When should the infant/child key be used on the AED?

• A. For all children under 12 years.
• B. Only for infants under 1 year.
• C. When the infant/child is under 55 lbs or 8 years old.
• D. Only when an adult key is unavailable.

Answer: (C)

Defibrillator energy dosing for pediatric patients. The infant/child key switches the AED into pediatric (lower-energy) settings designed for smaller bodies. Use it when the patient is under 55 pounds or 8 years old. This lowers the shock energy to reduce risk of injury while still aiming to be effective for a child. When the child weighs more than 55 pounds or is older than 8, switch to the adult settings, since the higher energy is appropriate for larger bodies. The adult path should be used for patients who exceed those pediatric limits, rather than relying on the pediatric key.