Use guidelines to prepare for children with special needs, or risk tragedy.

New guidelines for children with special needs and an Emergency Information Form (EIF) were developed jointly by the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American College of Emergency Physicians. The guidelines explain how to create an emergency plan for children with unique medical needs or chronic physical, developmental, or behavioral conditions. The EIF includes the name of the child's pediatrician, telephone numbers, and specific instructions for interventions. If no EIF is on file, create an internal file for children with special needs using the EIF as a template.