Why Pediatric Dosing Is Different
Pediatric patients have different body composition, metabolism, and organ maturity than adults. Nearly every medication given to a child is calculated from weight in kilograms, which means errors scale quickly. A length-based resuscitation tape is the safest tool when a scale is not available.
Estimating Weight
Common estimates include (age in years x 2) + 8 for children 1 to 10 years old. Infants roughly double their birth weight by 5 to 6 months and triple it by one year. The NREMT expects you to understand that these are estimates and that the tape or a parent's report is preferred whenever possible.
Safety Habits
Always confirm the dose with your partner, say the weight aloud, and never exceed the adult maximum dose. Use the correct concentration of the drug, since pediatric epinephrine for cardiac arrest uses 0.01 mg/kg of the 0.1 mg/mL concentration. Document the weight source and the dose given.