DuBois EMS Ambulance Service Recognized for Dedication to Pediatric Care
DUBOIS – Every year, more than 70,000 children are transported by ambulances in Pennsylvania. This means that almost every seven minutes a child is being taken to the hospital with a potentially life threatening medical condition.
In order to ensure that EMS agencies within the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania are prepared for pediatrics, the Pennsylvania Emergency Medical Services for Children program, in partnership with the Department of Health, Bureau of EMS and the Pennsylvania Emergency Health Services Council, has created the Pediatric Voluntary Recognition Program.
The program is to recognize EMS agencies that are willing to go above and beyond current requirements to deliver excellence in emergency medical care to children within the Commonwealth.
The Pennsylvania Pediatric Voluntary Recognition Program has recognized more than 100 EMS agencies across the Commonwealth, including DuBois EMS Ambulance Service, located in DuBois.
The program consists of five levels that include pediatric equipment standards, ChildLine background checks, pediatric-related continuing education courses, community outreach programs and car seat check programs.
DuBois EMS Ambulance Service is recognized at the Expert Level, which means that the EMS agency has additional pediatric-specific medical equipment on its ambulances, requires EMS providers to complete ChildLine child abuse background clearances, provides four hours of pediatric-specific continuing education per year, is actively involved in multiple community outreach programs and offers ongoing car seat checks to parents and guardians in the community.
DuBois EMS Ambulance Service has been involved in the program since 2015. By advancing to the highest level in the program, Dubois EMS Ambulance Service is demonstrating that it’s truly prepared for pediatric patients and ready to respond to any and all emergency situations involving Pennsylvania’s youngest citizens.
DuBois EMS Ambulance Service is now one of three ambulance services in the EMMCO East region to be recognized under this program. And, it is the only EMS agency recognized at the Expert level, which is the highest level in the program. EMMCO East is the designated regional EMS council that serves Cameron, Clearfield, Elk, Jefferson, McKean, and Potter counties.
DuBois EMS Ambulance Service is the one of the primary ambulance providers for the DuBois City and Sandy Township. Additionally, the ambulance service provides mutual aid coverage to surrounding areas of agencies.
DuBois Emergency Medical Services will be providing free car seat safety inspections by appointment at its station at 103 W. Washington Ave., DuBois. Appointments can be made by calling 814-371-3456.
Research shows that:
- Motor vehicle crashes are the number one cause of death among children ages 1 to 19.
- When installed and used correctly, child safety seats and safety belts can prevent injuries and save lives. Child safety seats can reduce fatal injury by up to 71 percent for infants and 54 percent for toddlers (ages 1 to 4).
- The overall critical misuse for child restraints is about 73 percent. Infant seats have the highest percent of critical misuse, followed by rear-facing convertible seats.
- It is estimated that 284 children were saved due to restraint use in 2012 alone.
- From 1975 through 2012, an estimated 10,157 lives were saved by child safety seats or adult seatbelts for children ages 4 and under
Education and information to improve these numbers is of critical need in the local community. According to Safe Kids and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, a correctly used safety seat reduces fatality risk by 71 percent and serious injury risk by 67 percent.