Trinity Health First Response implements Carter Kits
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Trinity Health First Response Ground now has a new set of tools to make pediatric calls go more smoothly.
Carter Kits are special duffle bags that contain a range of items designed to bring calm and comfort to young patients with sensory issues such as autism or Asperger's. The kits were named after Carter Severs of Saginaw, Michigan, whose dad, a police detective, saw a need to help first responders relate more effectively with special needs children like his own.
"The arrival of an ambulance can be a scary thing, especially for someone with autism," said Stephanie Beauchamp, emergency medical technician and office manager for Trinity's First Response Ground. "Anything we can do to calm the situation to better take care of our patient is a win for everybody."
Carter Kits are equipped with an assortment of replaceable items such as noise-canceling headphones, fidget spinners, a weighted blanket and sunglasses - all designed to help children feel calm and at ease during a potentially chaotic situation. The kits work in concert with other strategies like dimming lights, muting siren noise and moving kids into a quieter setting.
The Pediatric Emergency Care Committee of the North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services has made the Carter Kits available free of charge to emergency medical services' providers by viewing an online training session. Each person to complete the training is eligible to receive three kits. Ramirez and Beauchamp both decided to sit through the training in order to acquire six kits, one for each of First Response's ground ambulance vehicles.
The two have already shared training with their colleagues and are reaching out to rural partners and smaller ambulance services with information about the training and how to acquire the kits.