For defibrillation in infants under 1 year, which defibrillator is preferred?

For defibrillation in infants under 1 year, which defibrillator is preferred?

• A. Manual defibrillator is preferred for infants less than 1 year of age
• B. Any AED with adult pads is acceptable for infants
• C. Use large adult pads if small pads are unavailable
• D. Defibrillation should be avoided in infants under 1 year

Answer: (A)

The key idea is that tiny hearts require carefully tailored energy and close rhythm assessment. A manual defibrillator lets a trained clinician confirm a shockable rhythm and choose the exact energy dose based on the infant’s weight (for example, starting at 2 J/kg and using higher doses if needed). This precise, supervised approach is safer and more effective for an infant than relying on an automated device or oversized pads, which can deliver too much energy or misinterpret the rhythm. When a manual device is available, it is the preferred option for defibrillating an infant under 1 year.

The key idea is that tiny hearts require carefully tailored energy and close rhythm assessment. A manual defibrillator lets a trained clinician confirm a shockable rhythm and choose the exact energy dose based on the infant’s weight (for example, starting at 2 J/kg and using higher doses if needed). This precise, supervised approach is safer and more effective for an infant than relying on an automated device or oversized pads, which can deliver too much energy or misinterpret the rhythm. When a manual device is available, it is the preferred option for defibrillating an infant under 1 year.