Final answer:
Children cannot store glucose as effectively as adults, which can lead to hypoglycemia during illness or injury due to an increased energy demand and potentially disrupted insulin and glucagon balance. Monitoring blood glucose is critical, as hypoglycemia can cause serious health issues, including unconsciousness or death if untreated.
Step-by-step explanation:
The EMT should assess for hypoglycemia in small children with a severe illness or injury because children cannot store excess glucose as effectively as adults. When a child experiences a severe illness or injury, their energy demands increase, but their glycogen storage—the body's primary glucose storage form—is less than that of adults. Therefore, there is a risk that the glucose levels could drop below normal, leading to hypoglycemia. This condition presents a critical risk as it can cause insufficient glucose availability to cells, often leading to muscle weakness, and in severe cases, can lead to unconsciousness or even death if left untreated.
It is important to monitor blood glucose levels during a severe illness or injury in children since the balance of insulin and glucagon secretion can be disrupted, potentially leading to either hyperglycemia or hypoglycemia. In cases of defective insulin function, inadequate insulin levels prevent glucose from being absorbed adequately by cells, causing high blood glucose levels or hyperglycemia. On the other hand, oversecretion of insulin or an increased sensitivity to insulin during illness can lead to hypoglycemia, characterized by low blood glucose levels.