This document provides guidance on pediatric emergency care and assessment. It outlines the Pediatric Assessment Triangle approach which evaluates a child's appearance, breathing, and color to identify life-threatening issues. It also discusses PALS (Pediatric Advanced Life Support) and common pediatric emergencies. The range of normal vital signs is covered by age. Specific assessment techniques are defined for evaluating a child's airway, breathing, circulation, disability and exposure to identify issues needing intervention.

1. PEDIATRIC EMERGENCY CARE
Dr. Raj Gaurav Singh
Consultant Pediatric
Charak Hospital

2. CONTENTS
• PEDIATRIC ASSESMENT TRIANGLE
• PALS
• COMMON PEDIATRIC EMERGENCY SCENARIOS
• RANGE OF VITALS & EQUIPMENT BASED ON
AGE

3. PEDIATRIC ASSESMENT TRIANGLE
• Pediatric assessment is different from adults.
• Adapt your assessment skills.
• Have age appropriate equipment.
• Review age appropriate vital signs.

4. PEDIATRIC ASSESMENT TRIANGLE

5. APPEARANCE
• TICLS
• Tone : Posture
• Interactive : Responsive/ Lethargic
• Consolable : Inconsolable cry
• Look : looking at mother/ vacant
• Speech : Normal/ Paucity/ Hoarseness
Abnormality in any parameter – brain dysfunction likely due to hypoxia

6. BREATHING
• Apnea
• Tachypnea
• Regular/ Asynchronous
• Audible sounds
• Use of accessory muscles
Abnormal breathing requires immediate support interventions

7. COLOUR
• Pallor – Anemia/ Hemorrhage
• Bruises, Ecchymosis, petechial- bleeding
diathesis
• Mottling/Dusky – Vasomotor instability
• Cyanosis
Any abnormality indicates circulatoryinsufficiency.

8. If Life-threatening on initial impression
• Activate the Emergency response system
• Initiate life-saving measures based on the scope of
practice
• Open The Airway and provide oxygen
• Attach monitor and AED
• Check for pulse
• Provide CPR if needed (central pulse absent/<60)
• I.V. / IO Access, Fluids, and medications
• Proceed for further evaluation after initial stabilization/
all parameters normal

9. FURTHER EVALUATION: PRIMARY
ASSESSMENT
● Airway
● Breathing
● Circulation
● Disability
● Exposure

10. AIRWAY
• Look for the
movement of chest
or the abdomen
• Listen for the air
movement and
breath sounds
Decide the status

11. • SIMPLE MEASURES : Allow position of comfort,
head tilt-chin lift, Hemlich maneuvere – chest
thrusts, oropharyngeal, nasopharyngeal airway
• ADVANCED MEASURES : ET placement, Laryngeal
mask airway, Laryngoscopy/bronchoscopy for FB,
CPAP

12. EVALUATION OF BREATHING
1. Respiratory rate
2. Work on breathing
3. Chest wall expansion
4. Auscultation for air
entry and adventitious
sounds
5. Pulse oximetry

13. BREATHING: WORK ON BREATHING
• Nasal Flaring
• Retractions
• Grunting
• Head nodding
• Sea-saw
respirations

14. BREATHING- INTERVENE

15. CIRCULATION
Circulatory insufficiency can be identified by
• Heart rate and rhythm.
• Peripheral & central pulses.
• Capillary refill time.
• Skin color and temperature.
• Blood pressure.
• Additional information about the efficacy of
circulation.
• Sensorium
• Urine output