Question

A 2-year-old child of unknown weight arrives at the emergency department in cardiac arrest. When preparing to administer medications, which action would be appropriate for the team to take?

Select the correct answer to this question.
A. Estimate weight using growth chart data in accordance with patient age and sex.
B. Estimate weight based on the team's clinical experience.
C. Find the parents and ask them how much the child weighs.
D. Estimate weight using a length-based resuscitation tape.

Answer 1

The best action is to estimate the child's weight using a length-based resuscitation tape to rapidly and accurately determine medication dosages in a critical emergency like cardiac arrest. This method is preferable over subjective estimates or time-consuming inquiries.

Step-by-step explanation:

The appropriate action the team should take when preparing to administer medications to a 2-year-old child in cardiac arrest is D. Estimate weight using a length-based resuscitation tape. This method provides a quick and relatively accurate estimation of the child's weight, which is critical for calculating appropriate medication dosages in an emergency situation.

Length-based resuscitation tapes are specifically designed for use in pediatric emergencies. These tools correlate a child's length to their weight, enabling healthcare providers to determine medication dosages and equipment sizes quickly. It's important to note that in high-stress situations such as cardiac arrest, time is of the essence, and obtaining a direct measurement from questioning parents (Option C) or relying on subjective clinical experience (Option B) can introduce unnecessary delays or inaccuracies.

While utilizing growth chart data (Option A) can provide a generalized estimation, it is not as immediate or tailored to the individual child as using a resuscitation tape. Hence, the resuscitation tape is often considered the gold standard in emergency pediatric care when actual weight cannot be quickly and accurately measured.