Potentially fatal mistakes. Why pediatric dosing errors happen & how to avoid them.

Calls involving critically ill or injured children are some of the most stressful situations EMS providers encounter. Their anxiety can be exponentially compounded with the sudden realization that precise mathematical equations must be rapidly performed "in the moment," making a challenging situation even worse at a time when there is no room for error. To help avoid these potentially devastating mistakes, all providers need to be aware of their vulnerability to pediatric dosing errors, and organizations need to support personnel with the training and resources necessary to mitigate these risks as much as possible.