The purpose of the Caring for Children During Disasters: Incorporating Children in Disaster Exercises educational module is to provide education and resources that can assist organizations in integrating children into drills and exercises. This course is designed to build on existing knowledge regarding and outline specific pediatric components that should be incorporated into an organization’s disaster plans in order to address the needs of children. A number of topics will be discussed including:
- Reviewing why children are more vulnerable during disasters
- Identify challenges with including children in drills and exercises
- Reviewing the types of drills and exercises according to the Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program (HSEEP)
- How to test disaster plans
- Considerations for including children in drills and exercises
- Strategies and tactics to incorporate children
- Components for drills and exercises to address the needs of children
It is our hope that pre-hospital and hospital professionals utilize these materials to further enhance the care of children before, during, and after disasters.
Course Expiration: April 30, 2026
This course has been approved for 1.0 continuing education hours.
Continuing education hours have been approved by the Illinois Department of Public Health Division of Emergency Medical Services and Highway Safety.
The purpose of the Disaster Mental Health Response for Children educational module is to provide education and resources that can be used as just in time training to prepare providers to identify the needs of pediatric survivors so that they may provide support in a way that helps these children return to pre-disaster levels of functioning. It will discuss a number of topics including:
- Common Reactions to Disasters
- Childhood Grief and Childhood Grief in Disasters
- Severe Reactions to Disasters: Stress, Acute Stress Disorder (ASD) and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
- Risk Factors for Developing PTSD
- When to Seek Help
- Helping Children
- Psychological First Aid
- Talking to Kids About Disaster
It is our hope that pre-hospital and hospital professionals, primary healthcare providers, public health department personnel, nonmedical volunteers, and mental health professionals will utilize these materials to further enhance the care of children during and after disasters.
This educational activity is being presented without the provision of commercial support and without bias or conflict of interest from the course planners.
This course has been approved for 1.0 continuing education hours or 1.0 hours of Category 2 CME.
Continuing education hours have been approved by the Illinois Department of Public Health Division of Emergency Medical Services and Highway Safety.
Course Expiration: June 30, 2026
The purpose of the course, Managing Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder in the Emergency Setting, is to enhance the care of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder in the prehospital and emergency department settings.
Learning Objectives
Categorization of characteristics common in patients with ASD
Unique challenges in the emergency setting for patients with ASD
Preparation of the ED and EMS environment to improve clinical encounters for children with ASD
Methods for providing care for children with special needs
Medications for painless procedures in the Emergency Department
Use of medications for situations where behavior cannot be deescalated
This course has been approved for 1.0 continuing education hours.
Continuing education hours have been approved by the Illinois Department of Public Health Division of Emergency Medical Services and Highway Safety.
The purpose of the Pediatric Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA) educational module is to enhance the emergency care of pediatric patients who present with DKA. It will discuss a number of topics including appropriate:
- Assessment
- Management
- Prevention of Complications
- Disposition
- Patient & Parent/Caregiver Education
It is our hope that healthcare professionals will utilize these materials to further enhance the care of children in their own settings.
The purpose of the Pediatric Disaster Triage: Utilizing the JumpSTART Method online educational module is to provide a review of mass casualty incident (MCI) triage concepts and tools such as Simple Triage and Rapid Treatment (START) for adults and JumpSTART for children. This training allows participants to learn about these MCI concepts and tools and apply them through interactive scenarios.
It is our hope that pre-hospital, hospital professionals, primary healthcare providers, school nurses, and public health department personnel will utilize these materials to further enhance the care of children during disasters.
This course has been approved for 1.0 continuing education hours.
Continuing education hours have been approved by the Illinois Department of Public Health Division of Emergency Medical Services and Highway Safety.
Course Expiration: July 31, 2026
The purpose of the educational module, Pediatric Pain: Management and Misconceptions is to enhance the emergency care of pediatric patients who present with pain or who need invasive or painful procedures in the course of their emergency care. Prehospital as well as Emergency Department care will be discussed. This module will discuss a number of topics including:
- The physiology of pain
- Assessment of pain and use of pain scales
- Misconceptions that lead to poor pain management
- Methods of establishing best practices for pain control
- Medications for pain control in various scenarios
It is our hope that healthcare professionals will utilize these materials to further enhance the care of children in their own institutions and further a culture of pain control in their pediatric population.
This course has been approved for 1.0 continuing education hours.
Continuing education hours have been approved by the Illinois Department of Public Health Division of Emergency Medical Services and Highway Safety.
The purpose of the Vascular Access in Pediatrics educational module is to provide education and resources that can assist healthcare personnel in learning the basics of vascular access in the pediatric population. Brief videos are integrated into the module that demonstrate specific techniques and strategies associated with vascular access and fluid resuscitation. The information in this module is relevant for emergency departments, hospitals that admit pediatric patients and prehospital personnel. Areas discussed include:
- Specific requirements for establishing IV access in pediatric patients, including anatomical considerations, appropriate equipment selection and techniques for successful insertion.
- Safe and efficient intravenous (IV) access in pediatric patients, including strategies for minimizing discomfort and optimizing success rates.
- Best practices in IV insertion and management.
- Various routes of access in children, including intravenous (IV), intraosseous (IO), and alternative routes such as central venous access devices and umbilical lines.
- Various choices of fluids, routes of fluid administration and speed of fluid administration.
- Importance of patience and communication in overcoming challenges and providing compassionate care to vulnerable patient and their families.
This course has been approved for 0.75 continuing education hours.
Continuing education hours have been approved by the Illinois Department of Public Health Division of Emergency Medical Services and Highway Safety.
Course Expiration: June 30, 2026