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Faculty

Garret Shields

BS, NRP, FP-C, VA-EC
EMS Technician
Fairfax County Fire & Rescue Department

Garret Shields BS, NRP, FP-C, VA-EC is a proud graduate of the UCLA Paramedic Program in 2011 and has been a provider in multiple states nationwide, spending the last 11 years with Fairfax County Fire & Rescue. As a field provider with Fairfax County, he developed a passion for teaching students as a field training officer and EMS instructor. He co-created the FCFRD EMT Certification program that saw a 100% first-time pass rate on the NREMT exam during his tenure. Garret also worked part-time at Children’s National Medical Center in Washington D.C. in the Emergency Department for several years. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Health Science from Purdue University Global. Additionally, he serves on the Board of Directors for the 9/11 charity, Pay It Forward 9/11.

2026 Sessions

Pediatric Fear Factor

Yes, I understand

As EMS providers, we are trained to handle the most critical emergencies, whether it’s a 67-year-old male with chest pain, a 72-year-old female experiencing a stroke, or a 65-year-old in cardiac arrest. We often respond to these calls calmly and continue our shift. However, nothing induces more fear and anxiety than a pediatric call. Initial training often limits pediatric care to just a few chapters in a textbook, and continuing education can sometimes be reduced to a quick merit badge course, leaving significant gaps in pediatric knowledge and decreasing our preparedness to care for children. This results in increased stress, a higher likelihood of mistakes, and the instinct to leave the scene quickly before even arriving.

This session will cover how to approach pediatric calls in the same way we respond to adult calls, helping providers get into the right mindset when dealing with children and shifting how we think. We will discuss some of the most common fears, myths, and misconceptions about pediatric care in EMS so that fear won't be a factor for you!

Presenter (1 Presenter)

Thursday, October 01 1:00–2:00 PM
Room W224 B
Faculty

Garret Shields

BS, NRP, FP-C, VA-EC
EMS Technician
Fairfax County Fire & Rescue Department

Garret Shields BS, NRP, FP-C, VA-EC is a proud graduate of the UCLA Paramedic Program in 2011 and has been a provider in multiple states nationwide, spending the last 11 years with Fairfax County Fire & Rescue. As a field provider with Fairfax County, he developed a passion for teaching students as a field training officer and EMS instructor. He co-created the FCFRD EMT Certification program that saw a 100% first-time pass rate on the NREMT exam during his tenure. Garret also worked part-time at Children’s National Medical Center in Washington D.C. in the Emergency Department for several years. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Health Science from Purdue University Global. Additionally, he serves on the Board of Directors for the 9/11 charity, Pay It Forward 9/11.
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