ST. LOUIS - Critically sick or injured children need a high level of specialized care, but in emergency situations when every second counts, that care can sometimes be too far away.
Health care providers from St. Louis and around the country are learning how to recognize and begin care for critically ill children Friday at the Society of Critical Care Medicine’s Pediatric Fundamental Critical Care Support (PFCCS) course, offered by SSM Cardinal Glennon Children’s Medical Center, Saint Louis University School of Medicine and the Air Force/Missouri Air National Guard’s Center for Sustainment of Trauma and Readiness Skills.
This hands-on course uses high-fidelity pediatric simulation mannequins to mimic a critically ill child that health care providers must “save” using their training and instincts. The high-fidelity pediatric simulators are programmed to interact with their caregivers, visibly getting better when they are treated correctly or getting much sicker and even turning blue when they aren’t.
One of only five courses of its kind in the country, this Pediatric Fundamentals of Critical Care Support course has been exported to the Air National Guard to improve disaster medicine care, which often involves severely injured children. PFCCS has even been taught overseas in Indonesia, Columbia and Saudi Arabia.
Reporters, videographers and photographers are welcome to attend the simulation.
What: Pediatric critical care support simulation
When: 1:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 23
Where: SLU School of Medicine Learning Resources Center,
3544 Caroline Mall, St. Louis MO 63104
Interview opportunity: Dr. Daniel Bruzzini, a lieutenant colonel with the U.S. Air Force and director of Pediatric Intensive and Emergency Medicine at Cardinal Glennon
Visuals: Health care professionals attempting to “save” a high-fidelity simulator
For media inquires only, contact:
Ashley Wiehle
Communications Specialist
SSM Cardinal Glennon Children's Medical Center
314-577-5693 (office)
314-294-2416 (pager)
ashley_wiehle@ssmhc.com