Sudden cardiac arrest is often associated with the elderly, but the heart can suddenly stop beating in people of all ages. According to 2004 information from the American Heart Association, more than 250,000 people die each year from sudden cardiac arrest before they are able to get treatment at a hospital. Automated external defibrillators, or AEDS, are devices that can deliver a shock to the heart to start it beating again. Proper use of an AED can save a child's life if he goes into sudden cardiac arrest. Every minute that passes without either CPR or defibrillation decreases a person's survival rate by 7 to 10 percent, according to the American Heart Association.
Step 1
Shout the child's name or pinch him in an attempt to wake him. Do not shake or hit a child who is unconscious, the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute warns.
Step 2
Call 911 or ask another person in the vicinity to call 911 to inform them there is an unconscious child. Tell the emergency operator there is an AED available. The operator may be able to walk you through the steps in using the defibrillator or beginning CPR.
Step 3
Watch the child's chest to see if it is rising up and down, which would indicate breathing. Check to see if the child has a pulse. If the child is not breathing and does not have a pulse, or if breathing or heart rate seem abnormal, continue the process of using the AED.
Step 4
Turn on the AED. Once the device is activated, it will give you step-by-step, audible instructions for how to use it properly, according to the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute. Generally, a computer screen will also display instructions.
Step 5
Remove or open clothing so that the skin on the child's chest is exposed.
Step 6
Dry the chest if it is wet or damp.
Step 7
Place the pads on the child's chest. Some defibrillators come with adult and pediatric pads, according to DeAnza College. If the AED you are using has both, use the pediatric pads. One pad should be positioned above the right nipple; the other should be slightly below the other nipple and on the left of the ribcage. Once applied to the chest, the pads should not be touched.
Step 8
Remove any metal objects such as necklaces from the child. If it is a young girl wearing a bra, check for underwire and remove it if necessary.
Step 9
Check the chest region for implanted devices such as a pacemaker. In many cases, these devices will leave a visible outline, according to the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute. The child may also be wearing a medical alert bracelet that states a device has been implanted. If a device is present, the pads need to be at least 1-inch away.
Step 10
Ensure the wires that run from the AED pads are connected to the device.
Step 11
Check to ensure you are no one else in the vicinity is touching the child.
Step 12
Press the button marked "analyze" on the AED. Do not touch the child while the defibrillator is checking for a heart rhythm.
Step 13
Watch and listen for instructions from the AED to deliver a shock. Do not push the button unless the device instructs you to do so, according to the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute. Always check to make sure no one is touching the child before administering the shock.
Step 14
Start cardiopulmonary resuscitation until the child begins to move or speak. Continue CPR until emergency medical personnel arrive and take over.
Tips and Warnings
- The American Red Cross offers training courses so people can become familiar with AED procedures and other first aid techniques. If a child in your home or in your care is at risk of experiencing cardiac arrest, these education could be invaluable.
- Do not use an AED if the child is lying in a puddle or on a wet floor, the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute warns. If he is in a wet spot, move him before prepping to use the defibrillator.
