Number of Courses:  One Live 2-Hour Class
Credit Awarded:  2 Hours
Credit Type: Advanced
Accredited: IBSC, CAPCE (F5-VILT), CE Broker (FL & TN), Pennsylvania Bureau of EMS, and Virginia Office of EMS
Enrollment Period:  One year or until completed, whichever comes first
Topics: Pediatrics

This CE activity is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Pre-Hospital Continuing Education for a total of 2 Paramedic Critical Care CEH.

Are you in need of a few critical care hours to round out your FP-C or CCP-C recertification? Or just want something different to put towards your NRP recertification? This individual Critical Care course will meet those needs.

IBSC Board for Critical Care Transport Paramedic Certification APPROVED!

Want to see when classes are offered, click here DistanceCME Course Calendar

Topics covered in this Live CCTR L8

  • Pediatrics (2 hr)

If you need more than a few hours, this program is perfect for your continuing education: Critical Care Transport Review. The Critical Care Transport program can also be used for your NREMT Recertification.

Course Overview
Pediatric transport requires an understanding of how growth and development influence assessment, communication, and the response to illness or injury. This comprehensive course explores anatomical, physiologic, and psychosocial differences from infancy through adolescence, connecting these changes with clinical decision-making. Participants review systematic pediatric assessment, recognition of deterioration, and traumatic emergencies while emphasizing individualized care and patient advocacy throughout transport.

Pediatric Anatomy & Physiology
Learners examine developmental differences in the respiratory, cardiovascular, renal, musculoskeletal, and neurologic systems. The course explores how airway size, respiratory reserve, cardiac function, and organ maturation influence a child’s response to illness and treatment. Participants also review developmental considerations affecting medication metabolism, glucose regulation, and vulnerability to injury.

Psychosocial Development & Communication
This section explores developmental stages from infancy through adolescence and their implications for patient interaction. Participants review approaches to building trust, involving caregivers, explaining procedures, and offering appropriate choices. The course emphasizes adapting communication to the child’s developmental level while respecting privacy, supporting independence, and recognizing how stress can affect behavior.

Pediatric Assessment Triangle
Participants examine the Pediatric Assessment Triangle as a framework for evaluating appearance, work of breathing, and circulation. The course reviews the TICLS mnemonic for assessing tone, interactiveness, consolability, gaze, and speech or crying. Learners connect these observations with patterns of respiratory distress, respiratory failure, shock, central nervous system dysfunction, and cardiopulmonary failure.

Vital Signs & Recognition of Deterioration
Learners review age-related vital sign differences and the importance of interpreting findings within the context of the child’s presentation. The course examines respiratory effort, skin findings, capillary refill, and changes in heart rate or blood pressure. Emphasis remains on recognizing compromised oxygenation and perfusion early, comparing findings over time, and avoiding reliance on a single measurement.

Pediatric Trauma & At-Risk Children
This section connects injury mechanisms with a child’s size, developmental stage, and anatomical characteristics. Participants examine falls, motor vehicle collisions, extremity injuries, and scene findings that may indicate significant trauma. The course also addresses inconsistencies in the history and injury patterns that may raise concern for abuse, reinforcing careful assessment and advocacy for vulnerable children.

Drowning & Burn Injuries
Participants review assessment considerations following drowning, including the circumstances of submersion, preceding medical events, and possible associated trauma. The course also explores pediatric burn assessment, methods for estimating affected body surface area, and the importance of monitoring fluid needs and heat loss. Learners connect these findings with stabilization priorities and transport planning.

Traumatic Brain Injury & Thoracic Trauma
Learners examine pediatric susceptibility to head injury and the recognition of intracranial bleeding and increasing intracranial pressure. The course reviews airway protection and treatment considerations for patients with traumatic brain injury. Participants also explore pulmonary contusion, pneumothorax, and hemothorax, connecting developmental differences in chest anatomy with the potential for significant internal injury.

Clinical Integration & Transport Planning
Throughout the course, developmental knowledge is linked to assessment, pain management, and communication with patients, caregivers, and receiving teams. Participants review medication calculation checks, appropriate equipment selection, and the role of pediatric specialty resources in destination decisions. The course emphasizes repeated assessment and care that accounts for both the clinical and emotional needs of the child.

Who Should Take This Course?
This course is designed for paramedics involved in critical care transport who are seeking a comprehensive review of pediatric development, assessment, and traumatic emergencies. As Lesson 8 of the Critical Care Transport Review series, it supports recognition of pediatric deterioration and the delivery of developmentally appropriate care during transport.