Translating Emergency Knowledge for Kids
(TREKK): Co-development of cannabis and
fever resources with emergency healthcare
providers
Mateja Carevic, Megan Bale-Nick, Lisa Knisley, and Terry
Klassen
Background/Introduction: In Canada, many sick and injured
children receive care in emergency departments (EDs) outside
of specialized children’s hospitals, where access to pediatric-specific resources and training can be limited. This knowledge gap
led to the creation of Translating Emergency Knowledge for Kids
(TREKK) in 2011, a national non-profit initiative dedicated to
improving emergency care for children. Translating Emergency
Knowledge for Kids co-develops and mobilizes evidence-based,
practical resources, such as bottom-line recommendations and
treatment algorithms, to healthcare providers (HCPs) across
Canada, ensuring children receive optimal care regardless of
where they are treated.
Methods/Implementation: TREKK’s resource development
process begins by identifying gaps in pediatric emergency care,
through consultations with emergency healthcare providers,
researchers, national organizations, and the public. By integrating diverse perspectives, TREKK ensures that the resources
produced are comprehensive, relevant, and based on the latest
evidence. The synthesized evidence is then transformed into
practical, concise tools with input from pediatric researchers, clinicians, and parents. These resources undergo a national review
and approval process before being disseminated to healthcare
providers. To maintain relevance, they are updated every two
years.
Results/Evaluation: To date, TREKK has co-created 105
resources covering 40 pediatric emergency topics, with more
than 165,000 downloads from trekk.ca. The co-development process has demonstrated national reach and engagement. The 2025
updates focus on two high-priority areas: Fever and Cannabis.
These topics are of particular importance for emergency nurses
because they are frequently encountered in pediatric emergency
care and require timely, evidence-based management.
Implications/Lessons Learned: This work highlights
the importance of national collaboration in closing knowledge-to-practice gaps in pediatric emergency care. By co-developing and updating resources with frontline providers,
researchers, and families, TREKK ensures that evidence-based
tools remain practical, accessible, and relevant. The updated
Fever and Cannabis resources will better support emergency
nurses in delivering safe, timely, and effective care for children.
Future work will continue expanding resources and sustaining
their national uptake.