During pediatric resuscitation, if infant pads are not available, you may use adult pads.

• A. You must never use adult pads on a child
• B. Pads must be placed only on the chest
• C. You may use adult pads if infant pads are necessary
• D. You should use only pediatric pads with no exceptions

Answer: (C)

In pediatric resuscitation, delivering a shock quickly and safely is the priority, and pad selection is guided by what’s available. Pediatric pads are preferred because they’re sized for smaller patients, but if they aren’t on hand, using adult pads is acceptable to ensure the defibrillator can deliver a life-saving shock. The key is to place them correctly to avoid pad overlap and ensure the energy passes through the heart—commonly one pad on the chest and the other on the back (anterior-posterior) for infants and small children. This approach keeps treatment timely without compromising safety due to pad size. So, using adult pads when infant pads aren’t available is appropriate, whereas insisting on pediatric pads with no exceptions, or restricting pad placement to the chest only, or ruling out adult pads entirely, would not reflect real-world rescue priorities.