Jon McCormack – Paediatric Cardiac Arrest

Consultant Paediatric Anaesthetist, Jon McCormack, explores the rare occurrence of paediatric cardiac arrest; he talks through the CRASH algorithm and emphasises the importance of cognitive aids and good airway positioning.

He also explains why, with a couple of caveats, in these situations it’s ok to see children as small adults.

Key points from this podcast:

• Cognitive aids are really important, know what cognitive aids you have available, become familiar with where they are and how you use them……. and use them.
• Do the basics well with airways, and practice the techniques regularly.
• You are not on your own, know your pathways for guidance and advice and call them for help for anything from attending the incident through drug calculations to decision making, the support network is there, know your support pathways.
• In resuscitation think of children are just being small adults

Resources related to this podcast:

Paediatric TCA paper: https://emj.bmj.com/content/35/11/669.long

30/60/90 reference guideline for resus in drowning (Credit: National Operation Guidance on Water Rescue & Flooding)

About Jon

Jon is a Consultant Paediatric Anaesthetist at the Royal Hospital for Sick Children in Edinburgh.

He graduated from Dundee University in 1998 before completing his Anaesthetic training in South East Scotland and a Paediatric Anaesthetic Fellowship in Vancouver.

He is a Clinical Lead for Paediatric Trauma in the South-East Scotland Trauma Network and a member of the Scottish Trauma Network Paediatric Core Group and the national Mass Casualty-Major Incident planning group.

Jon is also the Deputy Lead Examiner for the Diploma in Retrieval and Transfer Medicine (RCSEd) and is on the EMRS organising committee of the annual Retrieval Conference.

His three children, generally keep him busy out of work but whenever time allows Jon is a keen cyclist and whenever snow allows, a very keen skier.