New CPR guidlines.

[rolandthunder]

Now I know that a lot of people havnt agreed with some of my thoughts on here but this is one that I think is pretty important.

I was reading the new cpr guidlines and it said that we should shock pts 1 to 8 years of age. I know that it says something about using some attachment the lowers the jules and all that stuff but I am only an EMT-B and I am not comfortable shocking a 1 year old. Maybe its just because that the way I learned it. But it seems to me that is something better left for ALS that has gone through the training on shocking infants.

Just wondered what everyone else thought about it.

[croaker260]

For ALS we dont use a device that reduces the joules, we simply lower the settings on the manual defib.
The reference to something that lowers the setting is specifically in relation to the AED, therefore specifically applies to BLS. Thus it is the AED, not the EMT-B, that is determining if it is a rythm that needs shocking.

While V-fib or V-Tach (the "shockable rythms" AED's treat) occurs less frequently in the child than an adult (usually arrest is the result of hytpoxia induced bradycardia/asystole, or trauma, not V-fib/tach)...it does still occur. Therefore when faced with a child in arrest, hook up the AED (if FDA approved for Pediatric defib) as indicated in the CPR guidelines. If it is indeed V-fib or V-tach...then they need shocked just as quickly as an adult would, which means right away.

This will likely be a rare occurance, with most children needing good CPR and ventilation. Neglecting to hook up a pediatric approved AED (if you have one) because you would feel more comfortable with ALS doing the shocking is not appropriate however. The AED procedure is the failsafe against inappropriate defib in this setting (pediatric arrest).

Not trying to sound condesending, please dont take it that way.

Does this answer your question?

[UKcyclist]

Depending on your AED, some of them do paediatric pads (I know for a fact the FR2's do) which incoperates a trigger which tells the AED to automatically change the shocks for a kid. They are easy to use and tricky to confuse as the connecter is in the shape of a teddy bear. Though to back croaker up, if the kid needs shocking then shock them.