Phenergan Supp given to toddler; child dies

Yep, yep, yep. When learning the emergency care of children, that is one of the things they drill into your head. Kid's vital signs can be completely normal for a very long time as their bodies compensate for things like hypovolemia. Then they get to a point where they can't compensate anymore...and they just crash. So I agree, any child that has been vomiting that much (to the point of vomiting blood) and had a heplock already in place should have gotten some IV fluids. A bolus, a running line, something, anything. Dehydration is deadly in children, and the smaller they are, the harder it can hit them. This stands out to me much more than the phenergan suppository.

regarding the cutting of the supp, the supp is supposed to be cut lengthwise, from the point of "the bullet" down. if you cut them in half, the medicine isnt even. i hope this makes sense.

Children tend to show signs of decompensating hypovolemic shock later than adults, when they go "off the deep end". Pals teaches you to prevent the arrest. it doesnt hurt to give the child a bolus or even two.

any child with vomiting should be given IV fluids, or a PO challenge with pedialyte. it sounds to me like this child got lost in the shuffle. either that, or they gave the kid the wrong sized supp, maybe a 50.

my sincerest condolences to you and your friend.