26:2K-48. Findings, declarations
1. The Legislature finds and declares that:
a. Traumatic injuries, such as automobile accidents, bicycle accidents, drownings and poisonings, are the most common cause of death in children over the age of one; and children have a high death rate in these emergency situations.
b. Children react differently than adults to stress, metabolize drugs differently, and suffer different illnesses and injuries. Because of these differences, children's emergency medical needs should be recognized.
c. Emergency medical services training programs focus on adults and, therefore, offer fewer hours of pediatric training. In addition, many emergency medical services personnel have no clinical experience with children, indicating the need to improve training of these personnel in pediatric emergencies.
d. It is the public policy of this State that children are entitled to comprehensive emergency medical services, including pre-hospital, hospital and rehabilitative care.
L.1992,c.96,s.1.