Washington - U.S. Sens. Robert Menendez (D-NJ) and Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ) today announced that the US Department of Health and Human Services has awarded $130,000 to the New Jersey Emergency Medical Services for Children Program (EMSC). The EMSC Advisory Council and the New Jersey Department of Health will use the grant primarily to fund pediatric-emergency education for parents and first responders.

"The well-being of our children is every parent's top priority," Sen. Menendez said. "It is so important to provide families, first responders and schools with the resources they need to protect our children in emergency medical situations, and that is the goal of this funding."

"We must make sure parents and first responders know what to do when there is an emergency that involves a child," said Sen. Lautenberg. "These funds will help provide education and training resources so children get the best possible care when they need it most. " said Sen. Lautenberg

The New Jersey Emergency Medical Services for Children Program, an office of the Department of Health and Senior Services, is part of a national initiative to reduce child and youth disability and death due to severe illness and injury. The program serves the state's children through offering free education and resources for families and medical personnel, such as clinical training for school nurses, distribution of an extensive newsletter and pediatric instruction for pre-hospital providers and disaster simulation for childcare centers. A 14-member EMSC Advisory Council advises the Office of Emergency Medical Services and the Department of Health and Senior Services.

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