What are the specific considerations when using an AED on children aged between 1 and 8 years?

In many cases, children who die of sudden cardiac arrest have a heart arrhythmia, which are conditions that can disrupt the normal electrical function of the heart. To help prevent these deaths, it’s important to understand the use and function of automated external defibrillators (AEDs).

What Is an AED?

AEDs are portable devices that can check a person's heart rhythm and deliver electric shock to restore a normal heartbeat. AEDs can be used in emergency situations when a person has gone into sudden cardiac arrest. These defibrillators are often available in public places, and they can be used on both children and adults.

How an AED Works with the Heart’s Electrical System

To understand how an AED works, it’s helpful to understand the heart’s electrical system. The heart has an internal electrical system that controls the rate and pace of each heartbeat.

To make a heartbeat, an electrical signal is generated by the heart's sinus node, which is a small mass of specialized tissue located in the right upper chamber of the heart. This electrical signal travels to the heart similar to the way electricity flows through power lines, from the power plant to your house. The electricity moves from the upper chamber to the lower chamber, causing the heart's chambers to contract and pump out blood. Each contraction represents one heartbeat. The closure of the heart valves after contraction produces the heart's thumping sound.

Abnormalities in the heart’s electrical system can cause a heart to beat too quickly, too slowly or irregularly. These variations in heart rhythm are called arrhythmia. People with arrhythmia can have the normal pace of their heartbeat restored through electric shock from an AED.

Steps for Using an AED

It's important to be comfortable with operating an AED because quick action is needed in emergency situations. It can take EMTs about 8-12 minutes to arrive after 911 is called, and each passing minute without defibrillation decreases a person's survival chances by about 10%. An AED is most effective if it’s used within five minutes of the person collapsing.

AEDs are usually located in places with many people, like malls, airports and schools. While there are sometimes medical personnel available to operate the AED, these defibrillators are built to be used by untrained people.

The machines are equipped with audio guides that will tell you exactly what to do and when. The AED will check the heart rate of the person it’s attached to, and it will not advise you to deliver a shock unless it’s needed.

The steps for using an AED are as follows:

  1. Check the person for a response by gently shaking their shoulder and asking them if they can hear you.
  2. If there’s no response, all 9-1-1 immediately.
  3. Locate the AED by looking for the symbol of the heart with the lightning bolt in it. Carry the AED over to person.
  4. Turn on the device. Follow the audio prompts.
  5. Expose the person’s chest. Place the pads on the upper right chest and lower left chest. For smaller children, it may be better to place one pad on the child’s chest and one on their back.
  6. The AED will check the heart rhythm. The AED will tell you if shock is needed.
  7. If the AED says, “shock advised,” deliver shock.
  8. Start CPR.
  9. Continue CPR until an ambulance arrives.

Can AEDs be used on infants or children?

Yes from 1 year + with pediatric pads and in accordance with the following guide. The AED when analysing infants or children will automatically calculate and adjust the shock voltage to suit the patients’ weight and chest wall thickness.

1 – 8 Years - Yes with paediatric pads for patients up to 25Kgs. If paediatric pads are not available then adult pads may be used.

8 Years + - Yes with the standard adult pads for patients 25Kgs +

Can I accidentally hurt the victim with an AED?

No, not if you use the unit according to its commands. Most Sudden Cardiac Arrest victims will die if they are not treated immediately. Unfortunately paramedics can’t be everywhere in "golden" 3 minutes so your actions can only help. AEDs are designed in such a way that they will analysis and only shock victims who need to be shocked.

Can I hurt others or myself with an AED?

It’s highly unlikely if you use it properly.

The electric shock is programmed to go from one pad to the other (biphasic) through the victim's chest. Basic precautions, such as not touching the victim during the shock, ensure the safety of rescuers and bystanders. The AED instructs when it’s safe or not safe to touch the patient.

How do you operate an AED?

After exposing the victims bare chest, the rescuer connects the pads to the patient and the Automatic External Defibrillator (AED).The patient's heart rhythm is then automatically analysed by a computer inside the AED and determines if a shockable heart rhythm is present and a shock is required to save the victim. If a shock is required, the AED uses voice instructions to guide the user through saving the person's life or CPR if required.

AEDs Australia offers an online training course for the Mindray BeneHeart D1 and the ZOLL AED Plus - courses are included in the Mindray BeneHeart D1 package or can organised by separate arrangement. Please contact use to discuss your training requirements.

How much time do I have to successfully defibrillate a victim?

Only minutes.

Victims need to be defibrillated within the first 3-5 minutes to have a real chance of survival from Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA). While CPR is very important in the life support process by providing oxygen enriched blood to brain and vital organs, this will only by time until a AED or defibrillator arrives at the scene.

See by the attached chart how the survival rate decreases as the minutes pass without defibrillation

What are the specific considerations when using an AED on children aged between 1 and 8 years?

The following Chain Of Survival should be followed

What are the specific considerations when using an AED on children aged between 1 and 8 years?

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What is an AED?

An Automatic External Defibrillator (AED) is a small, portable easy to operate lifesaving medical device designed to deliver an electrical shock to a person who is having a Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA). They are designed to be used by a first responder who is usually a non-medical layperson to save the life of an unconscious victim. An AED will ONLY allow a shock to be delivered to a victim in cardiac arrest who is in ventricular fibrillation (VF) or ventricular tachycardia (VT) so you cannot administer a shock inappropriately. They are known as public access defibrillators and designed to be used by anyone regardless of training.

What is Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA)?

udden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) is an abrupt loss of pulse and consciousness caused by an unexpected failure in the heart's ability to effectively pump blood to the brain and around the body. It is usually caused by life-threatening arrhythmias, abnormalities in the heart's electrical system.

The sudden cardiac arrest victim collapses, losing their pulse, consciousness, and the ability to breathe normally. All of this happens quickly and without treatment the victim will be dead within a few minutes. What is the difference between a heart attack and a Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA)? Basically a heart attack is a plumbing problem and a Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) is an electrical problem.

The heart has many vessels and can operate when some are blocked but a Sudden Cardiac Arrest is like a complete electrical blackout.

What is the difference between a heart attack and a Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA)?

Basically a heart attack is a plumbing problem and a Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) is an electrical problem. The heart has many vessels and can operate when some are blocked but a Sudden Cardiac Arrest in like a complete electrical blackout.

What is the most common treatment for Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA)?

In a word, Defibrillation. Presently this is the only proven method to restore an erratic heart to a normal rhythm for victims of the most common cardiac arrest conditions, Ventricular Fibrillation and Ventricular Tachycardia. Again, while CPR is very important to buy you some time, when a heart is in fibrillation, the only treatment is "defibrillation".

Where Would You Place AED’s?

Where Would You Place AED’s?

  • The Home
  • Corporations & Businesses
  • Rescue Services
  • Community Centres
  • Airports & Airlines
  • Shopping Centres
  • Schools
  • Remote or Rural Areas
  • Hotels & Leisure
  • Office or government buildings
  • Sports stadiums and arenas
  • Apartment Complexes
  • Health & Fitness Centres
  • Golf courses & Bowling Clubs
  • RSL & Registered Sports Clubs
  • Places of worship
  • Parks, and recreational areas
  • Marine Craft
  • Medical & Dental Facilities
  • Public and Domestic Swimming Pools
  • Concert halls and theatres
  • Restaurants
  • Train or bus stations
  • Retirement Villages

Who can use an AED?

AED’s were designed to be used by non-medical people with little or no previous experience or instruction.

In a perfect world everyone should have CPR and AED training, however modern AEDs are designed to be used by any motivated bystander, regardless of training. The devices advise the user about how to apply the device and whether or not to administer a shock. Most of the time, the AED will advise the user with voice prompts to administer CPR, depending on the needs of the victim, however all AED’s have step by step instructions including, voic, text and now video coaching.

From the time that the event occurs to the time that medical help arrives is critical. The instructions from the AED are keeping you productive and giving the patient the very best chance of survival until help, which is on the way, has arrived.

This is the critical time when defibrillation is needed for the patient to survive.

Why Do We Need Automatic External Defibrillators (AEDs)?

The only definitive treatment for victims of Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) is defibrillation. Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) usually happens without warning and the majority of people have no previously recognised symptoms of heart disease. For the best chance of survival from Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) caused by Ventricular Fibrillation (VF), Automatic External Defibrillators (AED) should be used within the first 3-5 minutes after collapse. Currently worldwide less than 5% of victims survive largely because a Defibrillator does not arrive in time.

An AED can increase the survival rate to 50% and in some situations like commercial airlines around 70%.

Just as seat belts or airbags do not save every life in a traffic accident, an AED defibrillator will not save every person who suffers a Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) however many lives could be saved if more people had access to an Automatic External Defibrillator (AED).

When using an AED on a child between the ages of 1 and 8 years?

AEDs may be used for children 1 to 8 years of age with no signs of circulation. Ideally the device should deliver a pediatric dose.

What are special considerations when using an AED on child less than 8?

Pediatric pads should be used if the person is less than eight years old or less than 55 pounds (25 kg). Standard (adult) pads may be used if pediatric pads are not available. If using standard (adult) pads, do not let the pads touch. For infants less than a year old, a manual defibrillator should be used if available.

What are the special considerations when using an AED on a child?

The most common special considerations when using an AED involve pediatric patients, patients who are wet or moist, patients with excessive hair, patients with a medication patch, or patients who have a device that could get in the way when you're trying to deliver a shock.

What is the recommendation for the AED regarding infants and children?

Can AEDs be used on children? Children over age 8 can be treated with a standard AED. For children ages 1–8, the AHA recommends the pediatric attenuated pads that are purchased separately. In infants <1 year of age a manual defibrillator is preferred.