S6 Ep6: Paediatric Mini-Series: Adolescent Mental Health
🩺 Episode Overview:
In the final episode of the Paediatric Mini-Series, we focus on a rapidly growing challenge for healthcare providers — adolescent mental health. Adolescents are navigating identity, independence, and social pressures, all while being at higher risk of developing mental health conditions.
Dr Andrew Tagg shares insights on recognising when a young person is in crisis, communicating effectively, and using the HEADSSS screening tool to structure safe, supportive, and thorough psychosocial evaluations in the prehospital and acute care settings.
📊 Why It Matters:
WHO reports that 1 in 7 adolescents experiences a mental disorder, and many never access help until crisis point.
A structured approach like HEADSSS helps clinicians move from small talk to meaningful assessment without missing key risks.🧰 Resources & Further Reading:
Don’t Forget The Bubbles – HEEADSSS Tool
Headspace (Australia) – Youth Mental Health Services
YoungMinds (UK) – Adolescent Support and Advocacy
WHO Adolescent Mental Health Overview
Mental Health First Aid Training
🧠 Take-Home Message:
The HEADSSS tool gives you a roadmap to guide delicate conversations, uncover hidden risks, and connect young people to the support they need — sometimes for the very first time.
DISCLAIMER: All of the opinions of each individual on 'The Student Paramedic Podcast' are their own.
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S6 Ep5: Paediatric Mini-Series: Grief and Debrief for Difficult Paediatric Jobs
🩺 Episode Overview:
In this episode of the Paediatric Mini-Series, we step away from clinical procedures to explore something just as vital: grief and debrief after difficult paediatric cases. Whether it's a tragic outcome, a confronting resuscitation, or an emotionally charged encounter, these experiences leave a mark.
We talk candidly about the importance of reaching out, how to support each other, and how to create a culture where psychological safety and structured debriefing are the norm—not the exception.
Even the most experienced clinicians are not immune.
Grief and emotional residue don’t disappear with time—they need space, validation, and care.
🧰 Tools & Resources:
DTFB: 'Every Resus Needs a Debrief'
DFTB: 'Breaking Bad News'
The Ambulance Staff Charity
Beyond Blue
Mind
Employee Assistance Programs (individual organisations)
✅ Don’t forget to:
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#StudentParamedic #Paediatrics #Debrief #DifficultJobs #EMS #AndrewTagg #DontForgetTheBubbles #ParamedicPodcast #PrehospitalCare #Paramedic
DISCLAIMER: All of the opinions of each individual on 'The Student Paramedic Podcast' are their own.
🩺 Episode Overview:
In this episode of the Paediatric Mini-Series, we explore one of the most important—and sometimes overlooked—aspects of paediatric care: analgesia. Effective pain management in children not only improves comfort but also reduces fear, builds trust, and improves outcomes.
We discuss the challenges in recognising and treating pain in children, practical approaches for safe analgesia, and debunk common myths that contribute to under-treatment.
🔑 Key Topics Covered:
Why pain in children is under-recognised and under-treated
Age-appropriate pain assessment tools (FLACC, Wong-Baker)
First-line pharmacological options: paracetamol, ibuprofen, intranasal fentanyl, morphine, entonox and methoxyflurane
Non-pharmacological approaches: parental involvement, play therapy, positioning
📊 Evidence Highlight:
A 2016 systematic review published in BMC Emergency Medicine found that pain is frequently under-assessed and under-treated in paediatric emergency settings.
Reference:
Shomaker K, Drennen J, Alletag MJ. Pain management in the paediatric emergency department: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC Emerg Med. 2016;16(1):10. doi:10.1186/s12873-016-0078-2
✅ Only 42–60% of children received any analgesia for painful conditions
✅ There was a significant delay in administering analgesia—often over 60 minutes
✅ Under-treatment was more likely in younger children📚 Resources & Further Reading:
RCH Clinical Practice Guidelines: Pain Management
WHO Guidelines on the Pharmacological Treatment of Pain in Children
Paediatric Pain Management Toolkit (PREDICT)
Don't Forget the Bubbles
ePALS – Pain and Sedation Module
🎧 Listen Now:
Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favourite podcast app.
Subscribe to catch all episodes in the Paediatric Mini-Series, and don’t forget to leave a review!
DISCLAIMER: All of the opinions of each individual on 'The Student Paramedic Podcast' are their own. Please ensure that you follow your local guidelines, policies and procedures.
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S6 Ep3: Paediatric Mini-Series: Trauma in Children
In this third episode of our Paediatric Mini-Series, we tackle the critical topic of paediatric trauma—a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in children. Dr Andrew Tagg, co-founder of Don't Forget the Bubbles and an expert in paediatric emergency care, joins us to walk through the unique considerations, common pitfalls, and high-yield strategies for managing the injured child.
From the subtle signs of serious injury to trauma team activation, we explore how trauma in children differs from adults and what clinicians need to know to manage these high-stakes situations effectively.
🔑 Key Topics Covered:
Why trauma is not just adult trauma in small bodies
Anatomical and physiological differences in children
The importance of early recognition and escalation
Common injuries by age and mechanism (e.g. falls, NAI, RTAs)
Paediatric-specific trauma assessments: ABCDE with a paeds lens
📚 Resources & Further Reading:
Don't Forget the Bubbles – Paediatric Trauma
ANZCOR Paediatric Advanced Life Support Guidelines
Resuscitation Council UK - Paediatric Advanced Life Support Guidelines
RCH Clinical Guidelines – Major Trauma
🎧 Listen Now:
Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.
Don’t forget to subscribe and leave us a review!
🚨 DISCLAIMER:
All of the opinions of each individual on 'The Student Paramedic Podcast' are their own. Please ensure you are following your local policies, protocols and guidelines.
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S6 Ep2: Paediatric Mini-Series: The 'ABC's' of Wheezing Children
Welcome to Episode 2 of the Paediatric Mini-Series!
In Episode 2 of our paediatric mini-series, we dive into the most common causes of wheeze in children—Asthma, Bronchiolitis, and Croup. Dr Andy Tagg walks us through how to clinically differentiate between these conditions and what to do in the pre-hospital setting.
Whether you're a student or practicing paramedic, you'll gain confidence in:
Recognising the subtle and not-so-subtle signs of respiratory distress
Differentiating between upper and lower airway conditions
Tailoring your approach to the underlying cause of the wheeze
Deciding when to escalate care or transport rapidly
Using bronchodilators, adrenaline, or supportive measures appropriately
📚 Recommended Resources
Don’t Forget The Bubbles – Detailed breakdown of paediatric respiratory presentations
Local guidelines on paediatric asthma, bronchiolitis, and croup
Airway and respiratory assessment tools for paramedics
⚡ Why It Matters
Wheeze is one of the most common paediatric presentations—but not all wheezes are the same. This episode gives you a practical framework to recognise and respond to the three big hitters: asthma, bronchiolitis, and croup.
🎧 Next up in the series:
🎙 Episode 3 – Trauma in Children
✅ Don’t forget to:
Subscribe & share
Rate and review
Follow us on Instagram: @thestudentparamedicpodcast
#StudentParamedic #Paediatrics #WheezingChild #Asthma #Bronchiolitis #Croup #AndrewTagg #DontForgetTheBubbles #ParamedicPodcast #PrehospitalCare #Paramedic
Welcome to ‘The Student Paramedic Podcast’. This podcast is aimed at students, graduates, experienced clinicians and those interested in becoming a paramedic or those interested in prehospital medicine. We will delve into a range of topics such as: where the profession can take you, how to optimise your training, how to be successful in your transition into university, from classroom to on-road and from student to graduate, how to maintain longevity in the job and draw on principles from other professions. Thank you for joining us on this journey.
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