In this episode of the Pre-Hospital Care Podcast, we’re joined by Sarah Edwards to explore the most frequently encountered paediatric emergencies seen in the field. Sarah Edwards is a Consultant in Adult and Paediatric Emergency Medicine and the RCEM Learning Chair. She is Senior Editor for the Emergency Medical Journal, RCEM Learning Chair and Honorary Secretary for ASME. She also teaches on the Master's of Medical Education course at the University of Sunderland.

In this wide-ranging conversation, we examine respiratory infections to asthma exacerbations to gastroenteritis, dehydration, febrile illnesses, and seizures. We unpack the presentations that paramedics and pre-hospital teams face on a daily basis together with some of the red flags for each disease.

We’ll discuss how to identify and prioritise care for these conditions in the often-challenging pre-hospital environment, using practical strategies to deliver safe and effective interventions. Sarah shares key insights into assessing sick children, highlighting subtle clinical signs, red flags, and common pitfalls in decision-making under pressure.

We also examine trauma in children, including how injury patterns vary across age groups and what immediate management steps are most critical. Finally, the episode touches on the vital role of caregivers and parents in the assessment process.

Some useful links that Sarah mentions in the episode include: https://spottingthesickchild.com/

The Westley Croup Score: https://handbook.bcehs.ca/clinical-resources/clinical-scores/westley-croup-severity-score/

The Big 6 The Most Common Conditions That Children Present With For Urgent Care:

https://www.improvingme.org.uk/media/1141/childurgentcaredocument2020.pdf

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