If a manual defibrillator is not available for an infant under 1 year, which option is preferred?

If a manual defibrillator is not available for an infant under 1 year, which option is preferred?

• A. AED without pediatric dose attenuator
• B. Use adult AED on infant
• C. AED with pediatric dose attenuator
• D. Manual Defibrillator

Answer: (C)

Infants need much less defibrillation energy than adults because their chest and heart are much smaller and more delicate. An AED with a pediatric dose attenuator automatically scales the shock to a safe, appropriate level for an infant, giving you the best balance of effectiveness and safety when a manual defibrillator isn’t available. Using an adult AED without attenuation could deliver too much energy and increase the risk of injury, and a manual defibrillator would be ideal if it were available. So the preferred option is the AED with the pediatric dose attenuator.

Infants need much less defibrillation energy than adults because their chest and heart are much smaller and more delicate. An AED with a pediatric dose attenuator automatically scales the shock to a safe, appropriate level for an infant, giving you the best balance of effectiveness and safety when a manual defibrillator isn’t available. Using an adult AED without attenuation could deliver too much energy and increase the risk of injury, and a manual defibrillator would be ideal if it were available. So the preferred option is the AED with the pediatric dose attenuator.