Paediatric Emergencies (PALS) Flashcards

In paediatric CPR, the compression-to-ventilation ratio for a single rescuer is:

Answer: 30:2 (same as adults)

A single rescuer uses 30:2; two rescuers (PALS guideline) use 15:2 for children over 1 year, allowing more frequent ventilations given the respiratory cause of most paediatric arrests.

Correct paediatric chest compression depth is:

Answer: At least one-third of the chest anteroposterior diameter (approximately 4cm in infants, 5cm in children)

Compressions should be at least one-third the AP chest diameter — approximately 4cm in infants and 5cm in older children — generating adequate cardiac output without causing thoracic injury.

For infants in cardiac arrest when two rescuers are present, compressions are performed using:

Answer: Two-thumb encircling technique (thumbs on lower sternum, hands encircling the chest)

The two-thumb encircling technique is the preferred method for two rescuers: thumbs on the lower sternum with fingers encircling the chest, generating higher pressures and better coronary perfusion than the two-finger method.

Febrile seizures in children are most commonly associated with:

Answer: Rapid temperature rise in children aged 6 months to 5 years with a benign, self-limiting course

Simple febrile seizures occur with rapid temperature elevation in young children (peak 18 months-3 years), are typically brief (<15 minutes), generalised, and resolve spontaneously without indicating epilepsy or meningitis.

The Broselow tape is used in paediatric emergencies to:

Answer: Estimate weight-based drug doses and equipment sizes from the child's length

The Broselow tape correlates the child's length (measured from head to heel) with estimated weight and pre-calculated drug doses and equipment sizes (ETT, blade, IV catheter size), enabling rapid safe paediatric drug administration.

Paediatric patients in respiratory distress assume which characteristic position?

Answer: Tripod position (leaning forward, hands on knees, neck extended) to maximise airway patency

Children (and adults) in respiratory distress instinctively adopt the tripod position — leaning forward, supporting weight on arms, extending the neck — to maximise airway diameter and use accessory muscles effectively.