LIFESTYLE

What is the Correct Approach for AED Pad Placement for Infants?

What is the Correct Approach for AED Pad Placement for Infants?

If you’re looking for durable automated external defibrillators (AEDs), it’s always best to deal with reputable suppliers, those who’ve been in the business long enough. When you need an AED machine in Canada, AED Advantage Sales Ltd has you covered.

With nearly two decades of experience in the business, rest assured that you can find the right AED to suit your needs.

Why the Need for AEDs?

Given the prevalence of ambulance services and health facilities, it may seem strange that AEDs are still essential in helping with sudden cardiac arrest incidents. After all, the logical thing would be to rush any such victims to the nearest health facility for proper medical care.

The reality is that sudden cardiac arrest often occurs spontaneously and unexpectedly. Many such victims may find themselves in isolated spots like parking lots. Such victims usually die without anyone to help administer urgent cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Even in the presence of bystanders, sudden cardiac arrest cases tend to have a poor prognosis if the right steps are not taken. Time tends to be a critical factor; a victim’s chances of survival decrease with each passing minute.

AEDs are a critical tool in the fight against sudden cardiac arrest. With proper use, these devices help to prevent many deaths due to this occurrence.

Sudden cardiac arrest means the heart has stopped pumping blood suddenly. This could be due to one of several health conditions. The cessation of the pumping of blood by the heart means that oxygen delivery to critical organs stops. Organs like the brain cannot do without a steady oxygen supply for long. In as little as four minutes, irreversible brain damage can occur if oxygen delivery isn’t restored. This is one of several reasons why sudden cardiac arrest is fatal.

AEDs help to combat sudden cardiac arrest and prevent fatalities.

AED Pad Placement on Infants

A key part of using AED correctly is by ensuring that its pads—the contact surface between the device and the skin—are placed properly. This ensures that the appropriate electric shock is delivered.

Contrary to popular belief, infants are just as likely to experience episodes of cardiac arrest as adults. However, a majority of sudden cardiac arrest cases in infants are due to airway obstruction and lung problems rather than heart issues. That’s why knowing the correct AED pad placement for infants can save lives.

When placing the AED pads, ensure that the infant’s chest is dry. Having properly assembled the AED and turned it on, place one pad on the upper right chest. This should be above the infant’s breast. Placing it on the left upper chest area will also suffice.

Place the second pad below the armpit on the lower left chest. Placing it on the infant’s back is also okay.

Given that infants have a chest with a small surface area, the pads may touch each other after being placed, as indicated above. In such instances, place one pad on the anterior chest wall and the other on the back. After that, you’re now ready to deliver the electric shock.

Special Considerations

AEDs are only as effective as their use. This means that using them wrongly can become counterproductive. It’s crucial to remember that AEDs for infants differ from those for children older than eight years and adults. Those for infants are calibrated to deliver an appropriate amount of electric shock. Of course, all AEDs analyze a victim’s heart rhythm prior to delivering any electric shock.

Using AEDs is usually in conjunction with administering CPR. This gives the best chance for survival. If a pediatric AED device is unavailable, the alternative is to use one for adults on an infant. The benefits of using the adult AED on an infant far outweigh the downsides since sudden cardiac arrest is almost always fatal.

Some AED devices come with the option of calibrating it for an infant. This ensures that any user can quickly do it when an infant in sudden cardiac arrest needs resuscitation. Usually, the instructions about what to do will be indicated.

Newer models are now designed to automatically switch between pediatric and adult modes of operation when necessary. This saves time during use.

Never attempt to use an AED on a patient in or around water. Similarly, avoid getting the AED device wet.

Never use the AED near inflammable substances like gasoline.

If the victim has any transdermal medication patches, remove them before using the AED on them. Ensure to do this while wearing gloves.

For hirsute individuals, quickly shave the hairy chest before attaching the AED pads. This ensures that there is no interference with transmitting the electric shock.

AED Pad Placement for Cardiac Arrest Victims With a Pacemaker

Pacemakers are tiny devices that help an individual’s heart to beat normally, providing the necessary electrical signals to augment the natural ones. Pacemakers help to combat arrhythmias—abnormal heart rhythms. Given that pacemakers produce electrical impulses, it would seem that AED would interfere with their function or vice versa.

However, this isn’t the case. Someone with a pacemaker can still go into a sudden cardiac arrest. When this happens, you can use an AED on them. However, you’ll need to pay attention to the pacemaker.

Start by ascertaining the pacemaker’s exact position. Usually, it’s implanted in the left upper side of the patient’s chest wall. In this case, one pad is placed on the upper right side of the chest while the other is attached to the lower left lower side of the chest. If the pacemaker is in the upper right side of the chest, the first pad should be placed at least below its position. The second pad goes in the same position as though the pacemaker were on the left upper side. Alternatively, it can also be placed an inch to the side of the pacemaker.

Need Durable AEDs? Contact AED Advantage Sales Ltd.!

Given the importance of AEDs in saving lives, you want to ensure that you purchase reliable ones. At AED Advantage Sales Ltd., we ensure that whichever kind of AEDs you need are available.

Whether you run a school or any other public place, you can count on us as far as high-quality AEDs go. Reach out to us here https://aedadvantage.ca/shop/aeds

AED Advantage Sales Ltd.,

2225 1st Ave N #4 Saskatoon Saskatchewan S7K 2A5,

+1 888-653-5028

Social accounts

https://www.facebook.com/aedadvantage