Key Differences in Adult, Child, and Infant Use During First Aid Response

Understanding How Semi-Automatic Defibrillators Work and Best Practices for Saving Lives Across All Age Groups

In first aid courses across Brisbane, one topic that often comes up is the use of defibrillators, especially the differences in defibrillation between adults, children, and infants. According to the Australian Resuscitation Council (ARC) guidelines at resus.org.au, understanding how to use a semi-automatic defibrillator effectively can make a life-saving difference.

Defibrillator - All you need to know

How Semi-Automatic Defibrillators Work

A semi-automatic defibrillator is designed to detect a shockable rhythm, usually ventricular fibrillation, and administer a shock to restore a heart rhythm capable of pumping blood. This process is critical in cases of sudden cardiac arrest, but the approach differs depending on the age of the patient.

Why Children and Infants Respond Differently to Defibrillation

Children, especially infants, transition from a shockable rhythm to a non-shockable rhythm (asystole or “flatline”) much faster than adults. Several physiological factors contribute to this rapid deterioration:

  • Higher Metabolic Rate: Infants and children consume oxygen at a much faster rate, leading to quicker tissue deterioration, including the heart, when oxygen is depleted.
  • Smaller Oxygen Reserves: With smaller lungs and lower blood volume, children have less oxygen available to sustain vital organs during respiratory distress.
  • Less Tolerance to Hypoxia: Children are less tolerant of hypoxia (lack of oxygen), which means they can progress to cardiac arrest more quickly than adults

Best Practices for Using Defibrillators on Children

In an emergency, it’s essential to use appropriately sized defibrillator pads for children and infants. However, many community defibrillators are not equipped with pediatric pads. The ARC advises that adult pads can be used on children in such situations, making it possible to provide life-saving treatment even when the ideal equipment is unavailable.

The Mental Health Aspect of First Aid Response

First responders should be aware of the potential mental health impact if resuscitation efforts are unsuccessful. It’s crucial to make an effort, even if the defibrillator does not activate for adults, children, or infants in asystole. Although it’s unlikely to find an infant with a shockable rhythm if the arrest was not witnessed, attempting to resuscitate can help alleviate the “what ifs” and support mental health afterward.

Encouraging Confidence in First Aid Responders

We encourage first aid responders to use all available training and equipment during an emergency. While not every cardiac arrest has a positive outcome, it’s important to try. The best practice is to respond confidently, knowing that every effort counts, even if the results aren’t what we see in movies. Remarkable stories of life-saving efforts do exist, and being prepared is key to making a difference.

You can find out more information about the ARC guidelines and infant resuscitation on the following website.

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