Hanahan EMS is testing a new pediatric dosing tool called the hand TV method that uses age-based hand measurements instead of height calculations to determine medication doses for children. The method aims to reduce errors and save time in emergencies. South Carolina's health department selected 12 organizations statewide to pilot the technology.
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12 organizations
Lara Rolo (ABC News 4)
Cody Williams (Hanahan paramedic)
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First responders say a new device is helping them save lives at a greater rate and it's designed for pediatric victims.
ABC News 4's Lara Rolos spoke with those in Hanahan who are among the first in the state to try it out. It's a story that you will only see on ABC News 4.
Opening a bag of tricks to help first responders save pediatric lives on the road.
Just pull out a bag, lay the kid out and immediately intervene with whatever ailment they have.
It's called the hand TV method and it simplifies the science behind administering medication.
The success rate for pediatric care pre hospital is very, very low.
That's with the current method used by paramedics. The Brazel method relies on height and a whole lot of on the spot math. It's time. Hanahan paramedic Cody Williams says he just doesn't have.
If you look at this, it's a lot more confusing. It takes you a little bit more time to try to figure out what's going on.
Williams says the hand TV method helps to prevent over and under dosing by focusing more on age. It lets crews look up the right dosage and administer it as soon as they arrive.
The hand here gives you the age and then it corresponds with what dose. So you're holding up 1, 3, 5, 7 9. Okay, I got a seven year old. I need this much of this med for that.
It's as easy as taking a measurement. The hand TV method simple simplifies pediatric response, giving Hanahan EMS a leg up on life saving.
Every age group, their body systems, they're going to metabolize the drug the same. Their internal organs are going to be the same as if they're a normal sized child.
Paramedics say time can be the difference between life and death. So any time they save in emergency situations counts. Lara Rolo, ABC News 4.
All right. And South Carolina is the first state to get to use this new kind of technology. In fact, the department of health and environmental control hand picked 12 organizations across their state to try it out.
