title: Pediatric emergencies: preparing at triage using height and weight.
abstract: Obtaining an actual weight is critical to accurate medication dosing. Knowledge of length/height is critical to equipment sizing. Rapid and accurate measurement of both upon arrival at the emergency department increases patient safety and staff comfort in the case of a decompensating child requiring resuscitation. Having a process in place that works with the layout, medical record, and budget of the department increases safety for the patient and may improve outcomes, and if the process is led by staff champions, acceptance of the process may be faster. Regardless of the actual method, patient safety and staff satisfaction can be improved with a simple process that prepares for an emergency in pediatric care.
authors: Emergency Department, FHS St. Francis Hospital, Federal Way, WA, USA.
authors: Brandy
authors: B
authors: Berg
authors: Chantel
authors: C
authors: Arnone
authors: Janine
authors: J
authors: Cannon-Davis
authors: Andi
authors: A
authors: Foley
mesh_terms: D001827:Body Height / Q000502:physiology*; D001835:Body Weight / Q000502:physiology*; D001837:Body Weights and Measures / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D016529:Emergency Nursing / Q000379:methods*; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D006801:Humans; D010372:Pediatrics / Q000379:methods*; D014218:Triage / Q000379:methods*