Pediatric Trauma: Module 1

It is important for the pre-hospital provider to keep in mind the following when considering the forces that injure a child:

Because of their size and activity level, children have different patterns and causes of injury than adults.
Pediatric injuries most commonly occur as energy is transfered by rapid acceleration and deceleration.

Much of the child's body is elastic
- Energy transfer can create internal injuries without significant external force.
Multiple injuries as a result of more compact bodies and the close proximity of organs to the body surface.