When placing pads on a child, what should you avoid placing them over?

When placing pads on a child, what should you avoid placing them over?

• A. Hair on the chest
• B. Patches or jewelry
• C. Underarm skin
• D. The nipples

Answer: (B)

Pads need to contact clean, dry skin directly to deliver the shock effectively. Patches on the skin and jewelry are barriers to good pad contact and can cause burns or unpredictable energy delivery during defibrillation. That’s why you avoid placing pads over patches or jewelry. If patches are present, remove them and wipe the area if possible, and take off any jewelry from the chest area. Hair on the chest can be shaved to improve contact, while pad placement should follow the standard chest locations, not over underarm skin or other obstructions.

Pads need to contact clean, dry skin directly to deliver the shock effectively. Patches on the skin and jewelry are barriers to good pad contact and can cause burns or unpredictable energy delivery during defibrillation. That’s why you avoid placing pads over patches or jewelry. If patches are present, remove them and wipe the area if possible, and take off any jewelry from the chest area. Hair on the chest can be shaved to improve contact, while pad placement should follow the standard chest locations, not over underarm skin or other obstructions.