STURGIS, S.D. – The Sturgis Ambulance Service has been awarded a pediatric readiness award by the South Dakota E.M.S. for Children.
The group’s Pediatric Readiness Recognition Program recognized and presented the award to the Sturgis Ambulance Service at a conference last month.
The group’s mission is to ensure that every child in South Dakota receives the best pediatric care in the event of severe injury or illness.
Sturgis Ambulance Director Shawn Fischer says the ambulance service had to achieve several assessments and initiatives to win the award.
Among them, compliance with state statutes and regulations, designating a Pediatric Emergency Care Champion, and carrying the appropriate pediatric equipment and supplies in compliance with national and state recommendations.
Fischer says the Sturgis Ambulance is only one of 4 others to be recognized in South Dakota.
“We are one of four ambulances within the whole state to be recognized as pediatric ready. Now, it doesn’t mean other ambulance services aren’t, but we have gone through the EMS children’s checklist of what we need in our ambulance as well as the education to have two pediatric champions on board.”
Fischer says the award includes essential equipment for the treatment and care of young children. She says caring for children doesn’t get better by chance, it gets better by choice.
