This is therefore the ideal moment for an update of the Pediatric Emergency Medicine Course (PEMC). It is essential that the pediatric disease burden is tackled by experienced, well-trained emergency health workers. And while there is no substitute for experience, this well-constructed volume provides a high standard of pediatric emergency training. The overwhelming majority of existing pediatric emergency training manuals focus on high-income settings and are premised on the availability of resources that simply do not exist in many parts of the world. It gives me great pleasure, therefore, to endorse the PEMC in this new iteration. This course exactly fills that gap with recommendations and guidance that are appropriate to not only the Indian context, but also much more widely—the challenges faced by those working with limited resources are the same in much of the world.

I look forward to seeing the progress that will be made with the help of the PEMC over the coming years. Congratulations to the editors and authors on a very valuable product!

Based on the experience gained from training house officers and under-graduates in the field of PEM, over the past 2 decades, this pocket manual shows how to save life in simple systematic steps in the absence of trained emergency physicians.

Advanced interventions, such as pericardiocentesis or thoracocentesis, thoracotomy, etc. are beyond the scope of the manual.

An innovative case record has been devised which aids in assessment, intervention and documentation during resuscitation. The pediatric assessment triangle has been simplified to assist decision making. A color atlas shows how to mask ventilate, introduce a laryngeal mask airway (LMA) or secure intraosseous access. In addition, information has been added about common drugs used in the outpatient department, prophylaxis following exposure, procedures, approach to fever and how to prepare one-self, when shifting a child for radiology.

I thank Drs T Murali, Balaji, Ramesh Babu and Chandan Kumar who share a passion for this specialty and who have contributed important sections for the manual. I also thank Dr Akila Sivakumar, Dr Sharada Sathish, Dr Shanthi and Dr Jayanthi, the PEMC editorial team who toiled tirelessly to edit and correct the proofs.

I am deeply grateful to Dr Gundas Srinivasan, who made several trips to New Delhi to coordinate with the publishing team on the presentation of the book. In the process, he helped in designing the decision-making triangle, an important resource developed for this book.

I thank Dr S Sakthi Vel for designing the beautiful cover page for the book. Without his instantaneous and amazing creativity, we would not have been able to complete this project on time.

I also thank Dr S Sakthi Vel for designing the PREM logo. The lotus is an Egyptian symbol of resurrection. The Celtic symbol indicates the indestructible bond between mother and child.

My special thanks to Dr Baljit Cheema, who passionately believes that this resource could help a larger group of physicians in Africa. Her insights have helped construct a simple case record that would aid in making therapeutic decisions.

Words cannot express how grateful I am to all the parents who entrusted their most precious possession to our care and who stood with us as we resuscitated, taught and documented the treatment given to children. I thank all the parents for consenting to use the photographs for educational purposes.

I am grateful to my parents, my husband, Dr Ramesh Dorairajan, my daughter, Dr Varshini Ramesh, sister, Subhashini and brother, JP for their constant encouragement and support.

I would also like to thank Shri Jitendar P Vij (Group Chairman), Mr Ankit Vij (Managing Director), Ms Ritu Sharma (Director—Content Strategy), Ms Chetna Malhotra Vohra (Associate Director—Content Strategy) and Mr Jayanandan for their tireless efforts in making this dream come true.