Paediatric BLS

Question 1

What is the leading cause of death in:

• Under 1
• 1-4years
• 5-9 years
• 10-14years
• 15-19years

Answer 1

Leading Causes of Death

Under 1

Perinatal, Congenital, SIDS

1-4 years

Cancer, External Factors, Congenital, Respiratory, CNS/Developmental

5-9 years

Cancer, External Factors, Congenital, CNS/Developmental

10-14 years

Cancer, External Factors, CNS/Developmental–15-19 years

External factors, Cancer, Risky Behaviour

Question 2

What are the physical differences in adults vs children?

Answer 2

• Narrower airway, smaller diameter
• Small mouth but large tongue
• Infants head is large
• Preferential nose breather for first six weeks
• Larynx is floppier and larger, funnel shaped until about age 8
• Small resting lung volume = low oxygen reserve.
• High rate of oxygen consumption
• Newborn circulating volume 80ml/kg. Relatively small losses = significant effect.
• Stroke volume is small, increases with heart size.
• Limited communication skills to assess neurological status.

Question 3

What is difference between cardiac arrest in most childhood situations and classic VF cardiac arrest in an adult?

Answer 3

• Usually the endpoint of a prolonged decline
• Associated with greater acidosis, circulatory impairment, end organ damage
• Outcome much poorer
• Death is the expectation after asystolic cardiac arrest

Question 4

How to differentiate ages?

Answer 4

Age groups

• Neonate = ≤28 days
• Infant = >28days to 12 months
• Child = 1yr to puberty
• Adolescent/young person

Question 5

What are the steps in paediatric BLS?

Answer 5

• Treat bradycardia <60 as though no pulse
• 100-120 compressions/min
• Compressions 1/3 depth of the chest
• In infants use:
  
  • Two finger technique
  • Encircling technique

Question 6

What are the steps in paediatric BLS?

Answer 6

Question 7

What steps to do if choking child?

Answer 7

Question 8

What does the A stand for in ABCDE and explain it in paediatrics

Answer 8

Question 9

What does the B stand for in ABCDE and explain?

Answer 9

Question 10

What does the C stand for in ABCDE and explain

Answer 10

Question 11

What does the D stand for in ABCDE and explain

Answer 11

Question 12

What does the E stand for in ABCDE and explain

Answer 12

Question 13

What to look for as a cause in paediatric BLS?

Answer 13

H’s

• Hypoxia
• Hypovolaemia
• Hypo/hyperkalaemia/
  Hypogylcaemia/metabolic
• Hypothermia

T’s

• Tension pneumothorax
• Tamponade*
• Toxins
• Thromboembolism*

**Remember your patient population:

• Respiratory
• Dehydration
• Trauma
• Infection/Sepsis