AED for Infants and Children Under 8

Question 1

What does a pediatric dose attenuator do?

Answer 1

Reduces a shock dose by about 2/3.

Typically child pads are used to deliver the reduced shock dose

Question 2

Should you use child pads if available?

Answer 2

Yes

Question 3

Can you use adult pads if child pads are not available?

Answer 3

Yes.

Adult pads deliver higher shock dose, but a higher shock dose is preferred to no shock.

Question 4

What are some precautions to using adult pads

Answer 4

Make sure they do not touch or overlap.

Pads may need to be placed AP so they don’t touch.

Question 5

What pad position is commonly used in infants?

Answer 5

AP

Question 6

If a child is over 8 years old which size pad is preferred?

Answer 6

Adult

Question 7

When using the AED on a child under 8 what is something you do to control the dose of the shock?

Answer 7

If the AED has a key or switch that will deliver a child shock dose, turn the key or switch.

Question 8

What type of defibrillator is preferred for infants?

Answer 8

A Manual defibrillator is preferred to an AED defibrillator because it has more capabilities and provide a lower enrgy dose.

Question 9

If a manual defibrillator is not available for use on an infant what is the next preferred method of delivering a shock?

Answer 9

AED with attenuator.

Question 10

What happens if neither a manual defibrillator or an AED w/ attenuator is available?

Answer 10

Use an AED without a pediatric attenuator.