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What Types of Facilities Need Pediatric Pads?

pediatric pads

What Types of Facilities Need Pediatric Pads?

Organizations that serve children need AEDs equipped with pediatric pads

Do you work with children? Then you need an AED with pediatric pads and you need to have the confidence to use them.

Some facilities that should have an AED with pediatric pads include:

  • Daycare facilities
  • Pediatrician offices
  • Churches
  • Athletic facilities 
  • Schools 
  • Community centers 
  • Retail stores and malls
  • Playgrounds
  • Arenas
  • Camps

 

If you own or operate a preschool, elementary school, community center, pediatric medical practice, pediatric dental office, or any other organization that routinely serves young children under the age of eight, you need an AED with a pediatric setting and/or pediatric pads.

 

Fortunately, sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) is an unusual occurrence in children. However, it’s not unheard of. According to the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, SCA claims the lives of over 2,000 children and adolescents in the United States each year and accounts for approximately 3-5% of all deaths in children ages 5-19. SCA is also responsible for 10-15% of sudden unexpected infant deaths.

 

The 2015 AHA Heart and Stroke Statistics released by the American Heart Association found that 6,300 Americans under the age of 18 experienced an EMS-assessed out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA). 

 

Here’s the good news: when CPR and defibrillation from an AED are administered within three to five minutes of cardiac arrest, sudden death can be prevented. 

Can I Use Adult AED Pads on a Small Child?

If pediatric pads are not available and you need to use an AED on a young child, yes. For more information on this, check out our post, AED Use on Infants and Children.

 

Pediatric electrode pads are typically smaller and feature a different color packaging than adult pads, making them easier to identify in an emergency. If your AED requires a child/infant key to attenuate the shock dose, the key will likely have an illustration on it showing the proper placement of the adult AED electrode pads for use on a child or infant.

 

When applying pediatric AED pads on an infant or young child, apply one pad to the front of the chest and the other to the child’s back so that the pads do not come into contact with one another.

 

Once the pads are attached, follow the instructions given by the AED.

 

An AED is designed to analyze a victim’s heart rhythm, regardless of age. If a shockable rhythm is detected, an AED will prompt the rescuer to administer the shock. Some devices will administer shocks automatically. An AED will not advise or deliver a shock unless the victim’s heart rhythm is in one of two shockable rhythms. 

 

To learn more about our CPR and AED Training or to purchase an AED with pediatric capabilities, visit or call Cardio Partners at 800-544-0004. You can also email us at customerservice@cardiopartners.com.



DISCLAIMER: Information and resources found on the cardiopartners.com and aed.com websites/blogs is intended to educate, inform, and motivate readers to make their health and wellness decisions after consulting with their healthcare provider. The authors are not healthcare providers. NO information on this site should be used to diagnose, treat, prevent, or cure any disease or condition.

 

DISCLAIMER: The information included in this post and on our website is not intended as legal advice. As legislation changes often, this post may inadvertently contain inaccurate or incomplete information. We urge you to contact your state representative should you require more information about current AED, CPR, and Good Samaritan laws in your state.

 

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