JavaScript seems to be disabled in your browser. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser.
WISHLIST
Every emergency call is critical and potentially life-altering. But when you are called to respond to a health emergency involving a child, the stakes can be astronomical.
That’s why it’s imperative that your ability to respond quickly isn’t hampered by incorrect equipment. Imagine responding to a call about an unresponsive child, only to arrive and find that your jump bag contains only an adult-sized BVM.
This isn’t just equipment failure. It’s a system failure. And for pediatric calls, systems make all the difference in outcomes.
Here at Kemp USA, we've spent decades helping outfit EMS agencies, fire departments, and first responders with gear for all contingencies.
One of the most consistent gaps we see? Emergency response teams without proper pediatric resuscitation equipment. Whether it's missing completely or improperly packed, trying to aid children and adults can’t be done with the same bag.
Let’s look a bit closer at how pediatric and adult EMS kits differ — and how to make sure your crew is ready for both.
It’s tempting to operate as though children are simply “small adults”. Thus, you would assume that many of the same pieces of equipment could be used interchangeably.
But there’s a huge difference. A child’s anatomy and physiology respond differently in emergencies — and your gear needs to reflect that.
Compared with an adult's, a child's airway is narrower, shorter, and more anterior. And infants are obligate nose breathers.
This means that tidal volumes are measured in milliliters, not liters. A mask that's even slightly too large will create a poor seal, compromising ventilation and complicating resuscitation and recovery.
In adult medicine, many drugs are dosed by fixed ranges. But if you’ve ever attempted to give your child medication, you’ve probably noticed that the dosage recommendation refers you to your doctor.
This is because in pediatric care, dosing is almost entirely weight-based. A few extra milligrams of epinephrine would be inconsequential in a 180-pound adult. But it can be dangerous in a 15-kilogram toddler.
If you don’t have the right reference tools built into your kit, you’re left to try and make decisions on the fly – and that stress can become debilitating.
Thankfully, statistics show that pediatric critical calls are far less frequent than adult emergencies.
But this also means crews rarely see them. That can quickly lead to skills decay and, potentially, hesitation when the moment arises.
The best way to compensate is to reduce the number of decisions your team has to make in the moment. Organized, clearly labeled pediatric resuscitation equipment does that job.
Many agencies address this by pairing a full-size adult trauma bag with a dedicated pediatric pack and intubation bag — keeping pediatric gear organized and immediately accessible without it getting buried in adult supplies.
Why invest in separate bags for adults and children? Let’s compare how the two kits differ across every major category of emergency response:
Issue
Adult EMS Kit
Pediatric EMS Kit
Airway
Adult BVM, standard OPA/NPA sizes, adult masks, ET tubes
Infant/child BVMs, multiple OPA/NPA sizes down to neonate, pediatric masks, small-diameter ET/supraglottic devices
Breathing
Adult non-rebreather/simple masks, standard nebulizer set
Infant and child oxygen masks, pediatric nebulizer sets, tools sized for smaller tidal volumes
Circulation
Adult BP cuffs, standard IV gauges, adult AED/defib pads
Neonatal/infant/child BP cuffs, smaller IV catheters (24g–22g), pediatric AED pads with dose attenuators
Immobilization
Adult backboard, standard cervical collars, adult restraints
Pediatric spine board, pediatric C-collars, head immobilizer blocks, child restraint harness
Medications
Fixed or range-based dosing, standard concentrations
Weight-based dosing charts, pre-calculated reference guides, pediatric-specific formulations
Monitoring & Reference
Standard pulse ox probe, adult vital sign norms
Pediatric pulse ox probe, Broselow/PALS length-based tape, pediatric normal vitals chart
Comfort / Psychosocial
Minimal focus on comfort items
Soft blankets, distraction items, small toys, child-sized masks, caregiver instruction cards
One of the primary realities that separates a functional pediatric kit from a dangerous one is how dosing and sizing information is organized and accessed.
This may not seem critical when you’re packing and preparing kits – but on the ground, the seconds you save in faster decision-making can save lives.
Tools like Broselow-style resuscitation tapes link a child's body length to recommended equipment sizes and drug doses.
Instead of trying to rely on weight-based math in a high-stress environment, you simply measure the child and identify the corresponding color band. Now you know exactly which mask size, ET tube, and drug dose to use.
Research has shown that length-based systems reduce dosing errors and speed up equipment selection during pediatric resuscitation.
In essence, the keyword here is consistently. Not sometimes. Not in ideal conditions. Consistently.
That tape — and the dosing reference charts that go with it — should live inside the pediatric kit, not in a separate binder on the rig.
The best and most effective pediatric packs build on this by grouping equipment pouches by color or weight range.
A clear system enables a provider to grab the tape, identify the color, and reach for the matching pouch without second-guessing.
That's the exact scenario our Kemp USA Pediatric Pack is designed to support. This kit includes removable, color-coordinated pouches that organize your pediatric resuscitation equipment around the same principles as Broselow/PALS-style systems.
As we’ve seen, there are many ways that pediatric and adult equipment use varies.
But airway management is where pediatric and adult care diverge most sharply. It’s also where sizing errors are most consequential.
Neonates and young infants pose unique challenges that providers must be prepared to address.
Things like obligate nasal breathing and a large occiput that naturally flexes the neck and compromises the airway can complicate assistance. A child’s extremely short trachea makes ET tube placement sensitive to the millimeter.
To be prepared for all scenarios, your infant emergency supply bag should include:
neonatal BVMs
Infant-sized masks
Bulb syringes for gentle airway clearing
Pre-warmed blankets or thermal wraps to prevent hypothermia
Having a dedicated pediatric pack and intubation bag is key for these cases. Having all necessary intubation and airway tools organized and separated from the main trauma bag boosts provider confidence in their equipment, leading to better outcomes in the moment.
For toddlers and school-aged children, the primary gear priorities will shift a bit. This includes having OPAs and NPAs in appropriate sizes. You’ll need access to early oxygen delivery and the correct bag-mask ventilation technique.
You should also account for head positioning – especially when it comes to a child. A proportionally larger head (compared to an infant) means that laying them flat on a stretcher actually extends the neck and occludes the airway.
A small shoulder roll — incredibly simple, low-tech — is a quick way to correct this. But it only works if the provider expects it and arrives prepared.
This is why pediatric EMS kits need to be organized to prompt the right assessment, not just contain the right equipment.
As you might expect, normal vital signs in pediatric patients will shift quite a bit with age. For instance, a heart rate of 140 is normal in a toddler and a red flag in a 10-year-old.
If you don’t have age-appropriate reference charts built into the kit, you may fail to recognize early decompensation – which can compound risks quickly. That’s why every pediatric EMS kit should include:
Pediatric pulse ox probes (sized for small fingers)
Neonatal, infant, and child blood pressure cuffs
Age-based vital sign normal ranges — printed, laminated, and attached to the bag
Pediatric AED pads with dose attenuators, or a dedicated pediatric defibrillation mode
Pediatric resuscitation tape or equivalent length-based dosing system
In mass casualty incidents, triage algorithms like jumpSTART replace adult tools like START. Emergency providers need to know which protocol to use — and those reference cards should be in the pediatric kit. Never rely on information memorized under stress.
Children cannot be safely secured on adult spineboards with adult collars. An adult board is designed for a much larger body, and can leave a small child's arms and legs unsupported.
Similarly, using an adult C-collar on a child's smaller neck can end up hyperextending the cervical spine — and that’s the exact opposite of what's intended.
Proper pediatric immobilization requires proper tools, such as:
A pediatric spine board sized for the patient
Pediatric cervical collars in multiple sizes
Pediatric head immobilizer blocks to prevent lateral movement
Child restraint systems or harnesses
Kemp USA equips emergency teams with the right tools. Our pediatric spine board and pediatric head immobilizer are designed to ensure safe, proper alignment without improvisation.
We’ve spent quite a bit of time looking at the equipment necessary for helping treat the physical realities of a child-related emergency. But what about the psychological?
Fear makes pediatric calls harder. If you’ve ever worked with children, you know this full well. Anxiety drives up oxygen demand and worsens bronchospasm. Fear in a child makes every intervention harder and increases the risk for the child and the provider.
Never underestimate the power of psychological tools. A few low-cost items in a pediatric kit can help a child calm down and feel safe – which can make a huge difference in the moment. Make sure your child kit includes a few items designed to soothe children during stress:
Small stuffed animals or distraction toys
Stickers (applied to the mask to make it look less threatening)
Soft fleece blankets, which double as comfort and thermoregulation tools
Child-sized nasal cannulas for patients who won't tolerate a mask
The best part? These items cost almost nothing compared to other equipment. But their impact on patient cooperation is invaluable.
The caregiver on scene can also be a variable that, if unaccounted for, can create more chaos than support.
This makes sense. Any parent seeing their child in pain or suffering wants providers to arrive faster and work more efficiently.
But a parent in panic escalates the child. A parent who is engaged and briefly oriented — "here's what we're doing, here's what we need from you" — becomes an asset in the moment.
You’ll want to consider including quick-read caregiver info cards in the pediatric kit. This includes what's happening as the provider aids the child, what to expect during transport, and when to call for updates.
These take three minutes to write one and print a laminated copy. On the right call, it changes everything.
One of the most important questions EMS directors face when building their pediatric system is which type of bag and system to use.
There's no single right answer — but there are clear tradeoffs to each.
Having a unique, dedicated pediatric EMS bag is the cleanest solution for agencies with the space and staffing discipline to support it.
Tools like the Kemp USA Pediatric Pack keep all pediatric resuscitation equipment together in one clearly identified unit. Simply grab and carry as a single load on pediatric calls, and leave staged on the rig for adult calls.
The advantages of a dedicated bag are that it is highly organized and has clear labeling. Plus, it’s much easier to standardize across rigs.
The tradeoff is discipline — if the bag doesn't come off the rig on every pediatric call, it doesn't help.
If your agency has space or budget constraints, you can opt for a modular approach: a zippered pediatric pouch or color-coded insert stored inside a larger adult trauma bag.
The key here is clear labeling and provider training. Label it clearly — "PEDS ONLY," red zipper, dedicated location in every bag across every unit.
Think through standardization. If providers have to think about where the pediatric module is, the system has already failed. Same bag. Same pocket. Every rig.
Pediatric medications and small-volume consumables often expire sooner than adult equivalents. Plus, as pediatric calls are less frequent, they're also used less. That combination can lead to expired supplies going unnoticed.
Build pediatric-specific line items into your routine truck check protocols. Check expiration dates on pediatric meds, pediatric IV supplies, and length-based tapes at the same interval you check adult equipment.
Remember, if it’s not on the list, it won’t get checked!
It’s not just having the right tools. You need the right skills to use them.
Pediatric resuscitation skills decay without practice — and "practice" using manikins without your actual gear doesn't translate the way agencies assume it does. Set up consistent times to run your pediatric drills with your real bags and other equipment.
When every provider on every shift has opened the pediatric pack, found the right mask, and run through the Broselow tape in a low-stress environment, they'll move with speed and confidence when it counts.
Both approaches work well. However, both also require discipline. Dedicated bags offer the clearest organization and fastest access. Integrated modules require strict standardization across every unit. The key is to choose based on your agency's operational habits.
The most important items your EMS bag should contain are pediatric BVM and masks (infant and child), pediatric AED pads with dose attenuators, neonatal/infant/child BP cuffs, length-based resuscitation tape, pediatric spine board, and pediatric head immobilizer. Start here, and adapt based on your consistent needs.
Medication dosages differ almost entirely. Adult dosing is fixed or range-based. Pediatric dosing is weight-based — usually calculated from the child's estimated weight and derived from their length. Length-based systems, such as the Broselow tape, eliminate in-field math and reduce dosing errors.
When you have the right equipment – combined with the right skills and systems – every emergency response can be a success. And when it comes to pediatric emergencies, having the best equipment boosts confidence and keeps patients – and providers – safe.
At Kemp USA, we’re proud to stock the leading pediatric EMS bags, spine boards, head immobilizers, and specialty EMS bags on the market. Designed for provider success — ready to ship when your agency needs them. Shop Kemp USA today to learn more.
Shop Specialty EMS Bags
Shop Pediatric Packs
SEO Title: Pediatric vs Adult EMS Kits | Kemp USA
SEO Meta Description: Learn the main differences between pediatric and adult EMS kits. Shop Kemp USA for high-quality pediatric equipment for all emergency response needs.
