[Pediatrics. The PAT: a simple and rapid tool for the assessment of the severely ill or injured child].

The Pediatric Assessment Triangle (PAT) has become the cornerstone for the assessment and treatment of a critically ill or injured infant/young child. Now incorporated to the PALS course, it can be taught to all levels of health care providers in charge of severly-ill children. The PAT is a rapid and simple observational tool suitable for pediatric assessment regardless of complaint or underlying diagnosis. It can be introduced in every emergency department, especially those having relatively infrequent encounters with very sick children. Implementation of such a tool needs formal theoritical and practical education skills, rapid availability of experienced pediatric seniors and spaces specifically intented for children.