Wakefield Act

The Wakefield Act (H.R. 2464) updates and extends a federal grant program dedicated to improving emergency medical services specifically for children. The bill authorizes funding through 2013 for states and medical schools to develop better trauma and critical care treatments tailored to the unique needs of pediatric patients.

For families, this legislation aims to reduce childhood injury and death by ensuring that emergency rooms and first responders have the specialized equipment, training, and technologies necessary to treat children. By coordinating federal research and promoting cost-effective medical practices, the bill seeks to enhance the quality of emergency care children receive across the country.