Simulation in Motion Montana (SIM-MT) was featured in The Montanian as part of the statewide Carter Kit rollout from the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS).
DPHHS distributed 472 Carter Kits to every licensed EMS agency in Montana, so every ambulance service and Quick Response Unit in the state now has tools to support children with autism and other sensory processing needs during an emergency. Each kit holds items such as noise canceling earmuffs, weighted blankets, nonverbal cue cards, fidget toys and sunglasses, all chosen to help first responders calm and focus a child who is overwhelmed. The kits are named for Carter, a young boy in Michigan with autism.
SIM-MT has built Carter Kits into our pediatric simulation training. EMS providers get to practice using the sensory tools in realistic, high pressure scenarios, especially ones involving children with autism, so they feel ready to use them when it counts.
"We've seen firsthand how they help clinicians provide better care in emergency rooms and in the field," said Lee Roberts, Clinical Partnerships Lead for SIM-MT.
Thank you to DPHHS and the Emergency Medical Services for Children program for leading this effort, and to The Montanian for sharing it with communities across Montana.
Read the original article: DPHHS Equips Licensed EMS Agencies Statewide with Specialized Tools to Support Children with Autism