Pediatric prehospital assistance conducted by the mobile emergency care service (SAMU)

Abstract

Objective: Describe the prehospital pediatric assistance conducted by the Mobile Emergency Care Service (SAMU) in the town of Feira de Santana, Bahia, Brazil, in 2009. Method: This is a quantitative, retrospective, and descriptive research, based on the records of pediatric treatments conducted by SAMU in the town of Feira de Santana. Results: One identified 372 treatments; 43,5% for children from 5 to 10 years; 57,1% of occurrences took place at home; falls (28,7%) and running over cases (22,9%) were the most usual external causes; the most prevalent clinical causes were respiratory problems (40,0%) and convulsive crises (27,9%). Conclusion: The study allowed knowing the reality of prehospital assistance for children in the town, and it can contribute to public policies aimed at this clientele; besides, it collaborates to the scientific production related to the prehospital child assistance, a theme poorly explored among this population.