SD EMSC and Emergency Departments

Focused Care for Kids in Emergencies

South Dakota Emergency Medical Services for Children (SD EMSC) works with emergency departments to make sure children receive the best care when emergencies happen. We follow guidelines from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) to ensure that all the departments across the state are peds ready.

Our Goals:

Pediatric Readiness
Pediatric readiness is the level of preparation an emergency department (ED) has to provide care for children. It includes the resources, guidelines, and staff training needed to care for sick and injured children.

Quality Improvement
We support the National Pediatric Readiness Project by conducting surveys to identify care gaps and help emergency departments improve through targeted improvements, training, and the use of evidence-based medicine.

Training and Education
SD EMSC promotes training programs and workshops to help healthcare workers become better at managing emergencies involving children, creating a culture of being ready and responsive.

Coordinated Care Systems
At SD EMSC we support building systems that allow emergency services, hospitals, and other healthcare providers to work together effectively, ensuring that children get the best help in critical situations.

SD EMSC strives to ensure that emergency departments are prepared to provide excellent care for children in South Dakota, ultimately improving emergency care outcomes.

Requests and Applications

Apply Now

Pediatric Emergency Care Coordinator

The role of a Pediatric Emergency Care Coordinator (PECC) is diverse and you may serve one or more of these responsibilities by overseeing pediatric specific duties. The PECC role at your ED can be a partnership - physicians, nurse practitioners, and nurses can all work together to lift their team up. While it is not required to have an alternate, it is a good idea for each Emergency Department to have more than one point of contact.

Request Now

Carter Kit Application

Carter Kits™ Sensory Bags contain clinically proven items known to comfort and appropriately focus children who are on the autism spectrum, as well as many other children who occasionally find themselves overwhelmed or otherwise impacted by traumatic events. Carter Kits were initially designed for First Responders, however, the scope of our mission has expanded to many other professions such as law enforcement, school nurses, and more!

Visit Their Site

Poison Resources and Education

The Sanford Poison Center provides all of the education and prevention efforts for the State of South Dakota.

We are designated by the South Dakota Department of Health to provide emergency poison management and poison prevention information to the citizens of the State of South Dakota.

The Sanford Poison Center currently contracts with the Minnesota Poison Control System, located at Hennepin Healthcare in Minneapolis, to handle all poisoning exposure calls.

There is an online education course, with CE credits available, for all providers.

Get Resources

Safety & Injury Prevention Resources

Visit our Safety and Injury Prevention Resources page for more resources on:

Bike Safety
Drivers Education
Impaired Driving
Seat Belt Safety

Visit Their Site

Recognizing Child Abuse

Online educational modules intended to assist healthcare providers to determine the difference between accidental and intentional injuries in children.

Visit Their Site

Become a Stop the Bleed® Instructor

As a course instructor, you perform the important role of informing, educating, and empowering individuals to become immediate responders for a bleeding emergency.

Request Now

Pediatric Badge Resource Request

Our Pediatric Badge Resource is easy to add on to your ID badge holder. This is a great way to have Pediatric Resources at your fingertips when you need them most!

Request Now

Communication Aid Request

Our Communication Aid is a great resource to have on hand when there is a communication barrier with your patient and no interpreter available. You may find it effective with non-verbal patients, those that communicate with sign language, or speak a different language.

Additional Emergency Department Resources

Please click the button below to request access to additional Emergency Department resources. We will respond within 1-2 business days.

Request Access

Would you like to be up to date on all things SD EMSC? We work hard to share resources and education opportunities with folks in South Dakota that are working to make sure that pediatric patients are well taken care of in the event of a medical emergency. You can choose what types of updates you get, and we promise not to fill up your inbox with things that don't apply to you. If you would like to opt out, reach out to us at sdemsc@usd.edu.

Opt-Into Our Emails