Frequently Asked Questions

What precautions do you take when transporting Children & Child Patients?

Last Updated: June 11, 2011

Approximately 6 million children are transported by emergency medical services (EMS) vehicles each year in the United States. An ambulance is NOT a standard passenger vehicle.  BestCare implements and follows guidelines & research provided by The Emergency Medical Services for Children (EMSC) Program and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) to improve the safety of pediatric patients being transported in EMS vehicles. Importantly, as is mandated in several states, the NHTSA Emergency Vehicle Operating Course (EVOC) National Standard Curriculum, or its equivalent, is an integral part of BestCare’s transport safety enhancement.

 

Points to Remember

The following best practices are important to our company as we extend the BestCare Commitment to our patients and clients:

  • Drive cautiously at safe speeds observing traffic laws.
  • Tightly secure all monitoring devices and other equipment.
  • Ensure available restraint systems are used by EMTs, to secure the safety of patients, parents, children, caregivers and other occupants.
  • Transport accompanying non-patient children in a proper restrained alternate passenger vehicle, whenever possible.
  • Only allow emergency vehicles to be operated by persons who have completed EVOC training or an equivalent.  (National Standard Curriculum)