If pediatric AED pads are unavailable, what should be done?

Using adult AED pads on a pediatric patient can be appropriate in situations where pediatric pads are unavailable. The primary goal of using an AED is to deliver an electric shock to restore a normal heart rhythm in a patient experiencing a life-threatening arrhythmia, such as ventricular fibrillation or pulseless ventricular tachycardia.

When using adult pads on a child, it is crucial to follow certain safety measures. If the pads are too large, they should not overlap; instead, they can be placed one on the front of the chest and one on the back. This ensures effective shock delivery while minimizing the risk of injury. Adult pads can still provide the necessary treatment when pediatric-specific options aren't available, as they may still be able to effectively analyze the heart rhythm and deliver shock as needed.

Waiting for pediatric pads is not advisable since immediate defibrillation can significantly increase a child’s chance of survival. Administering CPR without pads does not provide the necessary intervention to restore cardiac function in a rhythm-based cardiac arrest. Finally, while calling for emergency services is always a critical step, the focus in this scenario is on providing immediate care using available resources.