedness curriculum for child care agencies in Delaware.
- Partnered with the Department of Education to provide Managing School Emergencies Courses for School Nurses statewide.
More Information
- EMSC Grant Objectives
- PEPP - Pediatric Education for Pre-Hospital Professionals
- SNAP - Special Needs Alert Program
- Emergency Preparedness for Children
- SCOPE - Special Children's Outreach and Pre-Hospital Education
- Risk Watch
- Nemours / Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children
- National Emergency Medical Services for Children (EMSC) program
- Family Voices of Delaware
For more information, please contact the program office.
