A child with eye pain. A splash of a household chemical. An injury that looks minor at first glance.

When a child’s vision is at risk, the seriousness of the emergency may not be immediately obvious. For EMS and emergency care teams, the first challenge is recognizing the warning signs, protecting the eye, and connecting the child with the care they need.

Join us for this Special Edition of UW Health Emergency Education Night featuring Dr. Alexander Miranda, a UW Health Kids pediatric ophthalmologist and adult strabismus specialist who serves as Pediatric Ophthalmology and Adult Strabismus Service Chief at UW–Madison.

Dr. Miranda brings a specialist’s perspective to the practical decisions facing clinicians during those first encounters.

In “In the Blink of an Eye,” we will explore pediatric ocular emergencies that cannot wait, including eye trauma, chemical exposures, sudden vision changes, painful red eyes, orbital injuries, and suspected globe rupture. The discussion will focus on recognizing concerning findings, conducting a safe assessment, preventing further injury, and identifying when early specialty involvement is needed.

We will also examine the challenges of assessing a frightened child who may struggle to describe symptoms, along with the information EMS and emergency department teams can share to support timely evaluation and treatment.

Whether you are responding in the field or receiving the child in the emergency department, this session will offer practical lessons to strengthen assessment, communication, and coordination of care.

Because protecting a child’s vision begins with recognizing what cannot wait.

Target Audience

This activity is intended for EMS providers of all levels, including:

• Emergency Medical Responders
• EMT Basic
• Advanced EMTs
• Paramedics
• Critical Care Paramedics
• Emergency department nurses
• Advanced practice providers
• Physicians and other healthcare professionals involved in emergency and prehospital care

General Educational Objectives

Upon participation in this activity, EMS and emergency care professionals will be able to:

1. Define hidden or silent hypoxia and describe why patients may appear clinically stable despite inadequate oxygenation.
2. Explain the physiologic mechanisms that contribute to silent hypoxia in patients with COPD, sepsis, overdose, and evolving respiratory failure.
3. Identify subtle assessment findings and vital sign trends that may indicate early respiratory deterioration before obvious distress or collapse.
4. Apply evidence informed assessment, oxygenation, ventilation, capnography, reassessment and early notification strategies to patients at risk for respiratory failure

Continuing Education and Accreditation

This activity provides 1.0 Continuing Education Hour through the University of Wisconsin Interprofessional Continuing Education Partnership.

EMS Providers: This activity is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Prehospital Continuing Education (CAPCE). Granting of CAPCE credit does not represent endorsement by CAPCE or its board members.

EMS participants must attend the live session in its entirety and complete the required attendance verification and evaluation within 30 days to receive continuing education credit.

Cost

There is no cost to attend this activity.

Register here for the live session: “In the Blink of an Eye”: Pediatric Ocular Emergencies That Cannot Wait