PREHOSPITAL EMS TREATMENT OF PEDIATRIC ASTHMA AND WHAT HAPPENS BEFOREHELP ARRIVES

Many asthmatic children require assistance by emergency medical servic es (EMS) secondary to an acute asthma episode. What medication interve ntions are being utilized by EMS when responding to an asthma call for a child, and how does EMS management compare to home management given before ambulance arrival (pre-EMS)? Sixty-one ambulance reports perta ining to acute asthma episodes in children aged 1 month to 15 years we re collected and analyzed. There was no significant difference between likelihood to receive a beta(2)-agonist nebulizer treatment pre-EMS a rrival or by EMS. Oxygen was the most common EMS intervention.