Essentials 1 In the absence of signs of life, pulse check should be limited to 10 seconds and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) commenced immediately if no detectable pulse or heart rate <60 beats per minute (bpm). It has been established that…
Essentials 1 Paediatric life support differs from adult life support in several aspects, but the basic principles remain the same: Ensure both the patient and rescuer are safe Call for help Initiate basic life support (BLS) measures at the earliest…
Essentials 1 Cardiopulmonary arrest (CPA) can occur either as in-hospital cardiac arrest (IHCA) or as an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA), but prevention of both is the key to decreasing paediatric deaths. 2 CPA in children usually results from the development…
Essentials 1 Children with chronic medical conditions make up 10–20% of paediatric emergency department (ED) presentations. 2 These patients have a longer ED stay and have increased rates of hospital and intensive care unit admission. 3 Liaise with the medical…
Essentials 1 Gaining rapport with the child and the confidence of the parents is the key to assessing children. Never underestimate the power of distraction and entertainment. 2 A child needs to be approached according to chronological and developmental age.…