EMSC is a national initiative designed to reduce child and youth disability and death due to severe illness and injury. Medical personnel, parents and volunteers, community groups and businesses, and national organizations and foundations all contribute to the effort. A federal grant program supports state and local action. The initial goal is to prevent childhood illness or injury. The federal EMSC grant program enables states to address pediatric deficiencies they have identified within their emergency care system.
Research also is supported through the program.
All states, U.S. territories, and the District of Columbia have received federal funding. Since its establishment in 1984, the EMSC effort has improved the availability of child-size equipment in ambulances and emergency departments. It has initiated hundreds of programs to prevent injuries, and has provided thousands of hours of training to EMTs, paramedics, and other emergency medical care providers. EMSC efforts have led to legislation mandating programs in several states, and to educational materials covering every aspect of pediatric emergency care. Most important, EMSC efforts are saving kids' lives.