The Pediatric Paramedic Program of the Loveland Symmes Fire Dept or “Pedi Med” for short. Is designed with our special needs children in mind. Having pre arrival information for a special needs child is not enough. Dr. Dan Lankin Chief Medical Director for the Loveland Symmes Fire Dept has asked our paramedics to learn more about each pediatric patient in the program and to educate themselves in the medical condition that afflicts these patients. Knowing how our care may affect the condition or contradict the current medications and treatment is paramount to a successful outcome. Parents fill out pre-arrival medical information forms which are kept in each ambulance. This information is also assigned to our address files at the Northeast Communications Center. Once a 911 call is received the 911 operator knows that there is a special needs patient living at that address. They then relay the coded number of the patient to the arriving paramedics who in turn look that information up in the Pedi Med book. This pre-arrival information can assist the paramedics should the parents not be present or too upset to communicate the information. Parents are contacted regularly to keep the information current. We also share the information with school nurses who flag the medical files for these children in an effort to alert the teacher and the nursing staff of their special needs. Having this information should the child become ill in the school with no parents present is vital.

The parents of a special needs child are just as special as the children themselves. The care that these parents give along with the dedication in arming themselves with the knowledge they need to care for their child is commendable to say the least. We at the Loveland-Symmes Fire Dept are dedicated to enhancing our service and improving the quality of life in our community. If you would like more information on this program or other programs provided by the LSFD please call 583-3001 or visit our web site at www.lsfd.org .

This page was last updated on 08/14/08

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