Question: Our medical cardiac arrest protocol states for pediatric patients consider initiating transportation following the first rhythm analysis that does not result in a defibrillation being delivered. My question is, "Until what age do we consider a patient a pediatric?. Thanks in advance.

 Great question! We know it can be confusing given the various ages that are listed in various spots within the directives and combining this with the "old" directives which listed 16yo. In the preamble of the current directives, the age cut off for pediatrics is defined as 18yo (age and vital signs page in your booklets). Fortunately pediatric cardiac arrests are rare and unusual, and often not due primarily to a cardiac cause. As such, it would be reasonable to consider early transport of these patients following the first analysis that does not result in a defibrillation being delivered.

So, to answer your question: 18yo is the cut off for pediatrics unless otherwise specified elsewhere in the directives

Cardiac/Circulation,Medical Cardiac Arrest

Keywords are not available for this question at this time.

No additional resources are available for this SWORBHP Tip.