EMSC/FAN news & updates

• Have you seen our recent Pulse updates about FAN Reps? Greta James-Maxfield from Texas and Jordana Carpenter from Arizona shared the incredible work they've been doing! Keep your eye out for the May issue where we'll feature the work of Maine FAN Rep Brian Richardson and the June issue where Wyoming FAN Rep Heather Martin's work will be featured!
• Maryland FAN Rep, Mary Ellen Wilson participated as an actor in an EMSC hosted training exercise for first responders in March. This is a great way to be involved in EMS training as a FAN!
• The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) partnered with Florida FAN Rep, Sandy Nasca, and Alaska FAN Rep, Wilma Vinton, to create The Road to Readiness: Preparing Your Family for Disasters. Thank you Sandy and Wilma for all your work on this important resource!
• Darlene Shelton, Missouri FAN Rep, has won the Community Champion Award from the National Organization for Rare Disorders! Darlene receives the award on June 8. Darlene also recently provided education to Florida EMS professionals through the National Association of EMS Physicians (NAEMSP) on Protocols for Rare Disease. Congratulations, Darlene!
• Congratulations to our FAN Reps who are celebrating their 10 and 5 year anniversaries with EMSC this year! Our next newsletter will feature FAN Reps with 1 year anniversaries.
• HR 6960, the Emergency Medical Services for Children Reauthorization Act of 2024, was passed May 15 by the House in a 399-13 vote. We continue to follow the companion bill in the Senate, S.3765, and will share updates as available.
• Congratulations to Utah FAN Rep Jeff Wilson, who was recently awarded Utah's EMSC Advocate of the Year Award for his work providing sensory kits and training to Utah's EMS providers!
• Do you know of resources about safe sleep that are suitable for families? New Jersey FAN Rep, Sonia Rita is looking for your help in identifying resources for a project she's working on. You can share resources with her via e-mail!
• New York FAN Rep Nickole O'Toole is looking for help from fellow FANs around pediatric procedural sedation guidelines in their state. If you have any resources to share with her, please e-mail her!

Upcoming events

• FAN Steering Committee Meeting - July 11, on Zoom
• All FAN Meeting - August 1, on Zoom
• FAN Steering Committee Meeting - September 5, on Zoom
• FAN Steering Committee Meeting - October 3, on Zoom

New resources 

• SpeakOurMinds.Org has created a very moving video about the pediatric mental health crisis facing many children's hospitals.
• Safe Kids has created a Child Checklist for families to commemorate Safe Kids month in May.
• Healthcare Ready has created RX on the Run, a wallet sized card template that lists all your important medical information. They also have a live, interactive map indicating the medical facility status in areas impacted by disasters.
• The Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR) funded Pediatric Disasters Centers of Excellence (PDCOE) launched their new website! The PDCOE is comprised of the Gulf 7 Pediatric Disaster Network, Region V for Kids, and the Western Regional Alliance for Pediatric Emergency Management. This new website will serve as a joint hub for pediatric disaster preparedness and response.
• The EMSC Program has created a video to show the importance of being pediatric ready. Please share Arlette's story with your networks!