Question

Dispatch calls you to respond to a family home with a 6 year old child you were told that the child was found unresponsive in the backyard the scene is safe upon arrival and you enter with an AED

The child is unresponsive after you tap his shoulders and shout are you OK he could be in cardiac arrest what is your next step:
A. For 10 tip 15 seconds look for no breathing or only gasping while simultaneously checking for a carotid pulse
B. for five to 10 seconds look for no breathing or only gasping while simultaneously checking for a carotid pulse
C. for five to 10 second look for no breathing or only gasping while simultaneously checking for the brachial pulse
D. for 10 to 15 seconds look for no breathing or only gasping while simultaneously checking the brachial pulse

Answer 1

Upon finding a 6-year-old child unresponsive in the backyard, the next step is to B) look for no breathing or only gasping and check for a carotid pulse for five to 10 seconds. CPR should be initiated if there is no normal breathing and pulse. An AED should be utilized following its verbal instructions.

Step-by-step explanation:

The correct next step is B. for five to 10 seconds look for no breathing or only gasping while simultaneously checking for a carotid pulse. When a 6-year-old child is found unresponsive, assessing their condition quickly is imperative to provide the appropriate intervention. As the child could be in cardiac arrest, it is essential to check for signs of life. This includes observing for any breathing or only gasping (agonal breathing) and simultaneously feeling for a pulse at the carotid artery, which is located in the neck.

The practice of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) can be lifesaving, and the intervention must be initiated rapidly if the child is not breathing normally and does not have a pulse. While performing CPR, chest compressions should be delivered at a depth of at least 5 cm and at a rate of 100 compressions per minute. An automated external defibrillator (AED) should be used as soon as it is available, following the verbal instructions provided by the device.

It is crucial to understand that early CPR and defibrillation within the first few minutes can significantly increase the chances of survival and recovery, especially in situations where the victim has not been deprived of oxygen for an extended period. This statement is particularly relevant for children who have been submerged in cold water, as hypothermia can extend the time frame in which resuscitation can be successful.