In this episode of The Erik and Matt Show (EMS), Dr. Erik Axene and Matt Ball tackle the call that scares EMS providers more than almost anything else: the crashing pediatric patient with a possible cardiac emergency.

Erik and Matt break down why most pediatric emergencies are actually respiratory or perfusion related, not cardiac, and how to tell the difference in the field. The conversation covers pediatric vital sign interpretation, why heart rate is the most important early warning sign in kids, the four types of shock, how congenital cardiac abnormalities present in newborns and older children, and the critical transport decisions that can make or break outcomes. They also share real field stories, including a call where bypassing the closest ER for a pediatric specialty center was the right move.

This episode is a practical guide to staying calm and managing pediatric cardiac emergencies whether you are a BLS or ALS provider. Erik and Matt cover the assessment framework, when to suspect cardiogenic shock, why parents are your best diagnostic resource, and the one thing every provider should do first on every crashing kid call.