CCH Receives Grant to Enhance Child Passenger Safety

Covington County Hospital Ambulance Service has received a Safety and Risk Management Grant from Healthcare Providers Insurance Company to purchase Paraid Ambulance Child Restraint Harnesses for its entire fleet of ambulances, significantly enhancing the safety of pediatric patients during transport.

The Paraid child restraint system is specifically designed for use in emergency vehicles and allows EMS crews to securely and appropriately restrain infants and children of various sizes. Outfitting every ambulance with this equipment ensures that pediatric patients can be transported safely and in compliance with best-practice safety standards, regardless of the nature of the emergency.

“This grant allows us to take an important step forward in protecting our youngest and most vulnerable patients,” said Kathe Bryant, Director of Quality. “Having these restraint harnesses available in every ambulance means our crews are better prepared to provide safe, high-quality care for children in emergencies. We identified this as a need when considering pediatric transfers. Often, the child is transported in the car seat they were seated in during an MVC (motor vehicular collision). Car seats are not considered safe to use after being in an MVC. These new harnesses allow a pediatric patient of any age and weight to be secured to the ambulance stretcher while still allowing access to the child’s arms, legs, head, and abdomen. This makes it easier for medics to treat and evaluate the full body during transport. This is especially important in trauma and burn patients.”

Covington County Hospital Ambulance Service responds to emergencies across the community 24 hours a day. The addition of Paraid child restraint harnesses reflects the service’s ongoing commitment to patient safety, preparedness, and excellence in emergency medical care.