911 in your office: preparations to keep emergencies from becoming catastrophes.

Emergencies are more common in the day-to-day pediatric practice than generally appreciated. Knowledge of the types of emergencies that may be encountered, obtaining and organizing the necessary equipment and medications, training staff, and developing a plan for disposition of the patients are all required to effectively manage these situations. A well thought-out plan is not prohibitively expensive, but is necessary to ensure proper patient care.