Last Updated on: September 2, 2024
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Sudden cardiac arrest can happen at any age. Even a child under 8 years old can suffer sudden cardiac arrest or breathing issues. This is because a heartbeat stopping suddenly, irregular heart rhythm, or trauma can cause unexpected cardiac arrest, even in kids.
Such conditions require immediate heart rhythm analysis, electric shock, and CPR. Hence, Automated External Defibrillator (AED) devices are designed to handle such emergencies.
It is a portable medical device that monitors heart rhythms, analyzes whether a shock is required, and delivers the shock when needed. It also guides during CPR. AED pads on children increase their survival chances by providing immediate treatment for abnormal heart rhythms.
The Automated External Defibrillator mainly comprises the following components;
In addition, it has a visual and audio instruction system. The components also vary in semi-automated and fully-automated AED devices. Once the person trained in AED turns the device ON, the following things happen;
The microprocessor inside the AED device examines the heart’s electrical activity. This assessment determines the need for defibrillation. If a shock is required, you need to press the button to deliver the shock. Fully automatic AED pads deliver the shock whenever required. The shock stops the heart for a moment to bring it back to its normal rhythm.
After delivering the shock, AED guides on CPR steps through voice or display instructions. It reassesses the heart rhythm and helps with monitoring the patient’s condition.
You need to use AED on children when congenital heart conditions or abnormal heart rhythms cause cardiac arrest. Even a 1-minute delay in defibrillation can decrease the survival possibilities by 7-10%. Hence, an automated external defibrillator is required immediately to restore a normal heart rhythm. The following situations indicate the need for emergency AED and CPR;
An infant or a child below 8 has a different body size, weight, and physiology than an adult. Hence, infant AED considerations slightly vary according to age and weight. For AED on an infant or child under 8, you need to consider the following things;
Prefer pediatric pads because they are smaller and better suited to a child’s physique. Moreover, the pediatric pads deliver low energy suitable for children. If not available, you can use adult pads, ensuring the pads do not touch each other. If a child is above 8 or weighs more than 55 pounds, you must use an adult pad to deliver effective shock energy.
For AED pad placement on a child under 8, place one pad on the center of the bare chest and the other on the back. This placement method is known as anterior-posterior. Anterior-lateral is a pad placement method that applies one on the right side of the chest and the other pad on the lower left edge of the chest. The front-back placement is more suitable and safe for infants.
Carefully listen to the voice instructions provided by the AED and adhere to the steps. Calmness, carefulness, and timely actions are essential when using AEDs on children.
Though Manual Defibrillation by a trained healthcare provider is recommended for an infant under 1 year, AED pads are also safe to use and easier for a layperson to perform.
You have to follow certain steps when treating children with AED. Following are the steps for AED on children;
Access the child’s condition. Check responsiveness by tapping or shouting. If a child is not responding or breathing heavily, prepare for an AED. First, call the emergency medical service or instruct someone to do it. Next, start with CPR.
Before utilizing the AED, ensure that the surroundings are risk-free. Clear the patient’s airways of any foreign materials and obstructions. Until the AED is ready for use, the qualified CPR provider should perform either hand-only or complete CPR on the kid.
Open the AED case and turn it ON. The fully automatic AED automatically turns ON after opening the case. The semi-auto devices require you to press the button to activate it. Once activated, you will receive visual or audio prompts for the next steps.
Place one pad on the center of the child’s chest and the other on the back. The other pad should be carefully placed between the shoulder blades. Use only FDA-approved pediatric or adult pads for AED placement on a child. If AED pads specifically designed for kids are unavailable, apply adult pads following the same method.
Once the AED is turned on, its microprocessor will start analyzing the child’s heart rhythm. No one should touch the child while the AED is analyzing the heartbeats. Once the AED detects the need for shock delivery, it will instruct you to press the shock button.
A fully automatic AED will deliver shock without requiring the user to click any buttons. Again, no one should touch the patient while administering the shock. Announce loudly “Clear” before pressing the shock button to prepare the team for shock delivery.
Deliver the shock until the cardiac rhythms return to normal. Once it is normal, resume CPR to bring the child to his senses. AED devices provide CPR instruction and guiding compression rate.
Reassess the cardiac rhythms and follow AED instructions until the child regains consciousness or medical help arrives. Even if the child is showing signs of life, monitor the condition till medical help is reached.
Read more: The Ultimate Guide to CPR Certification for Non-Medical Professionals
You need to consider several things when performing AED on an infant due to the complications involved in the process. Even though the process seems simple and easy, it needs one to be careful and consider the following things;
AED is a safe treatment for sudden cardiac arrest if voice prompts are followed properly. If an untrained individual fails to follow AED prompts accurately, it can lead to the following complications;
The person performing AED should be well-equipped with post-treatment procedures as well. The following are the things to consider when a child gets treated with AED;
Formal AED and CPR training is significant to mitigate complications of AED treatment and prevent injury risks. It equips one with “what is the correct approach for AED pad placement for infants” and ensures safety throughout the process. Below are the top benefits of getting training in AED ;
Hence, you should seek training in AED from a reputed training provider to avoid failure during defibrillation.
Read more: Why do Tour Guides need to obtain a CPR AED & First Aid Course?
AED devices effectively treat medical emergencies like sudden cardiac arrest by accessing heart rhythms, analyzing the need for shock, and delivering the shock. When using AED pads on Children, it is essential to consider factors such as the child’s age and weight, pad size, pad placement, and adherence to instructions. You can save a life by carefully following the measures outlined above.
Failure to follow instructions and precautions can lead to side effects, such as skin burns, psychological impact, or heart rhythm misinterpretation. However, formal training helps mitigate complications and prevent these risks, as it equips individuals with the correct approach for AED pad placement and ensures safety throughout the process. Sudden cardiac arrest is a growing health concern, even in pediatric patients. Hence, one should acquire training in AED for children to help save a kid’s life.
