Note: Your progress in watching these videos WILL NOT be tracked. These training videos are the same videos you will experience when you take the full ProFirstAid program. You may begin the training for free at any time to start officially tracking your progress toward your certificate of completion.
In this lesson, you'll learn how to use an AED on an infant who's gone into cardiac arrest. The methods of defibrillating an infant differ a little from adults and children, so be sure and make note of those differences.
As you know, AED pads come in two sizes – adult and pediatric. Pediatric pads are for patients less than 55 pounds or roughly 25 kilograms, while adult pads are for anyone weighing more than 55 pounds.
Remember, if you do not have pediatric pads and the patient is less than 55 pounds, use the adult pads. It's far better to use the wrong size pads than it is to forego using an AED.
Infant-related cardiac arrests are typically the result of:
This is important for reasons of scene safety. If the infant was pulled from a pool, is he or she laying in too much water to safely use an AED?
If the infant was electrocuted, is the source of that electricity still a threat? It's always important to make sure the scene is safe before helping another person, but it's especially important when using an AED, where one spark can cause a lot of problems in the wrong situation. (And why we often mention combustible gases and flammable liquids in our scene safety warnings.)
Just like the last two AED lessons, we're going to assume a few things:
Pro Tip #1: The AED should include a diagram on pad placement if you ever need help. And make sure they adhere well and aren't peeling off, as this will affect the AED's effectiveness.
Remember, you want to minimize compression interruptions. Don't delay or interrupt compressions any longer than absolutely necessary and this includes after a shock is delivered. Go right back into your compressions.
Continue with CPR until the AED interrupts you. At some point, it will reanalyze the victim's heart rhythm and again advise you on what to do next. If the AED advises a shock, do that. If it advises you to NOT shock the victim, continue with CPR only, again over the pads. (The AED will continue to reanalyze.)
Continue this cycle of CPR, re-analyzation, charging, shock, back into CPR until EMS arrives, the patient is responsive and breathing normally, or someone who's equally trained or better can relieve you.
Why is it so important to not disrupt or delay CPR compressions?
Current research suggests that minimizing all delays is important for victim recovery, including that first compression after an AED shock. Compressions immediately help get the victim's pulse pressures back up and oxygenated blood circulating again.
Will a wet diaper cause a problem with an AED?
No. As wetness concerns AED use, as long as the victim isn't submerged in a pool or puddle of water, you should be fine. Keep in mind that the only areas that need to be dry are those where the pads will go.
Can I remove the pads if the victim begins breathing normally again?
No. Keep the pads on until EMS or other advanced medical personnel take over. The AED will continue monitoring the victim and will advise you again should problems arise, so keep the pads on and the AED turned on.