Every day, approximately 80 000 children seek emergency care in US emergency departments (EDs), and 20% of all children in the United States will have at least 1 ED visit each year.1,2 Yet the needs of children historically have received little attention in the emergency medical services system.3 Emergency medical services are a relatively new component of our national health care system, and, recently, increased attention has been given to the unique needs of children during emergencies, as well as to the documentation of significant variation in the quality of care.4-6 As a result, resources through the Emergency Medical Services for Children (EMSC) program of the US Department of Health and Human Services Health Resources and Services Administration have been devoted to the establishment of various components of the EMSC, which refer to a spectrum of services for acutely ill and injured children.7